A new breed of ministers is emerging. They are called of God and know it, but not in the traditional sense of preaching, teaching, or even evangelism as we have known it.
They serve the Lord in the marketplace. Why? Because they are business and professional people, and they know that their work is their ministry.
Two of the more popular and useful concepts (of service) were the phrases priesthood of all believers and every Christian a minister which are born out of 1 Pet. 2:9–10. From this passage, we understand that all of us are called, we are a "chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people."
However, most of the time we choose to use the word priesthood and ignore the word royal. Darby’s Translation uses the phrase kingly priesthood. I believe that Peter used both the words priesthood and royal or kingly for the same reason that the Lord Jesus called us kings and priests (Rev. 1:6).
Don’t confuse the call to ministry in the marketplace with the call to ministry in the local church. We need both the kings and priests ministering in their respective callings to see the national transformation we desire. The words priest or priesthood automatically draws our thoughts to church- or mission-related activities. It is my conviction that in these days, ministry must have a much broader base than church-related activities and concerns.
So, who are these "kings" that will lead us in the coming harvest? One is a taxi driver in La Plata, Argentina. He was driving me to my speaking engagements in his city and we began to talk about seeing one’s business as ministry. He said he desired this, so I prayed for him, and declared him a "king". I saw him again four months later and he excitedly told me, "I have had the opportunity to lead someone to Christ every day since you prayed for me. It really does work. My business is my ministry."
Yes, he is one of the kings and so are you! CEO and manager, administrator and assistant, computer programmer and custodian. Politician and plumber, football player or interior designer, God is looking on your heart.
(Extracted from GOD@WORK – Discovering the Anointing for Business by Rich Marshall, one of the speakers at the God@Work Conference to be held from Aug. 28 to 29 at Renewal Lutheran Church, Petaling Jaya. See page 14 for more details.)
