“And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” ~ Luke 2:49
REFERENCE:
Luke 2:41-49
Victor Frankl said, “Life is never made unbearable by circumstances but only by lack of meaning and purpose.” Living finds its meaning when you are living for something with meaning. You are here for a purpose; fulfilling it gives meaning to your life. To fulfill a purpose, you must pursue it like a business, with the same earnestness with which a businessman does his business.
Jesus Christ could have told His parents ‘that I must be about My Father’s church or kingdom’; instead, He said, ‘business.’ He hinted at a new approach to pursuing purpose – like a business. In business, you set out to profit, please and keep your customers, and experience growth and expansion. You are intentional in your activities; you have targets to meet and put emotions aside to achieve your goals. This was Jesus’ mindset towards the Kingdom.
A businessman trying to grow his business will do things he would ordinarily not do. He will tell people about his business in the marketplace or roadside, stay awake at night to balance his books, make projections and phone calls, etc. To pursue a purpose like business, your itinerary will change; you may cut off some friends and sleep less at night. You will read books, take online courses, get mentors, build relationships, be friends with the school library, etc.
Jesus left His parents for three days and was in the temple to discuss scripture – purpose was calling Him. Do not forget that you have a purpose – a reason why you are where you are, doing what you are doing. There is a reason you are in school, fashion, learning a trade, or travel agency. God planted that purpose or mission in your heart. Keep focused – get it done.
Pursuing a purpose like a business makes you an enigma to people; they cannot decode you, so they call you ‘odd’ because what holds their attention does not hold yours. You appear too serious-minded for them, and their company or conversation no longer ‘fills’ you. The reason is that you are building a ‘business;’ you have an assignment you must carry out. The world is yours to take; only be ready to pay the price. Learn from Jesus, and be about purpose like business.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Proverbs 22:29, Proverbs 14:23, and I Samuel 21:8
PRAYER
+ Lord, baptize me with a sense of mission and the accompanying zeal and strength to fulfill it in Jesus’ name.
+ I receive the mental capacity to be business-like in my approach to what God has sent me here on earth to accomplish.
