My Father’s Business

And he said unto them, How is it that you sought me? Didn’t you know that I must be about my Father’s business? (Luke 2:49)

So, let’s get down to business - God’s business. As I like to tell my children, if we call ourselves Christians, that carries with it the responsibility of living our lives like Christ. And what is the earliest statement we have from Jesus on what he must be doing? He said he must be about his Father’s business.

So, how do we begin to go about our Father’s business? What was Jesus doing when he said this?

And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why have you dealt with us like this? Behold, your father and I have sought you sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that you sought me? Didn’t you know that I must be about my Father’s business? (Luke 2:46-49)

So, we see that Jesus is in the house of God, listening to and asking questions of the religious teachers. So, I would conclude that if Jesus needs to be in God’s house involved in teaching and learning more about God, then we probably need it even more so. What instruction did Paul give to Timothy?

Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

After all, the Bible tells us that one of purposes of Jesus coming to us was so that we might have life, and that more abundantly (John 10:10). And how does Jesus define eternal life? Let’s read:

These words spoke Jesus, and he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son, that your Son also may glorify you: As you have given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:1-3)

Knowing the only true God is eternal life. Let’s begin to go about our Father’s business by becoming and staying students of God and of His Word.

Now, is this the entire scope of our Father’s business? What do we see from Jesus later on, as he begins his public ministry?

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. (Luke 4:16-21)

So, what is Jesus anointed to do? Preach the gospel, heal the brokenhearted, preach deliverance to the captives, give sight to the blind, and so on. So, what should we be doing? You got it – we are to be about our Father’s business. As we’ve said before – it’s not all about us. It’s all about God and letting Him use us to minister to others.

So, how do we get started in ministering to others? Let’s look at the example of Saul of Tarsus:

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? And he said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute: it is hard for you to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what will you have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do. (Acts 9:3-6)

It starts the minute we come to Jesus, and works best when we have the attitude “Lord, what will you have me to do”. So, not only do we need to learn and know God, we also have to get into the game – we have to be doing the Father’s business. We need to realize that it’s not a spectator sport. What did Paul write to the Romans?

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Romans 12:1-3)

Now here it gets interesting...

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teaches, on teaching; Or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let him do it with simplicity; he that rules, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:4-8)

What is Paul pointing out? This isn’t a one man show. Our Father’s business requires teamwork. It’s a team sport! We don’t go it alone, trying to save the world by ourselves. God designed this to be many people working as one body. What do we see from Jesus, our example?

And he goes up into a mountain, and calls to him whom he would: and they came to him. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: (Mark 3:13-15)

Even Jesus gathered others to him, to share the workload and to establish into a powerful team - one that would turn the world upside down (Acts 17:6). So, let’s get active in being about our Father’s business. Let’s

• Study, to know God and His Word
• Get in the game, doing the works of Jesus
• Fulfill our role on the Team, continuing to turn the world “right side up”

Remember our commission that Jesus gave us:

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)

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