What does it mean to partner with God in the workplace? There are three options:

Given that the senior partner would be the controlling partner, then option 1 would suggest that man is in control and God is there to support man. Clearly, this is not consistent with Scripture, which portrays that God is in control of his universe, doing his will according to his ways (see for example, Isaiah 46:9–11).

Adam and Eve chose option 2, which led to the fall of man recorded in Genesis 3. This was not a wise choice. The result of the fall was a curse on man’s work, which made work harder.

This leaves option 3. God as the senior partner is in control and man is the junior partner. Therefore God defines everything about the business partnership and man is responsible to support God. Even though we live in a fallen world, option 3 is still the only viable choice.

How does one live as the junior partner to God? The above text provides some guidance. The word received is the English translation of the Greek word paralambano. This is a compound word from para, which means “beside,” and lambano, which means “to take.” The implied sense is “to take alongside.” The word seems to suggest a partnering relationship in which there is a senior partner and a junior partner – the senior partner taking the junior partner alongside. The junior partner then walks in the will and ways of the senior partner.

One of the advantages of living as the junior partner is receiving the benefits of Christ’s work, namely, salvation from sin and the gift of eternal life. Being firmly grounded in Christ and maturing in Christ are indicators that a person is truly a junior partner.

As the senior partner, God defines and directs everything. His will and his ways are all that matter. Success is not about money; it is about obedience. Opportunities to make “a lot a money” will not drive work, rather work will be about alignment with the will of God. People will no longer work to become wealthy, but will work in a particular organization because the senior partner has called them to be in that organization. In summary, the junior partner will be totally submitted to the will and ways of the senior partner.

Here is your business tip. Organizational leaders must be clear that God is the senior partner and they are junior partners. The only agenda of junior partners is to discern and obey the will and ways of the senior partner. Organizations committed to this truth will train workers accordingly. Success will be denominated in terms of obedience to and alignment with the will and ways of God. Any other agenda by junior partners will be an act of rebellion against the senior partner. And rebellion will not be blessed. Therefore everything in business is about the discernment of and alignment with the will and ways of God. This means that business is a holy activity.