Are you struggling to find time to do business?
One of the most common comments that I hear, when talking with those doing Business as Missions, is “I can only really invest 25 hours per week in my business because I need to save time for the other important things!”
What are the most important things?
When I begin to dig a little deeper into this comment, I start to hear about family commitments, team responsibilities and ministry time.
All of these are very important aspects of life, but how do we expect to model to the local believers what it means to work, be married and have a ministry when we live like this?
There is no way that they can survive working only 20 – 25 hours per week, so why do we want to model that to them? Are we trying to ask them to do an unrealistic thing – work, live and minister?
Having time to do ministry?
The most common point of contention is that these Christian missional entrepreneurs feel that they need time to do ministry.
First of all, your business should be designed to thrust you into the community and open doors for ministry. Whether you have employees or business contacts, each of them is someone who needs to hear of Jesus.
But what happens if those who are interested are not part of your business network?
My feeling is that there is plenty of time after the work day to meet with these people. Hopefully the people that you are discipling also have jobs and so will be free after the workday. You can set appointments to meet them in the afternoon or evening! If you have some unemployed seekers, you are doing them a great service by modeling them to them what it means to work and live.
But my family…
Family is super important! We need to make sure we are spending time with our family, but how much time should we really expect? When I worked in the USA, I left for my job around 7:00 am and returned at 4:45 pm. We also taught Sunday school, ran the youth group, interacted with friends and had family time. Sometimes it was busy, but the Lord sustained us…
A sample schedule
6:00 – 7:00: Wake up and personal time with Jesus
7:00 – 7:20: Family devotions
7:20 – 8:00: Exercise
8:00 – 8:45: Shower & breakfast
9:00 – 2:00: Work
2:00 – 3:00: Lunch & Time with wife (we have tea each day)
3:00 – 5:00: Work
5:00 – 7:00: Dinner & family time
7:30 – 9:30: Community Time – cafe or discipleship
10:00: Time for Bed
Saturday:
You can work half a day and then spend the rest of the time in the community
Sunday:
This is a day of rest – spend it with the Lord and your family.
Does this seem like a lot?
Where is the time for Netflix?
When will I do my emails or skype with family?
When do I relax?
Work is from the Lord
I believe we are doing ourselves a disservice when we try to “get out of work.” The Lord has given us the opportunity to work for His glory. I believe we can work hard, live a full life, minster well and love our families at the same time.