Some time ago a man I know bought a business. He wanted to be able to have a sustainable income that would allow him to go on more missions trips. Unfortunately the business did not take off and he ended up working two other jobs to pay off the debt.
Business is risky and many Christians are not up to taking that risk with their missions dollars. We are in a system that almost all of the dollars given go straight to the missionary. And people are generous and there are a lot of dollars out there! But there is also a vast need around the world of more missionaries and plenty of missionaries wait 2-3 years in order to get to the field. Certainly this discourages others from going into missions as well. If money was not an issue would you take 2-3 years and go on mission? I imagine there are many people who would be more likely to pursuit it.
So the question is: Is it worth the risk of our missions dollars to use business for the sake of the kingdom?
Jesus tells the parable of the talents in the New Testament. He rebukes the third servant for hiding his one talent and applauds the other two servants who invested theirs’. Methinks that Jesus likes the idea of investing for the kingdom.
How much investment have we done with our missions dollars? Wouldn’t it be great if we could multiply those dollars before they arrived to the missionary? Is there a way we could take the millions of dollars going into missions yearly and multiply the millions?
I do not have any solid answers here, but I do know that God has given many people creative minds. The church has many businessman who could think through these things. I do have some ideas, but I do think there are better ones out there that a little prayer and meditation can bring out.
Pray about it. First pray that it is for God’s glory and not our own. Then pray boldly that God will show us a way to invest for His kingdom as well as provide for that investment!
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