The Paul Factor: Impacting the Marketplace - Week 4: Paul the Business Owner

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. -Paul (Romans 12:6-8, NLT)

So many times we may think in order to be in ministry or have an impact on a persons life we have to be behind a pulpit. Not so. A pastor serves as an integral part in equipping and training the church to be effective in their culture. Yet it is you who has the opportunity to take the message of hope through Christ, to the masses! To understand Paul's position as a business owner, we have to take a step back into time and understand the tradition.

Paul grew up in Tarsus, which was located on the southeastern corner of what is now Turkey. Tarsus was a popular city that was located along the trade route. Many caravans would carry there goods from the Orient to Rome. Paul's father was likely a wealthy tent maker who followed the Laws of Moses. We can see this by the observation of Paul being a Roman citizen (not offered to everyone outside the Roman race), and Paul being sent to Jerusalem to be discipled by Gamaliel (which would have required financial support) Another observation was that tent making was essential during this time period. We are not talking about tents we see at The Bass Pro Shop, we are talking about a product that was seen as a traveling motel. It needed to be compact yet keep the cold out at night. It needed to weather the elements. For Paul's family, they were in the middle of people coming and going...business would have been pretty good! Before being sent off to Gamaliel, Paul had to learn a trade. In this case, it would be a tent maker. After their formal education (around 12 and 13 years of age) the students who excelled would then be invited to attend the Beth Sefer. Here the students would memorize more Scripture, debate, and learn a trade from their father. The idea of learning a trade would serve them well when it was their time to serve in the temple. It meant that when they spent their time in the temple studying and performing the duties of a Pharisee, business continued on. The business provided the income while they served in the temple! There was no salary. It was their business that supported them.

For Paul this came in handy when he would travel on his mission trips. It is believed that Paul would set up shop wherever he settled. In a letter to the church a Thessalonica, Paul wrote the following...

For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat any one's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 2 Thessalonians 3:7-10

Paul was a missionary who allowed his business to get him into the marketplace to share the hope of Christ and meet some of his financial needs! His business was a platform for him to be among the people. Now this is fictional, but I could see a customer coming to Paul for business. The customer heard about this great tent maker. The customer enters Paul's shop and gets his quote. Knowing Paul, a relationship was built with this customer. They talk, find out where they are from and next thing you know it, Paul is sharing Christ with this person. The platform that God has given to us is for his voice to be heard through us! Paul marketed the Gospel through his work. His craftsmanship and quality was probably the best, because his work was being done unto the Lord. He let people see Christ through his work!

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:12-17

Take a look at others in the Bible who were marketplace world changers!

Old Testament
Joseph 2nd in Command to Pharaoh Genesis 37-50
David King of Israel, song writer 1 Samuel 16- 2 Samuel, Psalms
Solomon King of Israel, writer, businessman 1 Kings 1-11
Esther Queen of Persia, married to King Xerxes Esther
Nehemiah Cup bearer to King Artaxerxes Nehemiah

New Testament
Priscilla business owners Acts 18:18-22
and Aquila
Lydia dealer in purple cloth Acts 16:11-15
Luke doctor
Peter fisherman
John fisherman
James fisherman
Andrew fisherman
Matthew was a tax collector

Each of these men and women had a marketplace business. Each of these men and women were used by God. Their gifts provided strategies for the spreading of the Gospel. Their wealth helped supported the early church by providing meeting places and financial support. Their businesses were a tool to share this new found faith with others. Whatever the position God has given to you, it is your platform. A platform that may speak to a generation in a classroom. A platform that speaks encouragement to the masses. A platform that speaks life to the hurting.


Listen to the words of Mary Kay Ash:

No matter how busy you are, you must take time to make the other person feel important.

There are two things people want more than sex and money... recognition and praise.

Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from their neck saying, 'Make me feel important.' Never forget this message when working with people.

Here was a woman who knew that her ministry was her company! Through her faith she built a company that is strong and lives by the Golden Rule. Her marketplace ministry has touched thousands of women's lives, and in some cases have provided opportunities to lead others to Christ! Her legacy carries on through various foundations that fight cancer and domestic abuse. Check out the following video of a banker who sees himself as a pastor to his business!



Rise up business owners! Rise up marketplace world changers! Be prepared! For those that are willing, God will use your business and position as a light to impact those around you. Remember, God has given you a gift for a reason...so why not step out with confidence, knowing that God has you at the right place, at the right time! Believing in you!

His call. His gift to you. Your purpose. Irrevocable.