The Heart of Business as Mission: Walking With God in the Marketplace
Rooted for Impact
This is the first in our series “The Heart of Business as Mission: Walking with God in the Marketplace.”
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.”
Psalms 1:1-6 NASB1995
When you think of a thriving tree, what comes to mind? The branches heavy with fruit? The vibrant leaves? The shade it provides? All good things, yet none of them are possible without something unseen—the roots. That hidden system is doing the hard, quiet work of drawing nourishment and anchoring the tree in place.
In Business as Mission (BAM), we often focus on the visible: creating jobs, building communities, and sharing the Gospel in the marketplace. These are the “branches” of our work. But let me ask you this: What’s holding up your branches? What’s feeding the fruit you’re hoping to produce?
If your spiritual roots aren’t deep and healthy, all that external activity is going to feel hollow—and frankly, it’s not going to be hollow. Jesus didn’t mince words on this: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. … Apart from Me, you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5).
Let that sink in: nothing. That doesn’t mean your efforts will always visibly fail. You can build a profitable business, grow your customer base, or even see some short-term ministry results. But the kind of fruit Jesus is talking about—the kind that transforms lives and lasts for eternity—only grows when we’re abiding in Him. When we learn to lean hard into Him as our life, we learn the truth that when we abide in Him, we “bear much fruit.” (John 15:5a)
Why This Series Matters
This blog series is for BAM practitioners who are hungry to make a difference but know deep down that something’s missing. Maybe you’ve hit burnout, or maybe you’re just frustrated by how hard it feels to move the needle in your business and ministry. The truth is, your effectiveness out there will only ever be as strong as your connection to God in here.
When Jesus talks about abiding, He’s inviting us into a life of constant dependence and connection. It’s not about striving harder or checking off more boxes; it’s about staying rooted in His love and letting His life flow through us. And here’s the promise: when we abide, fruit is guaranteed.
That fruit isn’t just numbers or outcomes; it’s the evidence of God’s Spirit at work in and through us—things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). It’s the kind of impact that draws people to Him because they see something in us they can’t find anywhere else.
What’s Coming
Over the installments in this series, we’re going to talk about what it means to cultivate a deep, intimate relationship with God as the foundation of your BAM work. We’ll explore:
- Why intimacy with God is the key to lasting impact. (Hint: It’s not just for your benefit—it’s for the people you’re called to serve.)
- The pitfalls of external focus. (Spoiler: Running on empty is not a badge of honor.)
- Practical ways to grow your inner life. (Because talking about roots is useless if we’re not willing to water them.)
This isn’t a guilt trip or a formula. It’s an invitation to realign, again and again, with the One who called you into this work in the first place.
A Better Kind of Success
Here’s the thing: The world doesn’t need more “successful” entrepreneurs; it needs faithful ones. It needs BAM practitioners whose businesses aren’t just profitable but prophetic and who embody God’s love in the workplace because they’ve experienced it in their inner lives.
Abiding in Jesus doesn’t just make us better businesspeople; it makes us better witnesses. It shifts the focus from what we can do to what He can do through us. And when His life is flowing in and through us, the fruit comes naturally. No striving, no burnout, just the joy of seeing God use our surrendered lives to bear fruit that lasts.
If you’re ready to stop striving and start abiding, then join me for this series. Together, let’s dig deeper into the roots of what makes BAM truly transformational—starting with our own hearts.
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Rooted for Impact: Strengthening Your Foundation in Business as Mission
Welcome to the first installment of our series, “The Heart of Business as Mission: Walking with God in the Marketplace.”
A Foundation Built on Truth
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.”
Psalms 1:1-3 (NASB1995)
The Importance of Strong Roots
When you think of a thriving tree, what comes to mind? Is it the heavy, fruit-laden branches or the vibrant leaves? While these visible traits are vital, none of them exist without the unseen—the roots.
In Business as Mission (BAM), we often focus on the visible results: creating jobs, building communities, and sharing the Gospel in the marketplace. These are the “branches” of our work. But what about the foundation?
- What feeds your fruit?
- What anchors your efforts?
Without deep, spiritual roots, external success can feel hollow. Jesus said it plainly:
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. … Apart from Me, you can do nothing.”
(John 15:4-5)
Without abiding in Him, we might see temporary success. However, the transformative, eternal fruit Jesus promises only grows through Him.
Why This Series Matters
This blog series is for BAM practitioners yearning to make a lasting impact but feeling stuck or burnt out. If you’re struggling to balance business and ministry or feeling unfulfilled despite your efforts, this series will guide you back to the source of true success: abiding in Christ.
Your external effectiveness will only ever be as strong as your internal connection to God.
The Promise of Abiding
Jesus invites us into a life of constant dependence and connection—not striving harder, but staying rooted in His love. Here’s the promise:
- When we abide in Him, fruit is guaranteed.
That fruit isn’t limited to tangible outcomes or numbers. It includes the evidence of God’s Spirit—qualities like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
This kind of impact draws people to Christ because it reflects something they can’t find elsewhere.
Redefining Success
The world doesn’t need more “successful” entrepreneurs. It needs faithful ones—business leaders whose work is not just profitable but prophetic, rooted in God’s love and presence.
Abiding in Christ
- Makes us better business leaders.
- Makes us better witnesses.
- Shifts the focus from our abilities to His power.
When His life flows through us, fruit comes naturally—without burnout or striving—bringing joy and eternal impact.
Ready to Stop Striving?
If you’re ready to transition from striving to abiding, join us for this series. Together, we’ll uncover the roots of BAM’s transformative power—starting with our own hearts.
Stay tuned for the next post in “The Heart of Business as Mission: Walking with God in the Marketplace.”
What to Expect in This Series
In the upcoming posts, we’ll explore:
- Why intimacy with God is essential for lasting impact.
- Hint: It’s not just for you—it’s for those you serve.
- The pitfalls of focusing solely on external outcomes.
- Spoiler: Running on empty is not a badge of honor.
- Practical ways to cultivate a deep, inner life with God.
- Because strong roots require intentional care.
This isn’t about guilt or formulas—it’s an invitation to realign with the One who called you to this work.