Being a Christian in business is not the same as being a Christ-follower in business.
Plenty of believers sit in offices, run companies, and make money, but far fewer build in a way that reflects the Kingdom of God rather than the spirit of the world. And beneath nearly every tension we feel in the marketplace is one hidden force quietly competing for our loyalty:
Mammon.
The biblical meaning of mammon (mamōnas) is treasure or riches that are opposed to God. Strong’s Concordance defines mammon as “what is trusted in.”
Jesus made it clear: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24, NKJV)
Rarely do people want to serve mammon intentionally. Mammon doesn’t announce itself loudly.
It slips in quietly as “being realistic.”
It disguises itself as “being wise.”
It defends itself as “being responsible.”
But underneath it all, mammon is not about money.
It’s about trust.
Mammon is anything you look to for safety, identity, security, or power instead of God. Mammon has the power to drive your decision making in a negative direction, and the ripple effects are far greater than we understand. If left unchecked, mammon will slowly erode both your wealth and your relationship with God.
God Has Always Worked Through the Marketplace
At WealthBuilders, we believe there is a sound in the Spirit calling Christians into the marketplace. God is raising up men and women after His own heart to build wealth, lead businesses, and steward influence in a way that gives Him glory and advances His Kingdom on earth.
This is not a new idea. God has always worked through the marketplace.
In the Old Testament, God led the Israelites into the Promised Land called Canaan. The name Canaan means “merchant” or “trader,” and the region sat along one of the most strategic trade routes in the ancient world. In other words, God did not just lead His people into farmland. He led them into a commercial epicenter, a place of opportunity, economy, and systems of exchange.
And it wasn’t a clean system.
Canaan was corrupt. The culture was pagan. The economy was perverse. Yet God did not call His people to flee from it—He called them to overthrow it. They were to establish a different standard, uproot corrupt practices, and live distinctly among people who did not know Him.
God still does the same today.
He sends His people into boardrooms, businesses, and industries. Not to escape the systems of the world, but to bring heaven into them. Jesus said His followers are “the light of the world… a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14-16) We are meant to shine in dark places and model a different way of building, earning, leading, and living.
(This message is part of what we’ll be gathering around at the WealthBuilders Conference on February 20–22—a time set aside for worship, prayer, and equipping in business, real estate, and investing for those who sense God calling them to build with eternity in view. Click here to learn more and register.)
The apostle Paul echoes this call in 1 Corinthians 3:10–15, where he urges believers to pay close attention to how they build. He reminds us that “no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Then he explains that every life’s work will ultimately be tested by fire. Some work will endure, and some will not.
The sobering truth is this: not everything we build lasts.
Some careers are impressive and still empty.
Some businesses are profitable and still hollow.
Some platforms are influential and still unfruitful.
So what does it actually look like to build in a way that lasts?
So what makes the difference?
What determines whether what you build reflects God’s Kingdom or mammon’s?
The Hidden War Behind Your Work
There is a spiritual battle for your motivation and your attention.
In the marketplace, this battle most often disguises itself as success, accumulation, and the belief that more will finally make you feel secure. And Jesus speaks directly to that temptation in Matthew 6:19-21 (TPT)
“Don’t keep hoarding for yourselves earthly treasures that can be stolen by thieves. Material wealth eventually rusts, decays, and loses its value. Instead, stockpile heavenly treasures for yourselves that cannot be stolen and will never rust, decay, or lose their value. For your heart will always pursue what you esteem as your treasure.
Where your treasure lives, your heart will follow.
And it doesn’t stop there.
Just a few verses later, Jesus exposes something even deeper:
Matthew 6:22-23 continues:
“The eyes of your spirit allow revelation-light to enter into your being. If your heart is unclouded, the light floods in! But if your eyes are focused on money, the light cannot penetrate and darkness takes its place. How profound will be the darkness within you if the light of truth cannot enter!”
In other words: when money becomes your focal point, it blurs your spiritual vision.
When your gaze is fixed on profit, numbers, or financial pressure, you lose heaven’s perspective. I’ve noticed this personally. The moment I allow money to take precedence in my thinking, something shifts inside me. I’m quicker to anger and slower to trust. I’m less patient under pressure and less generous, too.
How Christ-Followers Can Wage War Against Mammon
1. Guard your motivations
Ask yourself: Am I building for God’s glory or my own comfort?
2. Practice radical obedience
Small acts of generosity starve mammon.
3. Live open-handedly
What you refuse to release will eventually rule you.
5. Decide who your source is
God is not your “backup plan.” He is your Provider.
6. Say no to control, and let God lead
Mammon thrives on fear. God thrives on trust.
7. Honor God first, not last
The order reveals the allegiance.
8. Let wealth be a servant, not a master
Money is a tool to serve God.
9. Submit your spending and investing to biblical values.
You can practice biblically responsible, pro-values, or Kingdom impact investing. If you run a company, you can implement the Triple Bottom Line into your business plan. I talk more about how to submit your money to biblical values in my newest book, Laws of Wealth: Timeless Wisdom to Transform Your Money Mindset & Build a Kingdom Legacy.
You’re building something.
But who are you building it for? And will it last into eternity?
This marketplace calling is not meant to be carried alone.
Every February, the WealthBuilders community gathers not just to learn how to build—but to be re-anchored in why we build. The WealthBuilders Conference, February 20–22 in Denver, Colorado and online is a dedicated space for believers who want to steward well, advance God’s Kingdom, and leave a lasting legacy. It is a time of worship, practical workshops, and prophetic prayer to help you faithfully step into your next season.
If you sense that God is doing something in you through your work—stretching you, refining you, calling you higher—this is a place to pause and listen, grow in wisdom, and be strengthened in community. Click here to learn more and register!
