The marketplace is really the place of activity, exchange and distribution. A place of movements (progress) and purpose: For hardly will a person come to the marketplace for no reason. Thus, the marketplace is a purpose-driven place of exchange: For people from various background, experiences and interests; come together to exchange substance of value with a sense of purpose.
Businesses as we know, exists for the purpose of making profits; and that purpose guides their business conduct and transactions. Hence, when they come to the marketplace; their profit-making purpose guides their business behaviour.
Individuals, like business also got the marketplace with a sense of purpose – some go to buy goods; while some go to sell their services. So, no one in his or her right senses, go to the marketplace for no purpose; thus, everyone goes to the marketplace either to buy something of value, or to sell something of value.
Thus, the marketplace is the sphere of trading – the commercial sphere where buying and selling takes place and the law of supply and demand operate. But for the purpose of this article, we shall be limiting our scope of marketplace to the sphere of trading. If trade could be explained us occupation; then, marketplace is a sphere or realm or level in which people make their services available for business to buy and give them wages. Thus, a marketplace is a situation or sphere where men are employed or hired for wages or salaries.
Since we have discussed that no individual is expected to be at the marketplace without a purpose; then, we assume that men come to the marketplace (make themselves available for companies or corporations to hire and fire) with a sense of purpose. Hence, no one is expected to go out (after college), looking for job (a paid work to do); until his or her purpose is discovered.
What I am saying is this, you will be more ridiculed or delayed or disappointed at the marketplace, when you are ignorant of your life mission. By life mission, I mean the work you were born to do. Now see the words of Jesus when he was about to be crucified:
I have glorified You down here on the earth by completing the WORK that You gave Me to do.
John 17:4 – (AMP)
That work that Jesus was referring to there was his life purpose. And let me state clearly, you stand the chance of being hired easily in the marketplace and find hardly, when you know the purpose (work assigned to you by birth) of your creation. And really, rather than being a victim of downsizing or rightsizing, you become a valuable asset that will be begged to stay.
Your life is actually a well valued bundle of skills, talents, abilities and strengths, which is well kept in your purpose; and until you find your purpose, you will not really be able to add value to others. Thus, you will not be able to add value to any organization: for you value is kept in the accomplishment of your purpose. And remember, Jesus is remembered and referenced today because of the VALUE He added to the earth by the fulfillment of his purpose.
Companies and corporations have their own purpose, and it is basically to make the most possible profit for the shareholders; and in line with that, they will only hire anyone who has value to add to them. But friend, your true value is in the pursuitaccomplishment of your purpose.
And if I may say, when you take the first step of finding your purpose before coming to the marketplace; you stand the chance of knowing upfront whether you are even expected to be looking for jobs or to create one for yourself. And see, the future of nations does not lie in the hands of the big corporations; rather, it lies on the hands of small and medium businesses of men and women have found their life work (purpose) and doing it.
As much as some people’s purpose can be carried out within the established organizations; some good number would need to start up their own organizations. And in that case, you are hired directly by God (irrespective of the nature of that organization – whether a Non-Profit-Making, or a Non-Governmental or a Profit-Making) and can only be fired by God. But since Jesus was not fired by God, you will not be fired – only remain a good and faithful co-worker with God on the earth.
Idleness in the marketplace is usually a result of ignorance of purpose: For really, no company or organization would like to hire a valueless or purpose person. Now, let us see a picture of all our discussions from a parable given by Jesus with excitement and patience.
FOR THE kingdom of heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out in the morning along with the dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard.
After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
And going out about the third hour (nine o'clock), he saw others standing idle in the marketplace;
And he said to them, You go also into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will pay you. And they went.
He went out again about the sixth hour (noon), and the ninth hour (three o'clock) he did the same.
And about the eleventh hour (five o'clock) he went out and found still others standing around, and said to them, Why do you stand here idle all day?
They answered him, Because nobody has hired us. He told them, You go out into the vineyard also and you will get whatever is just and fair.
Matthew 20:1-7 – AMP
Actually, that parable continues to verse 16; but because of space and time, we would pause there. Looking carefully at that parable, we would find these variables:
I. The owner of an estate;
II. The estate;
III. Owner’s vineyard;
IV. The marketplace;
V. The reward.
For the purpose of this writing, I would call these variables by new names:
- The owner of an estate – God;
- The estate – The earth;
- The vineyard – God’s will, purpose and counsel;
- The workmen – Children of men;
- The marketplace – The world system;
- The reward – Fulfillment, Wealth or fame.
Friend, just like the estate owner, God is continuously moving over the earth to help the children of men find His purpose or will for their creation; and thus, put them out of the world system, into the kingdom system, where fulfillment and transgenerational relevance are the rewards of the accomplishment of purpose.
Indeed, God has a vineyard (His purpose) for all men, from which everyone can find and should find a place of generational relevance and fulfillment. Thus, no need risking your life continuously in the world in idleness; rather, seek for the will of God for your life as a work to do, and stick with it; for there lies your value to the earth!
