Yes, our jobs, our family, our outreach, etc… do take a lot of time. But all of our life, and so all that we do, must flow out of our relationship with God. Drifting is a dangerous form of failure in B4T. We may drift in our relationship with God as our passion for Him is drowned by the thousands of things that grab our attention. We may become preoccupied with our jobs or entry strategies. We may become preoccupied with enculturation or language learning. The urgent things of each day drive out the opportunities necessary for meeting with co-workers and friends to model and share His love.
Drifting also happens when interests and passions draw our focus and attention away from God. When we allow another person or personal pursuits to take the lion’s share of our time and attention, our lives slowly drift further and further from Him. The pursuit of success can also be a distraction to our relationship with Him. Passion and enthusiasm that were once focused on Him, are replaced by the desire to make it to the top. The top of the business world and/or the top of the mission world.
No matter how old we are, or how mature we think we are, a relationship is a living entity. Relationships are either growing or dying. Luke 2:52 says, “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”
We must move forward in our relationships with both God and man. Jesus Himself needed time with the Father to build their relationship. When we do not move forward in the development of our relationship with God, our spiritual walk and our ministry end up drifting. It is so easy to grow and then sit back and think that the lessons have been learned and a break can be taken. But relationship with God does not work that way. Are you drifting?
Three suggestions:
1) Identify you are adrift.
2) Take responsibility for reigniting the passion in your relationship.
3) Work with those around you to keep from being adrift. Tell someone you are struggling. Get accountability.
PATRICK LAI and his family have worked in SE Asia for other 37 years. His experience in doing business with Jesus has brought him to understand the meaning of work and worship in the marketplace. He started 14 businesses in four countries, six of which are still operating. Patrick and his wife, May, mentor and coach businesspeople working where there are few or no Christians. Check out Patrick’s latest book, Workship, now available in paperback and e-book.