Renewing the Vision
Entrepreneurs start with a vision. It can be for a new product that uniquely meets some niche-market customer needs. It can be to build the best accounting-services company for health care professionals. It can be to open a doggie day care. It can be to launch an international web-communications network.
They create a business plan, count the cost, get everything in place, and launch their dream. And if they have been astute in their planning and accurate in their estimation of the desired need for their product or service, the company gets past its start-up phase and continues growing.
Now the business owner has plenty of work to do--so much, perhaps, that he or she almost doesn’t have time to think. But planning is necessary. The owner sets goals for the next year and maybe some strategies to accomplish them. At the end of the next year, the owner reviews and sets new targets. After a while, the owner starts wearing down. He or she is working hard in the business, but some (or much) of the joy is gone. It’s become a job.
It’s similar to what happens to some Christians. They start with a vision of their new creation: Old things pass away and all things become new. They are being transformed by the renewing of their minds. Their lives are hid with Christ in God. They can do all things through Christ who strengthens them.
They launch into a new life. And it grows. And despite setbacks and conditions around them, they see their life growing. But over time something subtle happens. They start measuring how to do better the next year. They set goals. They read the Bible to check the rules to follow to assure success. In short, they lose the vision and simply work in the business of their spiritual lives. They start seeing the Bible as a guidebook and goal book rather than as a revelation of God’s love and a vision for their destinies. They work hard at being great Christians, but the joy is gone.
So what do you do when the joy is gone?
Whether in business or in your personal spiritual life, you have to renew the vision. Get out of working in the business (or in trying to perfect your spiritual life). Stop working yourself to death.
In the same way a business owner may need a coach or business advisor to help break narrow or distorted focus in order to again dream great things, a Christian needs the coaching and encouragement of those around who have a vision of God’s possibilities.
Kingdom business people encourage each other to keep the vision in front of them and not take their eyes off it. Yes, there are goals to establish and daily work to do, but they keep their eyes on the vision. They are called to make a Kingdom difference in the business world. The vision is from God. And the Holy Spirit in them gives the power and authority to make it happen.