The Kingdom Alternative
WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL BY PATRICE TSAGUE
How do you approach your life or business?
Are you religious and legalistic?
Are you carnal or worldly?
Or are you Kingdom-minded?
| ”But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) |
The Kingdom Alternative
We all know very well that having a unique formula or a “secret sauce” that sets what we do apart from everything and everyone else is critical to having a competitive edge over companies in similar industries to ours.
If you have been through the Biblical Entrepreneurship Program, you would be well aware that to establish and maintain a competitive edge (or competitive advantage) in the marketplace, you must continually be at the forefront of finding innovative ways to overcome industry challenges and problems. Our competitive advantage is our unique approach to serving our customers and operating our businesses.
A Biblical Entrepreneur must establish and maintain that advantage with an eternal perspective – a Kingdom alternative – that is firmly anchored in love. This must be clearly seen in the way we operate our businesses and serve our customers. In doing this, however, we must be careful that we do not confuse being “religious” with being Kingdom-like.
A Kingdom alternative combines both the law and grace in how we deal with everything. It is different from being religious. It is an approach that seeks to honor God by serving man through servant leadership, godly values, and a supernatural dimension.
When we read the Gospels, we are presented with three worldviews or approaches to life:
- The first view, represented by the Pharisees and Sadducees, is the religious view.
- A second view, represented by those considered to be Gentiles (Romans, Greeks
and any non-Jews or non-followers of Christ), is the worldly view. - A third view, represented by Jesus and His disciples, is the Kingdom view.
The religious view is man’s way of reaching God on his own terms, or by misusing a religious system that represents God to achieve his own ends. This is manifested in business by those who project the appearance of godliness as a means of gain.
Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’” – Matthew 23:1-7 (NKJV)
The worldly view is a way for man to achieve his own end on his own terms.
This is manifested in the business world by those who seek to profit at all costs.
“For after these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” – Matthew 6:32 (NKJV)
The Kingdom view is a way for man to honor God by the way that he serves his fellow man. Those who conduct business this way are led by the Holy Spirit, and the profit that they make spreads godliness and contentment at every level because every decision that a Kingdom business makes is based upon the values of the Kingdom of God.
Now Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” – 1 Timothy 6:6-7 (NKJV)
Are you religious or worldly in your approach to business, or do you offer the business world and your customers a genuine Kingdom alternative?
| WORLDLY | RELIGIOUS | KINGDOM |
| Seek to please man | Seeks to reach God | Seeks to invite God in |
| Desires power & might | Lacks power | Filled with the Holy Spirit |
| Focuses on the natural | Is superstitious | Focuses on the supernatural |
| Is lawless | Is legalistic | Lives by law & grace |
| Lacks integrity | Is hypocritical | Walks in integrity |
| Don’t care what you think | Focuses on what others think | Focuses on what God thinks |
| Serves self | Serves the system | Serves others |
| Social | Moral | Transformational |
The religious system is man’s approach to reaching God. The worldly system is man’s approach to “playing God”. But the Kingdom system is man inviting God to rule and reign over him and to guide him in every aspect of his life, including business.
Where do you best fit? The world today is in desperate need of a Kingdom alternative in every sphere. This Kingdom alternative must be what sets us apart.
My prayer today is that God will grant you the wisdom and grace to present a genuine Kingdom alternative throughout your industry and sphere of influence.
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