Christian business owners face a challenging dichotomy every single day. Is my heart focused entirely on my business or on Jesus?
This dichotomy shouldn’t be surprising at all. Our society idolizes people that sacrifice everything to become the greatest in their field. Bill Gates once said, “I never took a day off in my twenties. Not one.” And we respect him for that. J.J. Watt has a famous quote, “Success isn’t owned. It’s leased, and rent is due every day.” And this quote is referenced in team meetings across the country. We’re told to put 100% of ourselves into our business every single day because that’s how you grow a successful company. We can even feel guilty if we’re not doing this… The sobering side is when I hear comments like, “I lost two marriages to my business because I didn’t have time for both.”
Over the last couple of years, I’ve been on a journey of repositioning my heart and identity away from my business and towards God. One byproduct of this was a disconnect with my company. I was falling out of love. But since I still care deeply about my business, this feeling of separation was disconcerting; especially since I feel as though God has called me into business. I started asking myself, “How can I be effective at work if God is pulling my heart away from it? If I lose my passion for business how can I run a company?”
Confused as to why God was shifting my heart away from business, I handed it over to Him in prayer. “God, why are you pulling my heart away from my business?” I was secretly hoping He was not calling me to do something different. Almost immediately, a clear voice in my head responded “I’m doing this so you can start becoming effective.” It dawned on me in that moment that when God ultimately has my heart (and the business does not), that I am more effective for God and my company. When my heart is filled with His priorities above those of the business I am right where I need to be…a heart paradox I am learning to trust God with.
In our heads, we know that God is supposed to be number one, but many times our actions paint a different picture. My revelation has deeply impacted my priorities when it comes to my business, my family, and my spiritual life. Below are several verses that I have been meditating on:
“Do not be conformed to this world (conformed by the love of business), but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23).
We would love to hear about your journey in the comment section and how your priorities have changed over the years!