Four Streams of Provision for a Kingdom Minded Business
Scripture is full of promises that God will provide for our needs. While many of us grasp that truth in our personal live, too many of us - including me, at times - struggle to apply and rest in those promises in our business context and daily worklife. Especially those of us leading companies and/or responsible for the company's revenue and/or profitability.
I spent a fair amount of time exploring this challenge in my book "At Work As In Heaven." Specifically, I proposed in Chapter 10, that "provision flows from purpose." That is, if we get our business aligned with God's will, intention, and purpose for that business - then God will graciously, dependably, even abundantly, provide the resources required to accomplish what He intends.
But how exactly does that play out in practice? Well, it seems to me there are at least four streams through which God provides to us leaders of Kingdom-focused businesses:
In my experience, these first two are the primary means He uses - and these reflect God's generosity as our Father. These are good things that He gives us because we're part of His family, and these reflect the way things work in His capital-K Kingdom.
Harvest - this is where we sow and reap, and it's a good thing (if you're not one of God's children, reaping what you sow isn't usually a good thing...). Even though we live in a broken world, we sow things, and then because of our right standing with Him through Christ, God causes us to reap favorable results of that sowing. Maybe, in His grace, we reap what we should (without decay or loss). Maybe, in His grace, we reap more than we would expect. In other words, He's multiplied the harvest. Regardless of the proportions we reap, however, the provision we gain through Harvest has a direct connection to the fact that we sowed something. You might understand this in context of your sales pipeline bearing fruit in response to specific marketing efforts, and come to sense God's work and His ordained purpose in the specific clients (and thus revenue) He brings you through the process.
Inheritance - this stream describes the gifts He gives us simply because He's a good good Father. We didn't sow anything - at least not directly - that produced some (rightful) expectation of reaping. Rather this provision flows from God's pure goodness, His great grace, His desire as a Father to bless us His children. We didn't work for this provision, we didn't earn it - it's just the nature of who He is and how He treats His children. This may be seen through a surprise contract that just came out of nowhere. (We have stories... I'm sure you do too!)
Unfortunately, while we're still physically present in the little k kingdom, there are other forces at play. Namely a thief (and his minions) who are actively seeking to steal, kill, and destroy (see John 10:10). Sometimes - whether because our own sin gave the opening, or through a totally unjust attack - the thief manages to steal some of the provision which God intends for us. So these second two streams through which God provides have do with God's protection while we're operating in the little k kingdom. (I haven't studied this deeply, but it seems to me that these streams won't be necessary when the Kingdom fully comes, and the thief/injustice/sin are all permanently dispatched.)
Restoration - this is provision that comes through God restoring the things that the enemy has stolen. Things that were rightfully ours, good gifts or provision the Father intended for us, but which the enemy attempted to take for his own use. When the thief is caught, and convicted - the thief has to give those things back. I know, at Yakabod, given that the name of the company literally proclaims God's glory, we've faced much spiritual opposition, and have had much stolen from us over the years. This is no "victim complex" - I know full well it was the thief (satan) behind all these thefts, because they each unfolded in the most heartbreaking way possible. I'm not sure exactly HOW God is going to restore what's been stolen, but by turning those injustices over to Him, my faith is strong that when it's time, just as did David in Ziklag (1 Samuel 30), we will "surely recover all!"
Recompense - this stream is more about God's justice. Since the thief was not only caught - but he stole from God's family, he has to not only pay back what was stolen, but he has to pay some amount beyond that. It's a penalty on top of what he stole. In other words we don’t just recover what’s ours, but we plunder the enemy as well. He has to turn back over - to God's children - the stuff he unjustly acquired (no matter who he originally stole it from.) This stream was also in play for David in 1 Samuel 30 - but you'll find plenty of other references and examples, such as Proverbs 6:31, Exodus 22:7, Isaiah 40:10, or Esther 6-8.
Not sure where the provision for your business is coming from? Ask God if He would have you pray specifically about one or more of these streams above. Are you sowing in the right places? Does He want you simply waiting on Him for inheritance? Do you need to specifically turn some injustices over to Him, and appeal to the Courts of Heaven for His justice? Or more fundamentally, are you operating in His purpose for the business? He can and will give you insight if you'll spend time in prayer with Him!!
Do you have a story/testimony of God's provision through one of the above streams you'd care to share? Let it fly in the comments below!