As the marketplace ministry movement gains
momentum in the Body of Christ, a new buzzword is emerging to
describe business owners who are sent out into Corporate America
with the Gospel message: apostolic entrepreneur.
It’s not a new notion. Jesus was a carpenter. Paul was a tentmaker.
Peter was a fisherman. Indeed, apostolic people are people of vision
and taking dominion in the marketplace for the glory of God is one
manifestation of that vision. However, there is a lurking danger of
which apostolic entrepreneurs must beware. It’s called entanglement.
It was the Apostle Paul who said, “No man that warreth entangeleth
himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who
hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:4). This Scripture
once concerned me because, like many modern day apostolic people, I
operate in five-fold ministry but continue to take dominion in the
marketplace through God-inspired entrepreneurial pursuits.
God has called me as a soldier on the front lines of His army, but
He also gives me business strategies that prosper to finance
Gospel-centered efforts. On the marketplace hand, I own five
companies. On the ministry hand, I head up major international media
outreaches and equip believers in the local church. God is blessing
both endeavors because it is part of His plan and purpose. But if I
am not careful I can easily get “entangled with the affairs of this
life.” When that happens the grace stops up like a clogged sink and
instead of everything I put my hand to prospering, everything I put
my hand to becomes laborious, tedious, and otherwise ungratifying.
So what does it mean, then, to be entangled and how can we de-tangle
ourselves from the affairs of life without pulling completely out of
the marketplace in which God has called us to take dominion? I’m
glad you asked because it’s a critical aspect of apostolic living.
If you are a “do-it-all” person, you’ll run into this snare sooner
or later, if you haven’t already. You need to recognize it for what
it is and avoid it, or, if you are tied in worldly knots, untangle
yourself and refocus on the affairs of God.
The Greek word for “entanglement” in 2 Timothy 2:4 is used
metaphorically. It means “to weave in.” We can glean a similar
meaning from the English word “entangle.” It means to wrap or twist
together. We are supposed to be in the world, not woven into the
societal fabric of the world. If we get tangled up in the world we
hinder the work of God and can quickly become confused as to what
we’re even called to in the first place.
The Message translation really drives the point home: “A soldier on
duty doesn’t get caught up in making deals in the marketplace. He
concentrates on carrying out his orders.” I like that translation
because it helps clarify what it really means to get “entangled” in
the affairs of civilian life. To me, that verse warns not to get
caught up in the excitement of gaining our victories in the business
world and – pay attention now – beginning to conduct business the
way the world does because it makes us feel powerful. If we get our
empowerment from landing the big contract or even getting that small
promotion, we’re drawing from self not Spirit.
Look, God empowers us to create wealth, right? His Spirit leads us
and guides us through the affairs of life, even business affairs. He
is ready and willing to be your business partner and demonstrate
through you to the world that His favor rests upon you. Our part is
to yield to Him, to do business His way and not the world’s way,
and, most importantly, not to put our entrepreneurial interests
before His plan. See, the world of work is just a means to an end.
The end is spreading the Gospel to every creature. The means is
often the world of work. But we can’t be effective witnesses if we
are entangled.
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GOD, FAMILY, MINISTRY
Let me give you the other half of this detangling strategy: God,
family, ministry. Our personal fellowship time with God should be
first on our list of priorities every day of the week – not just
Sunday. If we get so entangled in the affairs of life that we are
rushing out the door with a chocolate frosted doughnut and a cup of
coffee to tackle our overwhelming workloads, then we’ve missed it
terribly. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. He is the source of our
strength, our power, our strategies, our witty inventions. He is our
source – not the fruit of entrepreneurial endeavors or our high-falutin’
(that means pompous and ostentatious for those of you who don’t
speak Southern) business connections.
The Bible instructs us to acknowledge Him in all of our ways and He
will direct our steps. God isn’t going to make a habit of directing
your steps to the marketplace without quality time with Him and your
family. Entanglement is a snare that transforms honest, hard-working
people into cranky, stressed out workaholics. Even if your calling
is to the marketplace to generate finances for the Kingdom of God,
He is not going to smile as He watches you work your fingers to the
bone and lose sight of your relationship with Him. How can we be
sensitive to the Spirit of God, speak the Word in due season, and
have a brightly shining light that attracts people to Jesus if we
are burned out and tangled up in knots? We can’t.
If you’re entangled, don’t worry – but don’t try to untie the knots
yourself, either. Lean on Him and not on your own understanding.
After all, it was your own understanding that got you into the mess,
right? If you could get yourself untangled, you probably would have
done it already.
Call on God to help you refocus your apostolic entrepreneurship so
you can channel your energies and your resources toward His plans,
purposes and pursuits instead of your own. The thrill of closing the
big deal won’t last. The thrill of winning souls for Jesus never
fades. Put God, family and ministry first and everything else will
fall into place.
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