Kingdom Values in Business: A Faithful Engagement

Devotional

Day 1: Created to Reflect God and Subdue Chaos

Humanity is made in God's image and given the mandate to bring order, steward creation, and reflect His character in the world. As image bearers, we are called to continue God's work of transforming chaos into order, making things better than they were, and tending to the world with care and purpose. This foundational calling is not just for a select few, but for all people, and it shapes how we engage in every sphere of life—including our work and business dealings. When we bring order, healing, and goodness into our daily tasks, we are participating in God's ongoing creative work and fulfilling our original purpose. [22:35]

Genesis 1:26-28 (ESV)
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Reflection: In what area of your work or daily life can you intentionally bring order, healing, or goodness this week as a reflection of God’s image in you?

Day 2: Kingdom Business Serves Others and Honors Their Dignity

Every person we encounter in business—whether a customer, coworker, employee, or vendor—bears the image of God and is worthy of dignity and respect. Kingdom-minded business is not just about profit or efficiency, but about building up the worth of others, ensuring that our actions make people feel more human, not less. This means resisting the temptation to treat people as mere cogs in a machine and instead seeking ways to affirm their value, even when it costs us time, money, or convenience. Our business dealings become a way to help others fulfill their God-given purpose and to honor the Creator by honoring His image in them. [30:24]

Leviticus 19:9-10 (ESV)
“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”

Reflection: Who in your daily business or work life can you intentionally honor and serve today, perhaps in a way that costs you something?

Day 3: Building Margin for Others and Ourselves

God’s design for work includes intentional margin—space for rest, generosity, and care for others. The world’s drive for relentless efficiency often dehumanizes both workers and customers, but God commands us to leave room for the needs of the poor, to pay fair wages promptly, and to practice Sabbath rest. This margin is not wasted; it is a means of providing for others and reminding ourselves that our worth and provision come from God, not from our own endless striving. By building in inefficiency for the sake of love and rest, we resist the idolatry of productivity and trust in God’s sustaining power. [41:26]

Exodus 20:8-11 (ESV)
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

Reflection: Where do you need to create margin in your schedule or business practices this week—for the sake of others or for your own rest?

Day 4: Glorifying God, Not Ourselves, in All We Do

The ultimate aim of our work and business is not self-promotion or personal comfort, but the glory of God. When we orient our actions, decisions, and motivations toward making God known and honored, we resist the world’s pull to make everything about ourselves. Every transaction, every act of service, and every use of our gifts is an opportunity to point others to God’s goodness and grace. Our lives, including our business dealings, are meant to be a testimony to His greatness, not a platform for our own. [46:45]

1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can shift your focus from self-promotion to glorifying God in your work or business interactions today?

Day 5: Living by Kingdom Values Opens Doors for Witness

When we operate by the values of God’s kingdom—generosity, justice, rest, and love—our lives stand out in a world driven by self-interest and competition. This difference naturally raises questions and creates opportunities to share the hope and faith that motivate us. Our distinct way of doing business becomes a living invitation for others to encounter Jesus and join in the kingdom life. By holding loosely to worldly gain and tightly to God’s promises, we become witnesses to a better way and open doors for others to know Christ. [50:28]

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.

Reflection: When someone notices your different approach to business or work, how can you be ready to gently share the hope and faith that guide your actions?

Sermon Summary

Today, we stepped away from our usual pattern of walking through Scripture verse by verse to address a topic that is often left unspoken in church: how our faith shapes the way we engage in business and commerce. Every one of us, whether as business owners, employees, or consumers, participates in the world of business. The way we conduct ourselves in these spaces is not a neutral matter; it is deeply spiritual and reflects our calling as image bearers of God.

From the very beginning, God gave humanity a mandate to subdue the earth, to bring order out of chaos, and to reflect His creative work. This is not just a general human calling, but for those who follow Jesus, it is also a kingdom calling—to make the world look a little more like the kingdom of heaven wherever we go. We are not just waiting passively for Jesus to return and set things right; we are called to actively participate in His work, making things right to the extent that we can, even if the world will never be fully healed by our efforts alone.

Kingdom business, then, is about more than profit or efficiency. It is about subduing chaos, serving others, and honoring the image of God in every person we encounter. This means our work should be done with excellence, not as a means of self-promotion, but as an act of worship to God. It also means that we must resist the world’s drive for relentless efficiency and instead build margin into our business dealings—margin that allows us to care for others, to provide for the poor, and to rest ourselves. The biblical principle of gleaning, for example, teaches us to leave room for others to benefit from our work, even at our own expense.

