Kairos Consultancy Group

Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.

Genesis 2:19-20 NIV

Names are a powerful thing. They denote identity and function. Part of Adam’s assignment in Eden was to name the living creatures. We know from Genesis 1 that Adam also named Eve.

But who named Adam?

The only person around at the time who could have done so was God.

It was because God named Adam that Adam was able to name the creatures. Since Adam had received the revelation of who he was from God, he was able to function in his identity and call out the identity and function of the creatures.

Who has named you in the marketplace? Who has defined who you are, and who you’re not?

Whoever names you in the marketplace, defines your identity and function in the marketplace.

If your education system, background or culture name you in the marketplace, then they determine your identity and function in the marketplace.

If your loved ones or those you look up to name you in the marketplace, then they determine your identity and function in the marketplace.

If your boss or colleagues name you in the marketplace, then they determine your identity and function in the marketplace.

If the state of the economy names you in the marketplace, then it determines your identity and function in the marketplace.

If you name yourself, then your identity and function in the marketplace is limited to your ability.

If God names you in the marketplace, then your identity and function is defined solely by Him.

Adam wasn’t there when these creatures were made by God, so how was he to know what they were (and what they were created for)? It doesn’t say that God told Adam what to call them. If anything, He took a step back to see what Adam would do.

God could afford to be this carefree because He knew that Adam’s identity and function was so centred in Him, that Adam was able to access the unknown revelation of the creatures in God and call it forth by naming them.

As believers, God has positioned us in the marketplace to do the same. To name that which is found in the Edens He has given us authority over. That which we rightly name, we rightly position for divine function. That which we position, we must tend and keep in a suitable setting for divine purpose to be manifested.

We are not to passively join the rat race and scamper for dear life till we retire someday.

Each one of us is called to do incredible exploits for the Lord that far exceed our greatest imagination and ambition.

But before we can do so, three things must happen.

We must allow God to name us in the marketplace.

This means laying down every crown of achievement and self-sufficiency that we hold dear.

We must embrace the name He has given us.

This means letting go of our “right” to decide what our professional lives and careers should look like.

We must boldly step forward and function based on the name He has given us.

This means acknowledging that we are people on assignment – sent by He who has named us, the One who bears the name that is above every other name, the One to whose name all others must bow.

Do you know your God-given name in the marketplace?

It is only by that name that you can function as authentically and wholesomely as He desires you to.

Action Challenge:

Does your current function in the marketplace live up to the name God has given you? If so, what can you do to sustain the momentum and build on it? If not, what do you need to do to get back on track?