I believe one of Satan’s greatest strategies has been to lead the local church to a mindset where the marketplace is viewed a venue to fund ministry, but not a venue for ministry. Where work is seen spiritually as nothing more than an “economic engine” generating financial resources for ministry, work becomes only marginally significant to ministry.

So many of us have fallen into this trap. We go to work and earn a paycheck. Then we go to church and give a portion of that paycheck to God as a tithe or offering, believing this has fulfilled our spiritual obligations and opportunities as working Christians.

In reality, marketplace funding for ministry is just the “tip of the iceberg” for ministry in the marketplace. Not only are there abundant ministry service opportunities at work, there is also the spiritual warfare that can come with it.

Satan is not happy when we awaken to the idea that we can pray for our colleagues at work; spend time encouraging them; meeting felt needs at work and home; and even witnessing to fellow workers when God creates a pathway.

Embrace the spiritual realities that work is filled with ministry service, and that service will sometimes spark spiritual warfare in which Satan will try to distract, discourage or even derail our progress. Like in Hebrews 10:23, which says to “hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering”, the phrase “holding fast” means to embrace with force as if someone is trying to take something from you.

I’m up for the challenge. Are you?