Furthermore, we are called to be mindful of power dynamics in business, ensuring that we do not exploit or oppress those with less power, but rather use our position to serve and uplift others. Ultimately, our business practices should point beyond ourselves, glorifying God and opening doors for others to encounter the hope we have in Christ. When we live and work by kingdom values, our lives will raise questions and create opportunities to share the reason for our hope, inviting others to join us in following Jesus.

Key Takeaways

1. Our engagement in business is a direct outworking of our calling as God’s image bearers. We are mandated to bring order, creativity, and goodness into the world, reflecting God’s character in every transaction and workplace interaction. This is not just a secular activity, but a sacred trust that shapes the world around us for God’s glory. [24:33]
2. The way we treat others in business—customers, employees, vendors—reveals how deeply we honor the image of God in them. Every person we encounter is a co-laborer in God’s creation, and our business dealings should build up their dignity and worth, not diminish it. To treat people as mere cogs in a machine is to dishonor both them and their Creator. [30:24]
3. Kingdom business intentionally builds in margin—inefficiency by the world’s standards—for the sake of others and ourselves. This includes practices like leaving gleanings for the poor, paying fair wages promptly, and observing Sabbath rest. Such margin is a tangible expression of trust in God’s provision and a rejection of the idolatry of relentless productivity. [39:24]
4. The use of power in business must be stewarded with humility and justice. Those with greater resources or authority are called to act with special care for those who depend on them, ensuring that business relationships are marked by fairness, promptness, and compassion. This is a countercultural witness that reflects the heart of God for the vulnerable. [44:40]
5. When we operate by kingdom values in the business world, our lives become a living testimony that provokes curiosity and opens spiritual doors. The world will notice when we choose generosity over greed, rest over relentless striving, and service over self-promotion. These moments are opportunities to share the hope we have in Christ and invite others into the kingdom life. [49:02]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[20:50] - Introducing the “Things You Can’t Talk About in Church” Series
[22:35] - The Creation Mandate and Our Role in Business
[24:33] - Bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to Earth
[25:40] - Fixing What’s Broken: The Christian’s Instinct
[26:38] - Our Hope in Christ’s Return
[27:21] - The Two Drivers: Creation and Kingdom
[28:48] - Subduing Chaos: Excellence in Work
[30:24] - Serving Others and Honoring God’s Image
[32:17] - The Cost of Efficiency and Dignity in Business
[34:35] - The Biblical Principle of Gleaning
[37:16] - Margin and the Shop Local Movement
[38:36] - Humanity in Healthcare and the Need for Margin
[39:24] - Sabbath Rest and Trusting God
[43:21] - Power Differentials and Justice in Business
[44:40] - Promptness and Fairness in Transactions
[47:46] - Glorifying God, Not Ourselves
[49:02] - Kingdom Values as a Witness
[50:28] - Explaining the Hope That Drives Us
[51:47] - Living Out Kingdom Values in Everyday Life
[53:09] - Prayer and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Genesis 1:26-28 (ESV) — > Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
> So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
> And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Leviticus 19:9-10 (ESV) — > “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV) — > Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Observation Questions

According to Genesis 1:26-28, what specific responsibilities did God give to humanity at creation?
What is the principle of gleaning described in Leviticus 19:9-10, and who benefits from it?
In Colossians 3:23-24, what motivation does Paul give for how we should approach our work?
The sermon described “margin” in business as leaving room for others to benefit, even at our own expense. What are some examples of this margin from the sermon? ([34:35])

Interpretation Questions

The creation mandate calls us to “subdue the earth” and “have dominion.” How does this relate to the way Christians should approach their work or business dealings today? ([22:35])
The principle of gleaning required farmers to leave some of their harvest for the poor. What does this reveal about God’s heart for business and those with less power or resources? ([34:35])
The sermon said that the way we treat others in business reveals how much we honor the image of God in them. What are some ways businesses (or individuals) can either honor or dishonor that image? ([30:24])
The idea of building “margin” into our work and business goes against the world’s drive for efficiency. Why might God want us to resist relentless productivity? ([39:24])

