Trade and Finance 2025

The Kingdom of God in Society 

(by Alan Currie) 

To see the Kingdom of God manifest in society, believers in Yeshua need to embrace and reflect the character of “God the Father” in everything we do. 

The three main fruits of the spirit of Love, Joy and Peace is the starting point. 

Are we showing the Love of God, Joy of knowing God and the Peace of resting in God, in our lives, family, businesses, churches and in society? 

We also need to understand all the Father’s character traits and consider if we are living out of His character. 

Jesus said: “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father” (John 14:9). Jesus reflected who the Father is, and you and I are meant to emulate our saviour, as He emulated His Father. 

What are those character traits? God’s character is clearly revealed in the Bible. 

God’s character traits man can emulate: 

1. 1. Loving (1 John 4:8) 
   2. Just & Righteous (Isaiah 30:18) 
   3. Peaceful (Isaiah 9:6) 
   4. Gracious and Compassionate (Psalm 145:8) 
   5. Merciful (Exodus 34:6) 
   6. Faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9) 
   7. Truthful (John 17:17) 
   8. Patient (2 Peter 3:9) 
   9. Consistent (Hebrews 13:8) 
   10. Forgiving (1 John 1:9) 
   11. Creative (Genesis 1:1) 
   12. Joyful (Nehemiah 8:10) 
   13. Holy (Leviticus 11:44-45, 1 Peter 1:15-16) 
   14. Trustworthy (John 14:6) 

Areas of Gods divine nature that man cannot emulate: 

1. 15. Divinity (Psalm 90:2) 
   16. Sovereignty (Revelation 22:13, Psalm 103:19) 
   17. Immutability (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8)
   18. Omniscience (All-Knowing – Psalm 147:5) 
   19. Omnipotence (Unlimited Power – Matthew 19:26) 
   20. Omnipresence (Everywhere – Psalm 139:7) 
   21. Eternal (Psalm 90:2) 
   22. All Mighty – All Powerful (Revelation 1:8) 
   23. Complete and is Lacking nothing (Psalm 50:12) 
   24. Judge of all the Earth (Genesis 18:25, Psalm 9:7-8) 

As an owner of a business, are you showing these character traits to your staff and customers? As a pastor are you demonstrating these character traits to your congregation? As a schoolteacher are you showing God’s character to your students? As a mother and a father or son and daughter are you manifesting those character traits to your children and to your parents? And so, the list goes on to every profession or activity. 

If the answer is “no”, then we need to repent and ask God to help us to become more like Him and identify which parts of God’s character we are weak in and focus on developing that side of our character. 

“God disciplines those he loves” (Hebrews 12:6) and “He is the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Which means He knows our weaknesses, and He will give us some space to correct those weaknesses, but if we resist His promptings to surrender our fleshly weaknesses, the time will come when He will turn up the heat of difficult circumstances until we agree to surrender to His will. Hebrews 12:2 shows that He has taken on the responsibility to perfect our faith and character in Him, so remember that no-one can resist the fire of the Holy Spirit! “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). “For our God is a consuming Fire” (Hebrews 12:29). 

Celebrate the areas that you are doing well in and thank God; He has helped you become more like Him. 

If we are to see change in our society in our personal lives, then developing God’s character is where we must focus. When we do, the power of God, His blessings, His abundant life will be manifested. 

Our businesses will prosper, our families’ lives will explode with new joy, and our churches will come alive with the presence of God and everything around us will start to change for the better. 

We may get some pushback from the world of darkness but remember when the light is turned on, darkness cannot overcome it! (John 1:5) 

We will find a new world of joy and freedom that will astound us. We will experience love and peace that we may never have enjoyed before. Persistent problems we have been fighting with, will just fall away, prosperity will flow, and our lives and societies will be transformed by the Kingdom of God because He will have come to cohabitate with us. 

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6 NKJV) 

If we want to show the Kingdom Culture in the business world then those who believe in Him need to manifest the Character of God in all His fullness and we will see transformation in our society. 

Author 
Alan Currie 
Australian Entrepreneurs Pty Ltd 
International Christian Chamber of Commerce 

---

Bible Reflections for Business 

(compiled by Lilian Schmid) 

You may wish to read and meditate on each of the Bible verses below corresponding to the day in April. 

1. Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV): Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 
2. Deuteronomy 8:18 (NIV): But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. 
3. 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV): Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 
4. 2 Corinthians 13:5-6 (NIV): Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 
5. Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV): For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. 
6. Isaiah 45:2 (NIV): I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. 
7. Joshua 1:9 (NIV): Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. 
8. Mark 5:36 (NIV): Overhearing what they said, Jesus told them, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” 
9. 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV): Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 
10. 3 John 1:2 (NIV): Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 
11. Proverbs 2:6-8 (NIV): For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. God will give you the desire of your heart, if you serve him. 
12. Proverbs 29:11 (NIV): Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. 
13. Romans 8:5 (NIV): Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 
14. Ephesians 6:12 (NIV): For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 
15. Proverbs 10:4 (NIV): Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. 
16. Proverbs 20:4 (NIV): Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing. 
17. Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 
18. Psalm 127:2 (NIV): In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat– for he grants sleep to those he loves. 
19. Psalm 127:1 (NIV): Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. 
20. Matthew 7:12 (ESV): So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. 
21. Proverbs 4:7 (ESV): The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. 
22. Proverbs 14:23 (ESV): In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. 
23. Mark 8:36 (ESV): For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 
24. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV): Rejoice always, Pray continually, Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 
25. Hebrews 13:5-6 (NIV): Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” 
26. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV): And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 
27. 1 Peter 5:5 (NIV): In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble.” 
28. Ephesians 6:7-8 (NIV): Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. 
29. Isaiah 40:31 (KJV): But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 
30. Proverbs 11:14 (NIRV): Without the guidance of good leaders a nation falls. But many good advisers can save it.