Marketplace opportunities are cropping up almost daily. In hindsight, if you are looking for such opportunity signals, you know that timing is critical.
All opportunities carry a certain amount of risk, but the rewards can be great.
These days, the only opportunities I seek have nothing to do with making money or developing future innovative products or business.
The marketplace I’ve chosen deals with mining for unconvinved souls.
These dear people are all around me, and I’ve come to understand as an Ambassador for Christ there’s a virtual mission field before me right in my own backyard. There’s no need to depart thousands of miles to a foreign land.
Nearly 40 years ago, God placed me and my family in this mission field — beautiful Santa Barbara.
When we were confronted with the opportunity to move two hours west to this garden spot, our decision had nothing to do with location.
We simply prayed for God’s will to be done and, over a six-month period, He orchestrated a number of events that made it perfectly clear we needed to obediently move to this unanticipated mission field.
Looking back, one of the early indicators of God’s plan was an introduction to some wonderful Christian brothers involved in CBMC of Santa Barbara (Christian Business Men’s Connection).
That nondenominational international nonprofit organization has been the central pivot point for the many tasks God has prepared for this humbled servant.
As I mentioned earlier, we all miss marketplace opportunities.
As a young boy I loved fishing in the creek behind our South Central Texas home. I came to intimately know a good quarter-mile of Geronimo Creek in time, and always returned after an hour or so with a good reward for my efforts.
Just as Jesus told His disciples, He allows us to be fishers of men and women in our assigned marketplace.
Over the years, He’s allowed me to witness His work in the lives of many and He’s also allowed me to disciple a number that He has chosen for me to pass on the wisdom of God’s Word.
And, He has also graciously allowed me to successfully build my insurance practice and amply provide for the needs of our family.
He’s used me in ways I never fathomed. These essays are perhaps the most surprising gift graciously given through the Holy Spirit.
You can chase wealth if you wish, but if your desire is to be obedient to your Father in Heaven, I suggest you start asking God for His future direction in your life.
He may well have planned much more for you than you’ve ever even considered.
In Jeremiah 29:11-12, we are reminded “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.’”
So there you have it. There are ample marketplace opportunities for those God is calling for His purpose.
Perhaps you are one of those He has been calling into some special service for His glory. It all starts with prayer and a willingness to listen and become His servant.
The reward is out of this world!