Application Questions

Think about your own work, whether as an employee, employer, or consumer. In what ways do you see yourself reflecting God’s image and bringing order, creativity, or goodness into your daily tasks? Where do you struggle? ([22:35])
The sermon challenged us to honor the image of God in every person we encounter in business. Can you recall a recent interaction (as a customer, coworker, or boss) where you either built up or diminished someone’s dignity? What could you have done differently? ([30:24])
The biblical principle of gleaning means intentionally leaving “margin” for others. What would it look like for you to build margin into your work or finances? Is there a specific way you could be less “efficient” for the sake of serving someone else this week? ([34:35])
Sabbath rest was described as a way to trust God’s provision and reject the idolatry of productivity. Are you currently practicing any form of Sabbath or rest? If not, what is one step you could take to build more rest into your week? ([39:24])
The sermon talked about power dynamics in business and the responsibility to use power to serve others. Do you have any influence or authority at work or in your community? How could you use that position to uplift someone with less power? ([44:40])
When you make business decisions (where to shop, how to spend, how to treat others), do you consider how your choices might open spiritual doors or point others to Christ? Can you think of a time when your actions in the marketplace led to a spiritual conversation? ([49:02])
The world notices when we choose generosity over greed, rest over striving, and service over self-promotion. What is one area of your work or business life where you want to be more countercultural for the sake of God’s kingdom? ([49:02])

Sermon Clips

But that means that any business that treats its customers, its vendors, its employees as anything less than human runs contrary to what it is that the God has told us to do. If we view the people that we are working with, the people that we are interacting with, the people we're buying things from, as simply biological robots who are there to do a job and push a button, then we are failing to honor God's image in that person. And we are failing then to honor God. [00:31:42] (39 seconds) #RejectDehumanizingBusiness

But we also need that regular reminder that the world does not turn because you get up and go to work. That's the reminder that I need. Things don't happen because I make them happen. Things happen because God makes them happen. And if I take a day and I don't do anything, the sun rises, the sun sets, the rain falls, it waters the fields, the fields grow. All of those things happen because God is making them happen, not because I'm making them happen. I need to be reminded regularly that the world doesn't turn because of my work. And building in margin, building in inefficiency, is the way that God has given us to remember that. [00:42:31] (55 seconds) #GlorifyGodNotSelf

Kingdom business serves others even through the power differentials. Kingdom business serves others. A kingdom business will also glorify god not us there's a large portion of the world that sells what they sell and buys what they buy because it makes them look good because it makes them feel good because it makes them more comfortable it's their way to a more comfortable life it's their way to make other people look at them and see how successful and important they are they are and all of those motivations are driven by a glorification of the self they are fundamentally self -centered they glorify me they draw attention to me they make me look good they make me feel good but paul writes in first corinthians 10 that whether you eat or drink whatever you do do all to the glory of god the pattern of our lives is supposed to be oriented not towards making me look good not towards making myself more comfortable but the entirety of our lives are supposed to be oriented towards drawing attention to god and making sure that everybody around us knows not how good we are but how good he is. [00:45:11] (84 seconds) #FaithShapesEveryAction

A kingdom business also opens spiritual doors. Living life and operating in the business world according to the principles of the kingdom of God should create questions. Because what we're talking about here is something that is foreign to the way that the world operates. We're playing by a different set of rules, and people should see that and be like, and it should generate a certain amount of confusion. Why are you doing this? Why do you operate this way? The law doesn't require it. Culture doesn't require it. In fact, it's counter to culture. Why would you operate with inefficiency? Why would you take an entire day off from everything every week? Why would you do that? You're leaving money on the table. Why are you helping me when you could have taken advantage of me? Why are you helping me when it's costing you money? These are questions that should be raised in people's minds when we are operating according to the principles of the kingdom of heaven. [00:47:41] (74 seconds) #InviteToKingdomLife

Because if we believe that Jesus died for our sin and rose again, ascended into heaven and is coming again one day in power and in glory, then that hope has to affect every single thing that we do. It has to. It can't not. And the way that we do business with one another, the way that we do business in and with the world around us, is just one of those ways that our faith has to have an impact on everything that we do. [00:50:48] (36 seconds)

And when we walk through the business world according to a different set of values, that's an important way that we can use our everyday lives to show people that there is a difference. And to invite them and welcome them into participating in that kingdom life as we walk through this world. [00:52:23] (23 seconds)

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