“Pastor, I’ve made alot of misinvestments, and now life is a struggle for me. I’m in my early 30s, and I’m back to my parents house. Where do I start from?”
Just start from the beginningš. I mean, it’s not advisable to start anything worthwhile from the middle. However, considering the fact that you’re in your 30s already, you’d need to adopt a more sure and urgent strategy to getting a breakthrough.
Commit to serving God and the interest of His kingdom. That’s the strategy right there! While you go about your regular businesses, ensure that you’re also actively involved in promoting the cause of God’s kingdom. Your service to God and His kingdom will ensure that you always get returns in every matter that concerns you. This is actually one area many Christians are missing out. Our salvation is for service, not for self.
Normally, you should work hard and save up money before you can afford a car or a house, but as Christians, your commitment to promoting the cause of God’s kingdom can add those things to you. Matt 6:33 says “… seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”. Just imagine that; believers should not struggle for things, they should enjoy addition of things. It’s completely abnormal for a believer to struggle for possessions. All things should be added to us. Bishop David Oyedepo paraphrased that scripture to mean “seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things that others are dying to get shall be added to you”.
The moment you notice that you’re struggling to get things done, then it simply means you’re out of service. That’s right! You’re no longer serving the kingdom of God. Those who seek the kingdom of God as a priority are top priority when it comes to receiving God’s blessing.
A certain brother shared a testimony of how he was given a quit notice because he could no longer afford his rent. His business had collapsed and nothing was working for him. Since he no longer had a means to sustain himself, he decided to go back to live with his parents. He did all he could to get back on his feet, but all to no avail. After a while, he began to engage his faith by going out to win souls for Christ. He would walk many miles, distributing fliers and tracts everyday. Suddenly, God turned his situation around. A man who could not afford his house rent became someone who was buying houses and brand new cars.
Just in case you’re wondering what it means to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness first, it means “giving priority to the things that are right in God’s sight”. It’s about viewing life through the eyes and heart of God. It’s about seeing the wounded and helping them, knowing that God would want to help them. It’s about seeing the poor and teaching them how to get wealth, knowing that God would desire to do so. It’s about loving what God loves, and doing what God will do.
While Jesus was on earth, He went about doing good, and healing all those who were oppressed by the devil. Peter and John didn’t hesitate to heal the crippled man at the Beautiful Gate, because they knew that’s what Jesus would have wanted. As a matter of scriptures, Peter said “I don’t have silver or gold, but I will give you what I have. In the name of Jesus, rise up and walk”. And the crippled man began to walk.
If all you give to society is your products and services, then you may end up struggling. You have to give them the kingdom too. Also, just because you don’t have material resources doesn’t mean you can’t live an impactful live, you can give kingdom resources – just as Peter and John did. Go from street to street using the name of Jesus to bring people out of trouble. You may not have money, but you have the kingdom. People may take your job from you, but they can’t take the kingdom from you. And as long as you keep seeking the kingdom, all things shall be added to you, including money.
If Peter had considered his pocket, maybe that man would have remained crippled. Many people and businesses are still struggling, probably because they’re depending on conventional principles where they should apply God’s principle. If it’s a bail out you need, don’t dwell on the principles that got you into the problem in the first place, go for a higher principle.
A woman shared a testimony of how she started a fashion business behind her house after 18 years of struggling. According to her testimony, the only thing they did to advance the business was kingdom advancement engagements. They prayed for souls to be saved, went out to speak to the souls they prayed for, and probably turned the office to a fellowship centre. And in less than 3 months, the fashion business gained global recognition, that it was even on news paper. In less than 3 months, they were paying tithes in millions. I’m not sure there is any conventional business strategy that can do that in 3 months.
Seeking God’s kingdom is a big time business. It’s the kind of business that the 13-year old Jesus couldn’t resist. He particularly said to his parents “why will you be looking for me? You should know I will be doing my Father’s business”.
As I conclude, it’s important I mention that the initial capital you’d need to start this kingdom business is love for God. If seeking God’s kingdom is not love-motivated, then you will not get any result. If you’re helping or praying for a person to be saved, let it be because you love God and the person, and not because you’d get returns from God. People who seek the Lord with that mindset rarely have anything to show for their engagements. Those who seek the Lord don’t expect blessings, they enjoy blessings. Blessings naturally follow those who genuinely seek God.
Jesus never prayed for money, but He had an accountant who followed Him every where He went. Blessing-consciousness is what actually releases blessings. It was this blessing-consciousness that made Jesus curse the fig tree. He expected to find fruit in the tree whether it was fig time or not, all because He was conscious of blessing. Believe me, the moment you start serving God, your confidence level will increase. The fear of uncertainty will die a natural death. Your heart will continually be dominated by the joy of the Lord.
I hope this has brought enlightenment to someone.
Remain ever blessed, in Jesus precious name!
#EmekaAnslem
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