GOD’S ECONOMY
Kingdom Builders understand that God’s economy is different than man’s.
OWNERSHIP
God owns everything
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, and everything that moves in the field is mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all it contains. (Psalm 50:10-12)
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.
(Psalm 145:13)
INSIGHT: God is the maker of it all—the earth, sky, sea, and us. This is the wisest starting point for any business leader. God owns the intellectual property, and we get to steward it and profit from it. The good news is that God is the most generous ownercreator you could ever imagine, willing to share his abundance, power and goodness. His conditions are less than any capitalist or lender I know: seek His counsel, pursue His best, embrace His awesomeness, and his blessing will flow.
REFLECTION: Why is it especially hard for business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders to submit to God’s ownership?
TWO ECONOMIES
God’s economy is different than man’s
Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every household divided against itself will not stand.
(Matthew 12:25)
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (Genesis 2:15)
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (Luke 16:13)
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19-20)
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)
INSIGHT: There are two distinct economies that co-exist on this earth: The Kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world. Each takes a very different view about purpose, priorities, ambition, control, time and money. The kingdom of this world tells us to serve ourselves first, take as much as we desire, chase success as any price, and invite the adoration of others. The Kingdom of God tells us to humbly serve God and others. One leads to wealth; the other to true wealth, which includes satisfaction and significance.
REFLECTION: Think of a difficult choice you recently made about money or priorities. How did the tension play out between God’s
THE KING
God is our King
Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy. (Leviticus 19:2)
The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. (Psalm 97:1)
For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. (Psalm 95:3-5)
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. (1 Chronicles 29:11-12)
INSIGHT: We’ve all had good and bad bosses. Every kingdom has had good and bad kings. Kingdom Builders serve the good king, Yahweh. He is Creator, Savior, King of Kings, Master, Teacher, Jesus. He is the designer and master architect of every good enterprise on earth. When God introduces His name to Moses as “I am,” He is saying that He has always been and always will be the absolute ruler. He has final dominion and authority. His kingdom, unlike ours, will last forever.
REFLECTION: Think of your most difficult task today. What comfort can you take from working under God, the King?
GOD’S DESIGN
God’s economy is perfect and good
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line?
(Job 38:4-5)
You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.
(Nehemiah 9:6) TWO
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
(Isaiah 40:26)
Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)
INSIGHT: When we operate under the authority of God, when we play by His rules, what follows is order, provision and goodness. We were created to submit to Yahweh. God’s ways will yield treasures and increase the quality of our lives. But His ways are not our ways. We like to control our agendas; He likes us to depend on Him. We like strength and power; He likes gentleness and humility. Once we let go, we discover freedom on the other side of obedience.
REFLECTION: What aspect of your work most tempts you to play by your own rules, not God’s?
GOD’S KINGDOM
God’s Kingdom is forever
The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. He rules the world in righteousness and judges the people with equity. (Psalm 9:7-8)
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
(John 18:36)
He (Jesus) welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.
(Luke 9:11)
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. (Psalm 145:13)
INSIGHT: The Kingdom of God is life as God originally intended it, with us as his collaborators on earth, with us as stewards of his resources. Kingdom Builders support God’s noble agenda. Although we might spend a lifetime accumulating stuff, protecting it, and fighting for more, God’s ownership is already a settled matter, a universal and present reality. His Kingdom is eternal, unchanging, safe and secure. The Lord is not indebted to us over anything, and eventually, all will succumb to Him.
REFLECTION: What part of your life do you consider your own exclusive domain, apart from God’s sovereignty?
KINGDOM BUILDER
Kingdom Builders place their identity under the authority of the Creator, Maker of heaven and earth.
KINGDOM BUILDER IDENTITY
Kingdom Builders are God’s chosen
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)
For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. (1 Samuel 12:22)
Know the LORD is God. It is he who made usm and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
(Psalm 100:3)
When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13)
INSIGHT: We all identify with groups—a sports team, a church, a political party—but Kingdom Builders, above all else, identify with a higher cause: God’s cause. Kingdom Builders align their professional priorities with God’s principles, which are often countercultural and counterintuitive. They use their resources for the good of others. They just might duck out of an important meeting to comfort a friend. They just might choose to ride a donkey instead of a chariot.
