But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
—Matthew 6:33
I had hit rock bottom. My little design studio—the source of the majority of our income—was going down the tubes and every effort I made to get new business failed miserably. I was at a crossroads. I remember getting down on the floor in my office and praying, “Father, show me the way.”
God didn’t wait long to get back to me on that request. I got a call from a local printer who was willing to offer me a job that afternoon. It wasn’t much money but it was something and we needed anything we could get to stay afloat. It was six of the toughest months in my life to swallow my pride and go back to work for somebody else, but every day I did it, praying all the way to work, “Thank you, God, for this opportunity to work. Help me be Jesus in this workplace. Help others see you through my example.”
Six months in, the boss called me into his office. “I’ve got to let you go,” he said, choking back tears. I smiled at him, shook his hand warmly, and thanked him for the blessing of getting to work for a little while. I danced out of that office, knowing God would provide.
The next way God provided was through nine weeks of unemployment—another hit to the ego. I had worked hard all my life and been able to provide for my family and others and now I had to be dependent on the government and the kindness of others. That season passed and what it left in its wake was a newfound sense of humility.
And then, mystically, it happened. One morning during prayer and meditation the Lord reminded me that I had started the business to glorify him and that alone. He reminded me that I had started with zero clients and I had relied on him alone to send me business. I repented of my arrogance and pride. I tearfully promised that I would rely on him and him alone for my daily bread.
All of these things come back to mind this morning around 4 am. I woke and began to realize how odd and different my life must look to those outside of God’s blessing. Every day I get to spend a lot of time with God in prayer and study and writing. Every day God sends me a new morsel of work to keep me going. I actually do get to seek the kingdom of heaven first, and all other needful things God provides.
These days, the marketing plan for our little business is very simple: Pray. A lot. Seek the kingdom and his righteousness. Rely on God for the rest. If you think that sounds radical, consider that this is from someone who spent the majority of his life successfully marketing for other companies in the more traditional ways. God has shown me a better way. He had to strip me down quite a bit for me to get it, but I finally got it (I think…and hope…and pray!). He and he alone is the one who grants us prosperity. Yes, I do still market for other companies in the traditional way, but I pray for the opportunity to share with each client a better way to go about their business. We were put here to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness—that’s our one true job. If we’ll do that, God will take care of the rest. That’s God’s promise and I rely on that promise every day.
