Prophet, Priest, King
As you will have been seeing and hearing in our newsletters and social media, we’re gearing up for a 5-session course called Anointed for Business. We’re excited for what God will do in and through these sessions and those who come along!
I’ve been curious what thoughts or questions the title - Anointed for Business - has been raising for people - or more directly - has been raising for you.
Is it an “Amen!” a “Really?!” a “Hmmmmm….” a “Tell Me More”…. or a “I’m not so sure?”
I’ve been reflecting on how, if we are anointed for business, how might that anointing be reflected in different roles or ‘offices’ (i.e., position of authority or service) in the marketplace. Are there different roles—that each of us may participate in—that might help us see how this anointing contributes to God’s drawing all things to himself?
In his book The Other Six Days: Vocation, Work & Ministry in Biblical Perspective, Paul Stevens highlights three roles or ‘offices’ that are seen in Scripture and each of us can exercise in the marketplace today: prophet, priest, king. (These titles may again evoke different responses/images - some helpful some not - focus primarily on how they are characterised)
Prophets: “Their work is discerning, communicating, exposing, seeing that justice is done, revealing outcomes—the very thing that God’s people do in [the marketplace].”
Priests: “Their work is bridge building, mediating, expressing meaning, evoking faith, blessing, bringing grace—again what the whole of God’s people is able to do in [the marketplace].”
Kings: “King work is ruling, organising, planning, providing, nurturing, integrating, settling arguments, solving problems, co-ordinating, expediting—again ways that God’s people serve in so-called secular occupations in [the marketplace].”
Take a moment to pause and reflect on each of these roles: prophet, priest, king.
How might you - in the power of the Holy Spirit - exercise influence through one or more of these roles in the marketplace today—a supplier conversation, contract negotiation, sales call, client meeting, employee appraisal, board meeting?
God has blessed you with gifts and talents (Rom 12: 3-8, 1 Cor. 12: 1-26) to be a blessing for the world and engage in the work He has set before you. What might that look like today?