What Should Your Priority Be as a Catholic Entrepreneur?
“But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides” (Matthew 6:33).
Priority vs. Priorities
As we kick off another new year, everyone will be talking about resolutions, vision boards, and goal-setting. I agree that it is vital to assess, plan, dream, and set goals, but the older I get, the more I realize that as Catholics, we should approach it a little differently.
The word “priority” originally meant the first or prior thing. Then, in the 1900s, people started talking about “priorities” (plural). Of course, it is necessary to order how and where we spend our time, but we must only have one priority: Christ. Jesus told us that if we put Him first, everything we need will be given to us. But what does that look like in practice when we’re trying to build a business that requires a business plan, financial acumen, and, in some cases, reports for our board or stakeholders?
Let us first look at some verses from Scripture that talk about planning and then consider how we might apply them to our 2025 aspirations.
Scripture Weighs in on Making Plans
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a town, spend a year there doing business, and make a profit’—you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears. Instead you should say, ‘If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that’” (James 4:13-15).
As we dream about what we might accomplish in 2025, it is critical to examine our attachment to those dreams. Fr. Chad Ripperger says that the greatest temptation that our enemy uses is attachment to created things, be they houses and cars, spouses and children, or our business. All things are created, and any disordered attachment to those things leads us away from God. The key there is the word “disordered.” The Church is not saying that we cannot have love and affection for created things, including our businesses, but that affection must not replace the priority of Christ.
In the Gospel of Luke, we hear about the man who tore down his barns to build larger ones for his great harvest, only to be called to his judgment that night. Then, we hear how we are to trust God for every provision, like the birds of the air and the flowers of the field do (12:16-34). Again, detachment plays a role here. We must be detached, not only from the outcome of our plans, as in the first parable, but also in the day-to-day living out of those plans.
“Tell the rich in the present age not to be proud and not to rely on so uncertain a thing as wealth but rather on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready to share, thus accumulating as treasure a good foundation for the future, so as to win the life that is true life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
Here, we are not being told we should not have success and wealth, but we are instructed on what to prioritize. Once more, we cannot be attached to the success or the wealth that it brings. Ultimately, everything belongs to God, and He can choose to do with all things as He sees fit. This brings me to my next point: goodness and trust.
Trusting in God’s Goodness
When we are suffering, it can be difficult to hear that it is God’s will. We must look at what is goodness and what is our greatest desire.
The ultimate good is eternal life with Christ, so it bears out that God will remove anything from our life that may be a deterrent to that ultimate good. We must become detached from all created goods in order to fully embrace the ultimate good. In doing so, we are able to then trust God in whatever comes. It is when our plans are disrupted or our goals are unmet that our true priority becomes obvious. We must learn to accept God’s will in our business and trust that whatever happens, God is working it all out for our ultimate good.
The Calendar and the Checkbook
How can we apply this understanding to our work? We do need to make plans, set goals, and implement strategies, and there are two areas that are the greatest indicator of what our priority is: our calendar and our checkbook.
For example, when there are conflicting items in our budget or schedule, what do we eliminate? I have a critical prospective new client meeting scheduled, but it is a holy day of obligation, and the only mass time offered is at the same time. My cash flow is tight this month, but I need a new computer, which would mean neglecting my promised charitable giving. Both of these situations require us to trust in God’s providence and His timing. He knows everything we need, usually better than we do. We must learn to make decisions based on that trust and not our fear of the outcome.
Creating a Catholic Plan for Your Business in 2025: 3 Steps
1. Pray
We hear it all the time, but it’s worth repeating: We must take our desires and plans to prayer: “Lord, this is what I have come up with. This is how I am outlining the coming year. Please receive it as an offering to You. I trust all things to Your perfect will. Move what needs to be moved. Thwart what needs to be thwarted. Give me an open mind and heart to receive the alterations You make in this plan, knowing that Your plans are better than mine.”
2. Create Your Calendar
Use the Church’s liturgical year as a guide for your annual calendar. Plan big events, trips, and major deadlines during Ordinary Time, and give yourself space to participate in seasons of fasting and feasting without distractions.
3. Create Your Budget
We must remember that God is the giver of all resources, which means that every penny we receive comes through His hand and should be recognized as belonging to Him. We are simply the stewards of God’s blessings.
Assess your projected annual income, and set aside the piece that belongs to God. While in the Old Testament portion that is 10%, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states the model for Catholic tithing requires each person to support the Church as best as he or she can (2043).
Next, determine what you need for basic operating expenses, such as office space and payroll. Look at all your expenses through eyes of faith, and ask God to show you where to invest any surplus.
In the World but Not of the World
As Christians, we are called to live differently (John 17:16), and we must follow that directive in our business life. We may struggle or face unique hardships, but remembering that everything passes through God’s hands can help us receive these sufferings as a means of sanctification. Our life, professional as well as personal, should be an ongoing effort to give glory to God. As you look ahead to 2025, use the teachings of Christ and the guidance of His Church as your template for creating your plans.
Laryn Weaver is a career chameleon with a consistent focus. Her goal is for each person she encounters to have a deep understanding of their own worth and value and an awareness of the skills and gifts that they bring to the world. While not technically a business coach, 95% of her clients are in the business world. For 25 years, her desire has been to build up the women as they build their lives.
Laryn is the author of four books and spent part of her career as a motivational speaker for Catholic women and women in business. She regards her marriage of 31 years and her four adult children who love Jesus and have a commitment to beauty, truth, and goodness her greatest accomplishments. Her latest blessings are the four grandbabies who add abundantly to her gratitude! Find out more about Laryn and the services she offers at larynweaver.com.