Day 5: Business and the Faithful Steward
Bible passage: Genesis 41:33–57; Luke 16:10–13; Jeremiah 29:7
Work, Money and Worry
Today is Tuesday 7th of April 2020. Welcome to Day 5 of our 7 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Today we pray for business: work, money and the economy.
This is a tender subject at the moment. Shops and workplaces are shut. Many people do not know whether their job or their business will survive. The Bible has a great deal to say to us here, and one life in particular shows us what God can do.
A Man Prepared in Hard Places
From the Pit to the Palace
Joseph was sold as a slave by his own brothers and later thrown into prison for something he had not done. Wherever he was put, he worked faithfully, and the Lord was with him (Genesis 39:2–4, 21–23).
Then Pharaoh had a dream, and Joseph was brought from the prison to explain it. Seven years of plenty were coming, followed by seven years of famine. Joseph did more than interpret the dream. He proposed a plan: appoint a wise administrator, and store a fifth of the harvest during the good years (Genesis 41:33–36).
Pharaoh asked his officials whether they could find anyone else so obviously filled with the spirit of God (Genesis 41:38), and he put Joseph in charge of the whole land.
Wisdom That Feeds People
When the famine came, there was food in Egypt, and people from the surrounding countries came to Joseph to buy grain (Genesis 41:56–57). Among those he saved were the brothers who had sold him. Joseph could see God’s hand in all of it. God had sent him ahead to preserve many lives (Genesis 45:7).
Joseph’s gift was spiritual and it was also thoroughly practical. He planned, he stored and he administered. God cares about economies because He cares about the people who depend on them.
Faithful with Little
Jesus taught the principle that Joseph had lived by. “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.” Luke 16:10 (NLT)
If we cannot be trusted with worldly wealth, He asks, who will trust us with the true riches of heaven (Luke 16:11)? And He adds a warning. Nobody can serve two masters. We cannot serve both God and money (Luke 16:13). Money is a tool, and it is a test. It must never become our master.
Our Work Matters to God
It is the Lord who gives us the power to be successful (Deuteronomy 8:18). Whatever our job, we are to work at it willingly, as though we were working for the Lord and not for people (Colossians 3:23). And God tells His people to work for the peace and prosperity of the place where they live (Jeremiah 29:7).
Our workplaces need Christians who are honest, hard-working and generous, and businesses that provide jobs and treat people fairly.
Prayer Points for Today
Those in need. Pray for everyone who has lost work or income, that God would provide for them and their families.
Business owners. Pray for wisdom and peace for those facing hard decisions about their staff and their future.
The economy. Pray for those who steer our nation’s finances, that they would act wisely and justly.
Integrity. Pray against greed, exploitation and dishonesty, and for businesses that do what is right.
Believers at work. Pray that Christians would be known for honesty and excellence, and would find chances to pray with colleagues.
Generosity. Pray that God’s people would give freely to those in need and to the work of His Kingdom.
Ourselves. Pray for freedom from the love of money and from the burden of debt, and for grace to be faithful with what we have.
Prayer for Today:
Father, You are my provider, and everything I have comes from You. I pray for all who are anxious about work and money today. Provide for them, Lord. Give wisdom to those who lead businesses and those who guide our economy. Raise up people like Joseph, who are faithful in small things and ready for great ones. Keep my heart free from the love of money, and make me generous. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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