REFLECTION: Where do you tend to get your identity from? Your job title? Your rung on the ladder of life?
KINGDOM BUILDER WAYS
Kingdom Builders chose God’s ways
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8)
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (Psalm 25:5)
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:1&6)
INSIGHT: Kingdom Builders are intentional about learning and growing. They study how to integrate God’s wisdom into their own God-given interest in commerce, and they prioritize quality relationships inside and outside of work. Kingdom Builders place themselves under God’s authority, where he can show them the things worth pursuing and the things in need of pruning. The pay- off? Wiser decisions and fewer mistakes.
REFLECTION: Who are you turning to for guidance? Are you investing in your own growth as a leader?
PERSPECTIVE
Eternity shapes our perspective
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. (James 4:14)
You have made my days a mere handbreadth; The span of my years is nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath. (Psalm 39:5)
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. (2 Peter 3:8)
INSIGHT: What unique contribution would you want people to remember about you? Kingdom Builders strive for a contribution that blesses others and endures beyond their lifetime. An eternal perspective allows us to fully leverage our unique skills and resources for God’s purposes, doing what football coaches call “leaving it all on the field.” Knowing that life is but a breath allows Kingdom Builders to spend themselves on what matters, while at the same time holding onto success with light hands.
REFLECTION: What do you want said about you at your funeral?
PURPOSE
Purpose inspires confidence
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
(Ephesians 2:10)
Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (Psalm 25:4-5)
Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.
(Nehemiah 1:11)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
INSIGHT: Have you ever met someone who immediately inspires confidence and trust? There’s a depth to them. You know they stand for something. It’s not so much what they do but how they do it. When we are living by God’s Spirit, those around us can feel it even if they can’t name it. The Spirit of God is attractional, and abundance flows from it. The Holy Spirit is the X-factor that reveals God’s truth to us and allows us to become the luminaries people want to follow.
REFLECTION: Who is someone you’ve worked under who had that X-factor that made you want to learn from them?
CHARACTER
Seek righteousness in our ways
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12)
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Phillippians 4:8)
Walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:10)
‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. (Leviticus 19:2)
Nevertheless the righteous will hold to his way, And the one who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger. (Job 17:9)
INSIGHT: The common attractors of today’s appointed leaders are good looks, wealth, popularity, ambition, strength. But God cares about character—wisdom, humility, kindness, generosity. An executive who follows after God’s heart stands for something deeper than outward appearances and something bigger than the task at hand. They are tethered to a higher call to achieve what is most important and to care for people along the way. There’s no faking true character.
REFLECTION: Reflect on the past week. When did you bulldoze through to get stuff done without regarding your behavior?
BLUEPRINT
Kingdom Builders understand God has non-negotiable laws of conduct, for their business life and their personal life.
LAWS
Learn God’s commands
Moses summoned all Israel and said: Hear, Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. (Deuteronomy 5:1)
All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. (Psalms 119:160)
You shall have no other gods before me. (Deuteronomy 5:7)
In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit. (Ephesians 2:21-22)
INSIGHT:
REFLECTION:
add hebrews 11:8&10
FOUNDATIONS
God’s wisdom is our life’s foundation
In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. (Psalms 102:25)
Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. (Matthew 7:24)
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. (1 Corinthians 3:11)
Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. (Proverbs 9:1)
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:8&10)
INSIGHT: Great enterprise is built when we center our leadership on God’s timeless and strategic wisdom, not just on the latest thought coming out of MBA schools. Some principles never change, such as, we reap what we sow. When we interact with clients in ways that are honorable and trustworthy, we retain them and receive their referrals. When we spend smartly, we have money leftover for what’s most important. Like the foundation of a house, which doesn’t change even when we remodel, God’s precepts don’t change with our circumstances.
REFLECTION: Think of a time when you based a business decision on God’s wisdom instead of man’s. How did it go?
KINGDOM AGENDA
God has a plan with priorities for us
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5)
Love your neighbor as yourself. (Leviticus 19:18)
Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things.
