Becoming an Altar builder in My Business/Work

I never used to think of my work as an altar for God. An altar felt like something ancient—built of stone, a place for sacrifices and worship. But then I realized: an altar is simply a space where we meet God. What if our workplaces, our businesses, our daily grind could be that space? Do I see myself as an altar builder at my work space? Why is an altar important in my business or in my work?

What is an Altar?

What does the word altar means? The word altar is derived from the verb "heb: zabach" (זבח), meaning "to slaughter" or "to sacrifice". Therefore, the Hebrew word altar

"heb: mizbeah" (מִזְבֵּחַ) signifies a place where sacrifices are offered. 

Eden is the workplace for Adam in Gen. 2:15, Eden is a holy ground and Adam are asked to work (heb:avad) a term used synonymous for worship, and word keep (heb:samar)  and together with work, usually are used to denote the work of the priest in the temple. Work can be seen as worship, holy and a sacrificial act unto God- probably referring to an altar. This is a fascinating thought.

The first sacrifice in the bible although not stated as an altar or sacrifice, but can be infer to- is Gen.3:21. After Adam and Eve have sinned against God, they were naked and filled with shame, and God covers them with an animal tunics to cover the shame of his naked children.

Gen.3:21. Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. This is clearly a Messianic text, foreshadowing of the covering of sin and shame through the great act of God when the ultimate sacrifice was given for man through the redemption we have received through Jesus Christ, for his sacrifice on the cross.

In chapter 4 of Genesis, we see the offering (heb: Minhah- means a tribute, veneration, or gifts) of Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam, highlighting particularly the offering of Cain, where he offered the firstborn of his flock (as a sacrifice), and his sacrifice was accepted. Gen.4:4.

The first mentioned of the altar in the bible is recorded in Genesis 8 - after coming out of his boat, Noah build an Altar for the Lord (Gen.8:20). We see God is so delighted at the altar, and he says- I will never again curse the ground for man's sake although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth, nor will I do it again. Gen.8:21.

Hence, the early believers- Abraham, Issacs, Jacob, and the prophets are without doubt, altar builders. In the New Testament, altar builders takes a different form, They are to build an altar of praise by becoming a living sacrifices because of what Christ has done. Paul echo this in Romans 12:2. when he says - present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy , acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (worship) because of what Jesus has done for you.

Build Altar at your Workplace/Business- God always meet us there

With these in mind, we are to be altar builders in our workplace/business. Altars are sacred space, the space for our sweet communion with God, like that in the garden, when God walks into the garden everyday to talk to Adam and Eve. Although this reality is lost because of sin, we thank God that there is a covering given to Adam and his descendent (Gen.3:21) in the sacrifice that God has make, in reinstating their relationship and ours (1 Jn. 4:10, 1 Jn.2:2).

In the world that is plaque with sin, I am reminded this morning of the significance of building an altar in our home, our company, our church and particularly in our business. I am reminded that altar is a place where I offer myself as the living sacrifice in my worship to God. When I made myself available, he prepares me for the things to come, my altar becomes a portal, a place of transformation and a place where God commune with me and this can be erected anywhere as long as we are consciously raising them.

I am reminded that erecting an altar would mean we bring the consciousness of God into our work space, so when we get angry, feeling frustrated with our employees or family members, instead of shouting or getting agitated, we can resort to go into their office, meeting room, the space of disagreement, place of frustration and place of anger and consciously raise an altar of the Lord there. When we do God will minister to our soul. God will bring us to a place where we will sacrifice our ego, our status, our fear and frustration to refresh our perspectives of God in our business and home situation. It is about surrendering and redirecting our thoughts, it is moving from frustration and anger to joy and trust. try it out!

The bible tell us that whenever an altar is raised, God speaks, God act, just like in the days of Elijah, after repairing the broken altar in 1 Kings 18:30 - God defeated the priests of Baal- 1 Kings 8:31-40.

This is the power of altar building a prophetic act of God, so let the building of an altar be a conscious act daily in your business. May God bless us as we build an altar to the Lord, because an altar is always an open portal for a sweet communion with the Lord. When Habakkuk stands and the rampart and scan the horizon, I believed he must have build an altar as he commune with God on behalf of his people, asking for a vision. Hab.2:1-4.

A Simple Challenge

We, who are in business can erect an altar in our company.

We, who are parents can erect an altar in our home.

We, who are students can erect an altar at the school,

We who are serving in the church can erect an altar in the church.

Everyone can erect an altar.

You just have to raise your praise, your worship, pray and meditate with the word in the Spirit (I pray using scriptures nowadays to speak to my situation) and sometimes, I dance and raise my banner (by raising my flag) and at times, I just sit in silence, waiting upon him to instruct and direct.

Be conscious in raising an altar and if we can do this, I am sure it will be a haven - an open heaven where you will have that sweet communion with Him, because God always meet us there at that opportune time we have set with him. God never misses any of his appointment with us when we called upon him. Praise be to God.