Life is a Business, God’s Business: Why You Must Make Haste
"And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand a spear or a sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste." (1 Samuel 21:8, KJV)
In the world of finance and commerce, time is money. Business leaders understand that windows of opportunity are brief. Delay can mean the difference between a lucrative deal and a bankrupt failure. There is an urgency to the marketplace that demands action.
But what if we applied that same principle to our spiritual lives? What if we viewed our time on earth not merely as a sequence of random events, but as a divine business venture? The Bible suggests exactly that. Our lives are not our own; they have been purchased with a price. We are stewards, managers of the assets—time, talent, and treasure—that the Master has entrusted to us.
1 Samuel 21 gives us a powerful snapshot of this principle in action. David, though anointed as the future king, is currently a fugitive running for his life from the paranoid King Saul. He arrives at Nob, the tabernacle city, desperate and unprepared. When the priest Ahimelech expresses concern, David utters a phrase that has echoed through millennia: "The king's business required haste."
A Crisis of Urgency
Now, David is alone, hungry, and unarmed. He has fled so quickly from Saul’s court that he didn’t even have time to grab his weapon . His excuse to the priest is that he is on a secret, urgent mission for the king (a white lie to protect the priest, though it would later have tragic consequences). He needs food and a weapon immediately.
In this moment, David was focused on the physical king's business. But as believers, we must recognize that we are always on the clock for a higher King. We are living in a world that is hostile to our faith, much like Saul was hostile to David. We are often caught without our spiritual "swords" and "weapons," distracted by the comforts of the world or the cares of life .
"The King’s Business": Defining Your Portfolio
So, what exactly is "God's Business"? It is the work of the Kingdom. It is the redemption of souls, the demonstration of love, and the pursuit of holiness.
This means there is no divide between the sacred and the secular. If you are an accountant, your spreadsheets should be handled with the same integrity as your Bible reading. If you are a parent, changing diapers and teaching manners is God’s business. If you are a student, hitting the books with diligence is part of your divine portfolio .
When we view our lives through this lens, everything changes. We are no longer working for a paycheck or a promotion; we are working for an Audience of One. We are "representatives of the principles of heaven," and we are bound by sacred obligations to reflect the truth in our character .
"Haste": The Urgency of the Hour
If life is God's business, then why must we make haste? Because the "day is short," Our Lord was conscious of this fact when he said in John 9:4 “ I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work”
Why make haste?
1. Because the Enemy is Real:
David needed a sword because he knew Goliath’s sword would be needed for the battles ahead. In God's business, we have a real adversary. We cannot afford to be lethargic or complacent. The Holy Spirit empowers us, but we must actively take up the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). David asked for a weapon; we must ask God for His Word and put on His armor daily.
2. Because Opportunities are Fleeting:
There is a window of time to reach that friend, to reconcile with that family member, or to serve in that ministry. Once that window closes, it may never open again. The King's business requires haste because the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few, and the night is coming when no one can work.
3. Because Eternity Hangs in the Balance:
The business of God is ultimately about the souls of men and women. There is an urgency in the gospel. We are not playing games; we are involved in a rescue mission. Like the servants of King Ahasuerus in the book of Esther, those who do the "King's business" are called to help the Jews (God's people) and advance His cause .
The Danger of Distraction
Of course, there is a counter-narrative in the world. Some would say that life is your business, and you should take it easy. The writer Frederick Buechner once noted that we often get tangled up in trying to manage the lives of others, forgetting that their lives—and even our own—are ultimately "God's business" .
When we try to run the business without the CEO, we fail. When we think we have plenty of time to get right with God later, we are making the fatal error of the rich fool in Jesus' parable. The King’s business requires haste because we are not promised tomorrow.
Are You Ready for Inspection?
Imagine standing before the King one day to give an account of your stewardship. Will He look at the books and see a life marked by procrastination, selfish ambition, and fear? Or will He see a life of diligent, urgent service?
David left that tabernacle with holy bread in his belly and Goliath's sword in his hand—divine provision for a desperate time . God has provided everything we need for life and godliness. He has given us His Word (our bread) and His Spirit (our sword).
Let us shake off the lethargy. Let us stop treating our faith as a hobby and start treating it as the most important business in the universe. The day is short, the work is great, and the Master is returning.
The King’s business requires haste. How is your portfolio looking today?
Your brother and pastor, Philip Songwe.