(Psalm 119:36-37)
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans. The Lord works out everything to its proper end. (Proverbs 16:3-4)
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)
INSIGHT: A good meeting agenda brings order, structure, and clarity to all that needs to be done. God’s Kingdom agenda is the same; it gives shape to what we focus on. When we consider God’s redemptive mission to the world, our goals and behavior change accordingly, in the big things and the little things. We want to spend time cultivating employees and creating a healthy organization. We want to take good care of clients and stakeholders. We want to use our resources for the greater good.
REFLECTION: Look at your schedule today. Now look at it from God’s perspective. Does it change?
GOD’S ORDER
God brings order from chaos
To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his. (Job 12:13)
And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden: but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
God took the Man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order. (Genesis 2:15)
INSIGHT: You are not the boss of me think it as entrepreneurs. We don’t like living under anyone else’s rules. We like to have the power and control. But God’s rules in Scripture are designed for our good, guiding us towards a place of provision. He wants our lives and our work to hum with health, balance, and abundance. Most parents want this for their kids. It’s not bossiness. It’s not nagging. It’s love.
REFLECTION: What ethical rule is easiest for you to bend in your business practice?
GOVERNANCE
Honorable leaders bring respect and order
Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 12:28)
Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you.
(Deuteronomy 1:13)
I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place. (Isaiah 28:17)
If a person’s gift is leadership, let him govern diligently. (Romans 12:7)
Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a neverfailing stream! (Amos 5:24)
INSIGHT: A well-managed institution has a system of oversight, accountability, and order. God modeled this through the detailed laws he provided for the Israelites. In the early days of any start- up, owners can survive in cowboy mode, but soon disciplined governance becomes necessary. Formalizing the rules allows a founder to make prudent decisions about investments, equity, compensation, stewardship, growth, justice, and strategic partnerships. The order doesn’t squelch creativity but protects against risk and makes equity more valuable.
REFLECTION: Are you working 24-7? Do you need to consider a structured approach to certain areas of your work?
FREEDOM
Kingdom Builders know the truth of the Law of Harvest—we reap what we sow.
SOURCE
God’s truth gives freedom
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32)
I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, for I delight in your commands because I love them. (Psalm 119:45-47)
Whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:16-17)
Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful. (Deuteronomy 8:18)
INSIGHT: The freedom of being the ultimate decision-make can feel intoxicating. What we say goes, period. But our freedom can also feel stressful and lonely. The weight of decision-making lifts when we align ourselves to God, the author of our freedom. Suddenly we aren’t just leading; we’re following. Ahh, doesn’t that sound nice? We have a game plan that gives shape to our leadership. We can detach from the current prize before us and focus on the Kingdom business of serving God and others.
REFLECTION: Teenagers will never admit it, but sometimes they want parameters. Why do you think this is so?
CHOICES
We can choose good or evil
“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. (1 Corinthians 10:23)
It is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. (James 4:17)
Seek good and not evil, that you may live; So the Lord God of hosts will be with you. (Amos 5:14)
I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life. (Deuteronomy 30:19)
When Jesus saw the man and new that he had been sick for such a long time, Jesus asked him, “Do you want to be well?” (John 5:6)
INSIGHT: Have you ever been close to someone with Stage 4 cancer? They tend to make more deliberate choices than the rest of us. They don’t have the luxury of doing it all, so they pare down to what’s most important. When we submit to God’s boundaries for how to behave in the marketplace, we actually find a truer form of freedom. We feel less pulled by the opinions and enticements of others, less driven by success for its own sake, more free to pursue meaning, and more at peace when something goes wrong.
REFLECTION: If you had six months to live, how might your professional goals change?
BONDAGE
Sin steals our life
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:8-9)
Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. (Proverbs 13:20) MOVE
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. (Galatians 5:19-21)
Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. (Galatians 5:1)
INSIGHT: An idolatrous attachment to wealth, power, and prestige is an invitation to slavery. The more toys we have, the more time we must spend maintaining them. The more prominence we have, the more we feel compelled to manage our image. When God told the rich man to sell everything, he was pointing out this upright man’s enslavement. God’s ways include generosity with our wealth, integrity over profit, and humility towards others, and while these may seem like limitations, they actually set us free to a life of peace and joy.
