So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:31-33
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
– Psalm 19:7-14
Rajat Gupta’s conviction last week for insider’s trading shook the financial world. This conviction is not just another high flying drama of financial justice coming to bear. This shake-up, like many other global scale shake-ups, also carries a divine message for the Church. Because of the tremendous weight carried by this message for market place leaders, I feel compelled to share it in a timely manner. In that light, I would like to defer our very fascinating discussion on the market place pastor’s role in “activating Kingdom DNA”. We will return to this topic next week.
God is speaking to His market place leaders, to those striving for capability, influence, and wealth. Our qualification lies not in our ability to gain capability, influence, and wealth. But it lies in our ability to steward them in ways that bring pleasure to God’s sight. For those He has called and chosen, He will first condition their hearts before granting them the capability, influence, and wealth.
Mr. Gupta had humble beginnings as he grew up in India as an orphan. His intelligence and determination took him to Harvard and then opened a path for him at McKinsey & Co., one of the world’s most prominent business consulting groups. He eventually rose to its highest position, and for almost 10 years, led McKinsey in advising the world’s top corporations in business strategy and management practices. Beginning in 2006, his influence greatly expanded when he became a board member for Goldman Sachs and Proctor & Gamble. His amazing rise took him from an obscure orphan in India to one of the most prominent global figures that influenced the world of finance, consumer products, and corporate stewardship – areas that directly touch the lives of every global citizen.
But even in that place of “Eden”, where Mr. Gupta attained capability, influence, and wealth beyond his wildest dreams, he could not overcome the temptation to gain more, to satisfy that yearning for greater significance, even when it means to “eat the fruit of knowledge of good and evil”. A few phone calls in 2008 and 2009 that leaked insider information shattered everything Mr. Gupta had built from the past 40 years. For this crime, he could be imprisoned for many years.
We believe that to complete the work of the Great Commission and prepare for Christ’s return, God has an agenda to raise up market place believers with great capability, influence, and wealth. God wants to see His Kingdom come and place people with the right heart in positions of influence – those places currently occupied by people like Mr. Gupta. His desire is to grant us everything that the “pagans run after” when we set our hearts to please Him by “seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness.”
Mr. Gupta’s case contains a prophetic message that speaks to the heart of a generation of believers anticipating a great “wealth transfer” from the world. God is seeking vessels to touch the lives of global citizens through the market place. These vessels are qualified not by their ability to gain capability, influence, and wealth. But they are chosen because they please God in their stewardship of capability, influence, and wealth. The matter of our heart is truly the heart of the matter.
Market Place Prayer
We bless the work of the Lord in purifying and qualifying His market place leaders for greater capability, influence, and wealth.
