Dear Christian friends:

Here in the world we can do many different kinds of work: Doctor, Lawyer, Teacher, Coach, Builder, Carpenter, Printer, Farmer, Minister.

Some work is more important than others. Doctor is more important than a printer. But all are necessary and important. A doctor needs the printer and the builder. A doctor couldn't do good work if he had no clinic building or hospital building. Doctors depend on other workers and all of us depend on doctors and need them.

But one work, one business is most important, more important than medicine. That work or business is God's business. In our text Jesus tells us about that most important business:


Who is our Father? Jesus was not thinking of Joseph. Joseph's business was not in Jerusalem but in Nazareth. He was a carpenter. Jesus was meaning God. His work was in the temple, learning and telling the truth.

God is also our Father if we believe in Jesus. Jesus is our big Brother who has saved us. God has saved this world through His Son Jesus Christ so that we can become His children. "We are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (John 3:1)

So God is our Father and His business is also our business. Before He ascended into heaven Jesus told His disciples: "As My Father hath sent Me, even so I send you." (John 20:21) What is His Business? His chief business is to save sinners.

Jesus says, "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:38-40)

Our Father's business is not to keep this world as it is now. President Johnson wants to build, "the great society." He has declared war on poverty. He wants to improve our life on earth and make it very comfortable and beautiful.

God is not against these ideas or plans but God says and prophecies that this world is doomed. It will not get better but worse. It won't improve but go down and that it will finally be destroyed. As the world nears the end sin and evil will multiply, not decrease.

God has made a new heaven and a new earth for us. So God's business is not to keep and improve this here world, but to save us from it and bring us to the new world. He warns: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:15-17)

The will of God is the business of God. He wants people to see Jesus and believe that He is the Son of God who came from heaven to earth to suffer and die for sinners. He arose from the dead and ascended into heaven to impress upon us that this world is doomed. That we must confess our sins and trust in Him for forgiveness and resurrection.

Are you attending to your Father's business? Jesus did. He forgot to go home after one week and stayed three more days. He says, "I must attend to My Father's business." Do you spend a long time reading and studying God's Word like Jesus did? Do you read your Bible every day? Are you glad to come to Bible class?

Are you eager to support Gospel preaching and teaching by your prayers and offerings. This is your Fathers business. Are you eager to learn about world-wide missions and are you eager to help and support them. World-wide missions is your Father's business.

If we are honest, we must confess with shame that we have not felt like Jesus about our Father's business. Let us work to improve and do our Father's business.

Amen.