REFLECTION:
RESPONSIBILITY
With freedom comes responsibility
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. (Galatians 5:13)
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48)
You should know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32)
INSIGHT: Voltaire and Spiderman’s comes great responsibility.” We have great freedom as business leaders, much more than we had as worker bees. Are we using it well? Some use their freedom to give themselves unreasonably high compensation, to charge highpriced luxuries to an expense account, to underpay employees. We can easily fall into a sense of entitlement. But God calls Kingdom Builders to honesty, fairness, and otherness. When we handle revenues and expenses honorably, we actually protect the flow of liquid cash. Responsibility puts us ahead in the long run.
REFLECTION:
CONSEQUENCES
Our choices have consequences
However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you: You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country. (Deuteronomy 28:15-16)
But because they served them in the presence of their idols and made the people of Israel fall into sin, therefore I have sworn with uplifted hand that they must bear the consequences of their sin, declares the Sovereign Lord. (Ezekiel 44:12)
There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 16:25) X
For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you. (Obadiah 1:15)
You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die. (Genesis 2:16-17)
INSIGHT: Many a business has been destroyed by an owner who failed to understand the implications of untethered choices. When we behave as pirates, treating enterprise as a source of booty, there are consequences. Bad choices have a backend price of diminished business and damaged relationships. Wisdom has a frontend price of discipline, obedience, consistency and time. We have a choice. We can learn our leadership lessons from either teacher: Truth or Consequence.
CALLING
Kingdom Builders understand that their divine calling will be revealed if we seek God’s will, ask for his guidance and study his word.
GOD’S TIMING
God is always working
For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:16)
Who knows that you have come to royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14b)
We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. (Psalm 37:7)
INSIGHT: God’s timing is so unlike ours. We want it done yesterday, but God can spend eons carving a canyon or bringing forth a mountain. He is meticulous and patient. Why would he be any different when it comes to shaping our lives and businesses? He carefully molds together our past experiences with present-day challenges to prepare us for what’s next, but according to his schedule, not ours. When we relax into his timing, we begin to discover the secret to our own peace and contentment.
REFLECTION:
GOD’S PROMISE
God’s promise gives eternal hope
The Lord said to Abram, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make you name great, and you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:3)
No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or abandon you. (Joshua 1:5)
I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. (Genesis 28:15)
I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. (Genesis 12:2)
INSIGHT:
REFLECTION:
CALLING
We are called to God’s work
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
We constantly pray for you, that God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. (2 Thessalonians 1:11)
No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves. It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another. (Psalm 75:6-7)
INSIGHT: We will live our best, most meaningful lives when we discern our Kingdom calling. Why did God give us our particular job, our particular network, our particular giftedness? What is our higher calling and how do we find it? First we listen carefully to our own unique desires, abilities, and experiences. Then we carve out time and resources to pursue our calling. Where might our uniqueness be used in building up God’s Kingdom? We’ll know we’ve discovered our calling when we’re willing to pursue it even through disappointment, discomfort, sacrifice, and opposition. Readiness is the culmination of years of practicing obedience, both the exciting moments and the mundane every day tasks, through success and failure alike, ultimately preparing us for God’s Big Ask.
REFLECTION: What Kingdom calling might God be nudging you towards?
APPOINTMENTS
God gives appointments
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:910)
The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. (Ezra 1:2b)
The Most High God rules in the kingdom of men and appoints over it whomever He chooses. (Daniel 5:21b)
Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. (2 Samuel 7:9)
INSIGHT: When God taps us on the shoulder for a particular project or task, Kingdom Builders strive to accept the assignment. Kingdom Builders strive to deploy their unique skill set, experience, resources, and relational capital for Kingdom needs that arise. God has given each of us a one-of-a-kind role in the marketplace. Are we willing to leverage that role for God and others? Accepting God’s divine appointment differs from simply filling the calendar or pleasing people. His specific appointments have to do with our truest purpose.
