God gives the increase, not us
When I first started my ministry, I didn’t even realize it was a ministry. I was still yoked to the darkness that was my customer service job. So I couldn’t discern the true nature of what God led me to create, or the worldly way I was operating my ministry. I listened to the people who said post on social media every day, do advanced reader copies, do discounts, do this, do that. I listened to everyone at that time but God. The God who says He gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). The God who says to not work for money, work for Him (Matthew 6:24).
To the world, and unfortunately to a lot of Christians, marketing and advertising are only used to try to create an increase in profits to a business. God is not put first; money is. Money becomes the master, and the algorithm supposedly gives the increase. And maybe, between their marketing and advertisements, a Bible verse or biblical message is sprinkled in every now and again. And for any naysayers out there who say who cares?—this is working for people, maybe even you. Not every increase God gives is a blessing (Psalm 73:12).
This is not how we as Christians should operate our businesses, our ministries. Because that’s what our businesses are supposed to be—ministries. Even when they aren’t in a building people love to call a church. (We, the body of Christ, are the church, not a building!) These ministries can be wherever God has been leading you, using the gifts He gave you.
And when using your gifts to make any advertising or marketing or anything in general, you should put God first. Just like with everything else in the Christian life. You should be thinking about the eternal destiny of the person on the other end of the screen. Our neighbor, our brothers and sisters in Christ. We should be hoping that seeds can be planted, even if they don’t ever buy what we are selling. We should be praying to God that He gives an increase so we can see these people in heaven. Because that’s what really matters, eternity, not the temporary.
My work is a side dish to God’s main dish. I do my best to decrease so He can increase (John 3:30). So, for my ministry, I no longer use social media or pay for advertising. Which means you won’t find me spamming my book, highlighting any deals, promoting other authors, or myself. Instead, you will see that I focus on promoting God through the gifts He gave me. If I talk about my work or my life, it’s centered around God. So is any drawing, the occasional Pinterest post, or essay like this one.
And one more important thing we should be remembering is that the algorithm is not in control; God is. And God said that for us to get the things that we need, we have to diligently seek Him (Matthew 6:25-33). Nowhere within that does it say we are in charge of trying to create an increase. We plant, we water, and God gives the increase. And in this modern time, that includes whatever money we make, the people our work reaches, and whatever success we may have. We do not have to hustle and act like a social media clown for God.
We just have to do what He says.
