The ministry of investing and wealth creation
Guest Author: Patrick Kuwana
Patrick Kuwana is the founder and CEO of C3 Capital – a redemptive impact driven investment business headquartered in Durban, South Africa. C3 Capital uniquely combines (1) Christian friendly financial capital with a (2) Kingdom business growth acceleration blueprint and (3) Redemptive business equipping and empowerment process, to build and grow Christian led businesses in Africa that carry an unashamedly redemptive transformational agenda.
Patrick is married to Maude and they have been blessed with 2 sons.
Money, resources and wealth are never dormant or neutral, they are always active either working directly for the benefit of someone (individuals and organizations) or influencing society on behalf of the interests of someone (individuals and organizations).
The figure of speech that ‘money speaks’ is very real; and necessitates that as followers of Jesus Christ we ask ourselves the critical question - ‘What is the money that God has given me to steward saying and who is it actively working for?’ This question becomes even more critical for us who have been called into the ‘ministry of investing and creating wealth’ through our profession.
I sincerely believe that followers of Jesus who work in the fields of private equity, venture capital, impact investing, fund management and other such related professions have been called into the ‘ministry of investing and wealth creation’. This is a ministry that involves investing God’s money and resources into what He wants it invested in, and through that, multiplying the wealth on the earth that is serving His purposes.
The global wealth equation
A very confrontational and provocative way of looking at our options in the arena of wealth creation can be put in these three ways:
We are either investing on God’s side or the devil’s side
We are either receiving returns from God’s side or the devil’s side
We are either building wealth on God’s side or the devil’s side.
In the area of wealth, we have a situation that we can summarize in a simple equation:
Total Global Wealth =
Wealth held in the Kingdom of God + Wealth held in the kingdom of the devil
The ‘Wealth held in the Kingdom of God’ refers to assets and financial resources that are in the hands of God’s stewards who are using them according to God’s economic system for the purposes of seeing the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth and fulfilling the manifestation of His will on earth as it is in heaven. This is the wealth that He gives His stewards the power to gain so that it can be used to fulfil His covenant promises. (Deuteronomy 8:18 - “But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers even to this day.)
The ‘Wealth held in the kingdom of the devil’ refers to assets and financial resources that are in the hands of man, both non-Christians and Christians, who are using them for the purposes of their own desires and therefore are being used to further the economic system of the enemy which is based on materialism, greed and the accumulation of riches outside the guidelines of God’s economic, financial and business principles. In most cases the channels through which this wealth is obtained are ones that fuel economic injustice and unrighteousness, and places others in slavery and bondage through the exploitation for profit.
Defining the ‘wealth equation’ in these polar opposite arenas without any middle ground seems extremely harsh and can bring a lot of controversy, but it comes from the understanding that Jesus clearly gives us two choices when He says in Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate the one and love the other, you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon.” So whatever wealth is not being used to further God’s interests is therefore furthering the interests of the devil since Jesus once again says “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” (Luke 11:23). With Jesus there is no middle ground.
Wealth held in the kingdom of the devil >
Wealth held in the Kingdom of God
It does not take much analysis to realize that the ‘wealth that is in the hands of the wicked/sinner’ is influencing the affairs on earth right now more than the ‘wealth that is in the hands of the righteous’ (using the biblical terminology we find Proverbs 13:22).
The exponentially increasing levels of global control being exerted over people by governments and the rise of a globalist agenda that removes personal and business freedoms is as a result of ‘money speaking’ through a voice that is anti-God and anti-Christ. The ever increasing silencing of conservative Christian voices and the shutting down of their business services (payment gateways, access to social media, etc.) by Big Tech and Big Media is an indication of ‘the voice’ that is influencing affairs in the world right now.
The book of James brings a very stern warning and consequence for the wicked/sinner who is holding on to wealth and using it against God:
Listen all you who are rich, for it’s time to weep and howl over the misery that will overtake you! Your riches lie rotting, your fine clothing eaten by moths, and your gold and silver are corroded as a witness against you.
You have hoarded up treasure for the last days but it will become a fire to burn your flesh. Listen! Can’t you hear the cries of the laborers over the wages you fraudulently held back from those who worked for you? The cries for justice of those you’ve cheated have reached the ears of the Lord of armies!
You have indulged yourselves with every luxury and pleasure this world offers, but you’re only stuffing your heart full for a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered good and innocent people who had no power to defend themselves. (James 5:1-6 TPT)
The ‘Ministry of Investing and wealth creation’
I believe ‘The ministry of investing and wealth creation’ (private equity, venture capital, impact investing, fund management, etc.) is one of God’s primary channels that can reverse the equation to read ‘Wealth held in the Kingdom of God’ > (is greater than) ‘Wealth held in the kingdom of the devil’ so that the ‘wealth that is in hands of the righteous’ can now influence the direction of global affairs as God’s voice speaks through that money and wealth.
This is why answering the 3 questions, what am I investing in? what am I receiving returns from? which side of the wealth equation am I building on? become most critical at this time. Our response to these 3 questions could determine the success or failure of the globalist driven agenda that seeks to strip humankind of all freedoms.
Accelerated supernatural returns
Is it possible that investing God’s money into what He wants it invested in could produce accelerated supernatural returns because of the urgency God has to see wealth in the hands of the righteous for global influence?
Could biblical returns of 30, 60 and 100 fold be possible as we partner with our God who is determined to use them to fulfill His covenant promises in this time where evil and darkness seem to be winning?
Perhaps it is for such a time as this that God has raised up those who are in the ‘ministry of investing and wealth creation’ to worship Him in spirit and truth through this most noble work and calling to be His ‘Apostles of Wealth Creation’. A ministry through which many will experience the goodness of God and receive His promised inheritance for them here on earth.
A time to roar and arise
It’s time for us to boldly roar with the Voice of God and arise as re-builders of the broken walls of economies and nations. It’s time to separate ourselves onto the Lord and be the vessels that He will now use to pour His glory (presence, provision and power) into the earth. We have the unique opportunity to partner with God in a very unique assignment at this unprecedented time in history. ‘Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom and liberty’.
Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the organization, its affiliates, or employees.