REFLECTION: When was I afraid to embrace an opportunity from God?
FAVOR
Obedience brings favor
Therefore, brothers be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall. (2 Peter 1:10)
Let me know your ways that I may know you, so that I may find favor in your sight. (Exodus 33:13)
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Noah did everything just as God commanded him. (Genesis 6:8)
INSIGHT: In God’s Economy, he gives favor to leaders who have positioned themselves for it. Obedience, character, and readiness lead to God’s favor. When God calls us to a task, and we obey, he gives us what we need—power, resources, open doors, perseverance. This is favor. When God calls us to behave graciously with a supplier or customer, and we obey, we build a trustworthy reputation, which helps us gain influence and business in the future. This is how reputations are built. This is also favor. Doing what God asks is not usually convenient or easy, but it often brings favor.
REFLECTION: “Lord, let me see your favor, that I might follow it.”
FAITHFUL LEADERS
Kingdom Builders have discovered the blessings of servant leadership.
FAITHFUL
Faith spawns courage and strength
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25)
Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped. (Joshua 24:14
Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)
Faith is being sure we will get what we hope for. It is being sure of what we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1)
INSIGHT: To take on causes bigger than themselves, faithful leaders are willing to take on tasks that outsize their own strength and control. They are willing step into unknown territory, where they don’t have it all figured out. Why? Because they trust God with the outcome. They have faith that God will come through. When we are doing something that really matters, we are willing to leave what’s comfortable, like a parent who will do whatever it takes to help their child.
REFLECTION:
GREATNESS
Great leaders inspires Greatness
So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:10)
What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? (Mark 8:36)
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
(Ecclesiastes 1:9)
INSIGHT: Good leaders gain influence because of their competency. But great leaders use their competency and influence to take on causes that are bigger than themselves. Whereas the world sees the marketplace in terms of win or lose, great leaders have a broader and richer metric. They add value that goes beyond the winning or losing mentality. Great leaders care about impacting others for good. They steward their influence not for their own glory but for a higher purpose.
REFLECTION:
GRATITUDE
Gratitude opens our mind and heart
Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good; his love endures forever. (Jeremiah 33:11)
I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might and have now made known to me what we asked of you. (Daniel 2:23)
I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing praises of the name of the Lord most high. (Psalm 7:17)
Do everything without grumbling or arguing. (Philippians 2:14)
INSIGHT: I often ask the CEO’s I consult to do an important strategic exercise: I have them count their blessings. By naming what is going well in their business, leaders begin to see the strengths they have to leverage. They begin to see possibilities. Gratitude helps people put off their pessimism and recognize their abundance. It also helps people put off any feelings of entitlement. The Israelites used to leave piles of rocks as monuments of gratitude, in recognition to what God had done in their lives. The practice gave them context for the future.
REFLECTION: How could you mark something you are thankful for?
KINGDOM VALUES
Kingdom Builders value what God values
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. (1 Corinthians 14:1)
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. (1 Timothy 6:11)
People judge by the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7b)
Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And above all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
(Colossians 3:12-14)
INSIGHT: Faithful leaders are value-centric. They don’t base decisions solely on circumstances, the mood of the moment, business school theories, or fear. They integrate the values of God into their leadership. It’s not as easy as doing one nice act. The fight against greed and selfishness is ongoing. In the field of commerce we are regularly asked to behave in ways that go against our values. Love and forgiveness and listening are not high priorities. The only way I know to keep my integrity is to bring God’s Word into play. Scripture reminds me I’m not as wonderful as I think, helps me care about the right things, and keeps me seeking the character of God.
REFLECTION:
FOCUS
Focus on the important stuff
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.
(Philippians 3:13)
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
(1 Corinthians 9:24)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
(Philippians 4:8)
It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.
(Hebrews 11:27)
INSIGHT: Organizations perform to their highest potential when they focus on priorities. Leaders do too. For over 20 years, each January I map out a Life Plan for the coming year, for both my personal life and my company. In my Life Plan I choose a Focus Word, three Priorities, Big Ideas, and the things I want to do more of and less of. Setting goals helps us marshal our resources, lead faithfully, and take on meaningful pursuits. Kingdom Builders are contemplative about the direction of their lives.
