Windows of Opportunity

“‘Bring all the tithes into the store house, that there may be food in My house, And try me now in this,’ Says the Lord of Hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it'”  — Malachi 3:10

How would you like to have endless business opportunities?   How would you like to have so many opportunities that you have to turn down business?

A story is found in Luke 5:1-11 where a fisherman named Simon caught so much fish that his net could not handle it and he had to call for help after obeying the instructions of Jesus.  What was the key to his sudden productivity?  He allowed the rabbi to use his boat to carry out His ministry and followed the instructions that the rabbi had given him.

Though most people view opportunity as something that you chase and spend most of your energy going after, we view opportunity in the Kingdom as something that God orchestrates in his own timing. However, we must be prepared for it.

Opportunity is recognizing when God’s timing meets preparation.  You are responsible for preparing for the opportunity, while God is responsible for orchestrating it.  Without opportunities in the marketplace to meet market needs a business cannot be profitable.  Business success begins with opportunity recognition.

Although God is the orchestrator of opportunities our obedience, or lack thereof, can impact the number of opportunities available to us.  God told the Israelites to “bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and I will open for them the windows of heaven and pour out such a blessing that they will not have enough room to receive it.  And I will rebuke the devourer for their sakes, so that the fruit of their ground will not be destroyed and their vine will not fail to bear fruit in the field” (Malachi 3:10-11).  During the time of these instructions to the children of Israel their main business was agriculture and they were very dependent on farming for survival.  God’s instruction to them was that if they were to apply the principle of the tithe then He would open for them the windows of heaven and protect their production.  Opening the windows of heaven was symbolic for creating market opportunities for them.   These market opportunities would be so much that they would not be able to handle them.  There would be such production that they would not have enough barns to preserve them. There would be such demand for their product and services that they would not be able to meet that demand fast enough.  In other words, if they were committed to providing for the needs of the work of the Lord through the principle of the tithe, God would ensure that they never lacked resources.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” –Matthew 6:33

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” — 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Giving opens the windows of heaven which leads to market opportunities being available to you for greater business productivity.

Why does God tie market opportunities to giving?

• It is a sign that you recognize God’s ownership of the business and sovereignty over your life.
• It demonstrates that you are not attached to money.
• It shows that you understand the purpose of profit which, among other things, must be used to advance the kingdom of God.

Giving will not only open windows of opportunity for your business but God will also rebuke the devourer.  Devourers are things that eat up your production or keep opportunities from fully materializing.  It could be high interest rates, bad weather, market instability or employee theft. Giving protects what you have from being destroyed, as well as enabling God to protect your production and market opportunities from being materialized prematurely or before you are prepared to take advantage of them.

All of this is because God wants to fund His work. He wants to supply His Church with ample resources.  However, in order to do so He needs productive, profitable kingdom businesses that understand the purpose for which God called them into business.

How is your business doing?  Are you experiencing the kind of growth you desire?  Commit to tithing from your personal income, from your business profits and give generously as the Lord blesses you. Not only will windows of opportunity open for you, but your production and market opportunities will be protected from destruction and premature conclusion.

My prayer for you today is that as you invest your time, talent and treasure in the Kingdom, God will open the windows of Heaven and you will reap a harvest of blessings.