REFLECTION:
MARKETPLACE BATTLEFIELD
Kingdom Builders know the spiritual battle between good and evil is at play in the marketplace everyday.
BATTLEFIELD
God’s ways challenge man’s in the marketplace
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great.
(Psalm 18:34-35)
“They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
(Jeremiah 1:19)
Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of sin at work within me.
(Romans 7:21-24)
It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.
(2 Timothy 2:15)
INSIGHT: Every morning when we walk into our workplace, invisible forces swirl around us. We immediately snap to a particular culture, power structure, and rules of engagement, where certain behaviors are reinforced and others are discouraged. The economic stakes are high. Whether we recognize it or not, each workday a spiritual battle takes place over values. Will God’s ways or man’s ways win out over the handling of money, power, and influence? Fighting the spiritual battle first requires one simple step: the acknowledgement that the battle exists.
REFLECTION: Is the culture of your workplace malignant or healthy? What company values might oppose God’s values?
MAMMON
Mammon is a sprit of greed
No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
(Luke 16:13)
Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. (1 Timothy 6:9-10)
I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your stomach it will be sweet as honey’”
(Revelation 10:9)
INSIGHT: It is natural to want to use our authority for our own agenda. We like the power trip of no one telling us what to do. But Mammon can easily become a stronghold. Mammon is the spirit of extreme greed for money, wealth, and power. Mammon wants to keep us intoxicated by our own sense of dominance, oblivious to the treacheries we commit, deceived about reality. I’ve had a front row seat watching powerful leaders over 30 years ; a few would up in orange jumpsuits because of their greed, and one wind up at the end of a noose. If we choose to serve Mammon, we choose bondage to a ruthless taskmaster. Never underestimate the ruinous power of Mammon.
REFLECTION:
FEAR
Fear is the opposite of faith
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
(Luke 12:32)
“Do not be afraid, you are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my Lord, since you have given me strength.
(Daniel 10:9)
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.
(Psalms 27:3)
But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today.
(Exodus 14:13)
When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. (James 1:2-3)
INSIGHT: So many business owners worry all the time, maybe because business ownership is hard and the exposure is great, maybe because we tend to measure our success as human beings solely by our career performance. Fear is the opposite of faith. Faithful leaders know that they have somewhere to go with their worries. God tells us to lay our worries at his feet. Oh, we don’t like this; we’d rather be in control. Still, what a sweetness to be able to relax into God’s strength and assurance. REFLECTION:
COVERING
God covers His leaders
If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you.
(Psalm 91:9-10)
Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground and after you have done everything, to stand.
(Ephesians 6:13)
“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. (Genesis 15:1)
Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant.
(Jonah 4:6)
INSIGHT: A wise leader prepares for the battles ahead by anticipating them. Spiritual and physical conflicts are part of every leader’s life, so why be blindsided when they arise? I personally try to cover myself for battle through prayer, especially when I have a big decision to make, like hiring or firing. I pray and I ask others to pray. I nurture relationships with wise mentors and advisors, who I can turn to when the challenges arise. And of course, I gear up for battle with the armor of scripture, like a football player who puts on pads before the game. REFLECTION: Do you pray about your work decisions?
TEMPTATION
Temptations are footholds for Satan
Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”
(Matthew 4:8-9)
The Spirit is willing, but the body is weak. (Matthew 26:41)
Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
(Romans 7:21)
And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
(1 Corinthians 10:13b)
INSIGHT: Titans of industry want to perform well and get the most out of the deal. Their temptation is to compromise. Cheat a contractor here; misrepresent a sale there. It’s the Golden Rule: he who makes the gold makes the rules. Although cheating gets results in the moment, it becomes harder and harder to sustain. Small compromises turn into bigger ones, which require cover up and secrecy. The fear of exposure becomes crippling. The best way I know to combat the temptation of Mammon is to make sure your business has accountability and transparency, with employees, clients, and board members. Also, if you mess up, come clean.
REFLECTION:
MISSIONAL LEADERS
Kingdom Builders are agents of God’s Will which means we care for the poor, the hurting, and the mistreated.
MISSIONS
Kingdom Builders serve on mission
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. (Hebrews 13:2-3)
Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” (Nehemiah 2:17)
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)
INSIGHT: God intends for us to live into the mission he specifically assigns to us, according to how he made us. In Latin the concept is called Missio Dei, the mission of God. No matter what financial state our business is in, we all have a wealth of resources we can either release into Kingdom work or hold back for ourselves. One reason to embrace our Missio Dei is that it gives us deeper relevance. Another reason is this: we are needed.
REFLECTION:
SACRIFICE
God uses our sacrifices
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
(Matthew 13:45-46)
Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
(Ephesians 4:28)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
(Romans 12:1)
INSIGHT: A missional leader makes sacrifices. Nehemiah gave up his job as cupbearer to the king in order to become a stone mason, so that he could restore Jerusalem’s walls along with Israel’s honor. First, though, Nehemiah allowed himself to mourn and pray for the brokendown city. Maybe the first sacrifice of a missional leader is to let ourselves feel the suffering of others. We must give up our emotional distance.
REFLECTION:
POVERTY
Poverty matters to God
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
(Matthew 10:42)
He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. (Deuteronomy 10:18)
There need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you, to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you. (Deuteronomy 15:4)
Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
(Proverbs 14:31)
INSIGHT: Poverty is an uncomfortable subject. It is hard to look at it square in the face. Yet Kingdom Builders can’t ignore the needs of the poor. No matter your political persuasion, there is no denying that Jesus cared about the poor. He spoke to them, healed them, told parables about them. He did not skirt around their needs. As leaders and wealth builders, we can directly affect resources for those in need. My staff and I set aside money each year for a Kingdom Fund; we give company earnings towards a cause we all decide on together, often having to do with the poor.
REFLECTION: How can you pay attention to the poor with the resources God has given you?
BLESSINGS
If you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul—then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil... and you will eat and be satisfied.
(Deuteronomy 11:13-15)
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)
Saul replied, “The Lord bless you for your concern for me.”
(1 Samuel 23:21)
INSIGHT: Living on mission changes us. When we give our blood, sweat and tears to a cause, we grow in determination, guts, and will. We are more healthy - emotionally and spiritually. This is a form of blessing. Then God likes to multiply the blessings. Our individual health affects the health of our company and community. Our caring can breed a whole culture of caring. This kind of work environment often attracts talent and customers, leading to more blessings. I’ve seen the ripple affect time after time.
REFLECTION:
EPOCH TIMES
Injustices provoke the rigtheous
“Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.
(Nehemiah 1:3-4)
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. (Ecclesiastes 1:18)
He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
(Ephesians 1:9-10)
INSIGHT:
REFLECTION:
SECRETS
Kingdom Builders are curious, teachable and eager to discover the simple truths and majestic mysteries of God’s universe.
MYSTERY
God has mysterious ways
With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure.
(Ephesians 1:8-9)
This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
(1 Corinthians 2:13)
I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.
(1 Corinthians 15:50-51)
INSIGHT:
REFLECTION:
PARADOX
God has different rules for power
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
“One thing you lack,” Jesus said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and then you will have treasure in heaven. (Mark 10:21)
The last will be first, and the first will be last. (Matthew 20:16)
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured in your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. (Luke 6:38)
INSIGHT: Most effective leaders, secular or kingdom-centric, want to make a difference. Leaders need power to drive impact. The Kingdom Builders power comes from serving Christ first by serving and others in all they do. This does not make sense to the power theories of business school. Secular power is rooted in resources, position authority and titles. Kingdom Builder leaders gain more power by giving it up or submitting it all and acknowledging they are servants not kings or queens.
REFLECTION: Who, what why, when, how?
MIRACLES
God uses miracles
Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?
(Mark 6:2)
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God bodly. (Acts 4:31)
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31)
INSIGHT: Do you believe in miracles?
Gratitude + Love + Praise help us understand Faith and Miracles.
Throughout history, God has revealed his power through mighty miracles over nature, such as the great flood. He promises to continue to reveal his power. This power that controls creation and raises the dead is available to Kingdom Builders.
REFLECTION:
PROPHETIC VISION
God reveals His will through visions
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5)
In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. (Daniel 7:13)
In your vision, Your Majesty, you saw standing before you a huge, shining statue of a man. It was a frightening sight. The head of the statue was made of fine gold. Its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze, its legs were iron, and its feet were a combination of iron and baked clay. (Daniel 2:31-33)
If there were prophets among you, I, the Lord, would reveal myself in visions. I would speak to them in dreams. (Numbers 12:6)
INSIGHT: Here are a few fragments of a prophetic vision: hotdogs, deep faith leaders talking, sharing and ideas emerging around a campfire. 30 years later...
Prophecy is not simply prediction of the future, it is God’s revelation of his will, his desire for our lives, his requirements and his plans. Such revelations for me have never been exactly rational.
REFLECTION:
SPIRITUAL TRUTH
Non-believers are blind to Spiritual truth
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
(1 Corinthians 2:14)
Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. (John 3:6)
This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
(1 Corinthians 2:13)
Jesus said, “You have been chosen to know the secrets about the kingdom of God.” (Luke 8:10)
INSIGHT:
REFLECTION:
GOD’S WORD
Kingdom Builders seek God’s truth by studying The Word.
AUTHORITY
The words of Scriptures are Holy
This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you. (Jeremiah 30:2)
And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. (Psalm 12:6)
Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God. (Matthew 22:29)
INSIGHT: Francis Bacon said that “knowledge is power.” The Word of God is the greatest source of knowledge about our personal and professional life. There is the power of perspective, courage, When Sam lost his biggest deal. Or in 2008 when he thought he would lose his businesses.
REFLECTION: Do you treat God’s word as a well spring of divine authority by which to live, or a reference book?
PROMISES
God’s promises are abundant
Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. (Joshua 23:14)
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3)
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19)
Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. (1 Kings 8:56)
Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. (Joshua 21:45)
INSIGHT: When someone promises us something, we wonder if we can really trust them. We listen closely, evaluate every word and wait to see if action really follows. The Bible is profuse with God’s promises. If we follow his words, we can be sure of what will come: abundance, freedom, guidance and joy. We can count on the bedrock of God’s promises, but we must remember that God’s fulfillment of his promises doesn’t always come as quickly or as easily as we want. God gave Sarah and Abraham the child he’d promised them, but not until Sarah was 90 years old.
REFLECTION: Father, help me to believe in your promises even if I can’t see their fulfillment. Yet.
INSTRUCTION
The Bible instructs us how to live
Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart. (Job 22:22)
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us,so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)
This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. (Joshua 1:8)
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. (James 1:22)
Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29)
INSIGHT: How to discern God’s word? Seek the will of the Spirit of God in connection with the study of the word not apart. God guides us according to the Scriptures in combination with reflection and prayer—from trivial matters to major transactions, the process is the same.
REFLECTION:
LIVING WORDS
God’s word is living
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. (1 Peter 1:23)
The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” (Isaiah 40:7-8)
God’s word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. (Hebrews 4:12)
But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life. (John 4:14)
INSIGHT: Scripture can quench our thirst for meaning, understand, even revelation, like no other source. It is a deep mine that yields more new insights each reading. It requires pause, prayer, study verse by verse and part by part. It requires chewing and digesting to get into our mind and our thought structures. When we do this, something comes alive in us, like a living spirit. Some call it the spirit of holiness.
Priceless gems are hidden inside the vaults of the Scriptures. Just the right words at the time. Miraculously coincidental. Prepare to for the discovery increases the yield. Ask God to reveal himself as study is a sure path to wisdom. This is a promise.
REFLECTION:
STORIES
Stories give us glimpses of His kingdom
Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. (Mark 4:30-31)
Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. (Matthew 25:14)
That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
INSIGHT: The power of imagery and stories. Jesus often would communicate spiritual truths through parable. He would take a familiar object or situation and give it a startling new twist. He would use stories to open their mind to discover the truth for themselves. Most had only one meaning or one point.