“How do I begin to develop new relationships with lost people, when I don’t have time for the relationships I have already?” This is a good question and a hard one at the same time.
I think you have to begin with another question, “Are the relationships that I have today about what God wants or what I want?” Another question might be asked, “Do I view the relationships I have the way God sees them?” I think these two questions are two of the most important questions we can ask ourselves. God has placed us in a neighborhood, at a workplace, and in relationships that he desires us to cultivate for His glory and His causes.
God has placed me in my neighborhood not just so I can have a roof over my head, but also to reach-out to the people I live around. When my kids are going to the soccer field for practice, I can either sit in the car, in my own little world or I can meet new people and over the course of a season develop a new relationship for the cause of Christ. While I am at work I can view my job as my field of ministry, where He has placed me not just for a paycheck or to accomplish some big new idea, but to develop relationships in such a way that He can influence the work environment. My task is not just widgets but relationships that glorify His name and His purposes.
The task isn’t just soccer practice, but relationships at the soccer field for His glory. The goal isn’t just the next big project at work, but relationships that influence people toward Christ. The task is important, but it isn’t the end goal. Influencing people for the sake of Christ is the end, the task is the means.
When we begin to view our present relationships the way God views them and we begin to handle them the way God desires everything else will begin to take care of itself. This may seem a little simplistic, but I don’t think God is trying to make it difficult. You see, He has already placed us in relationships where we can begin to live out a life of “investing” and until we do that with our present relationships and circles of influence we shouldn’t look for new ones. He may bring someone new into your life, but first we need to be faithful where He has placed us as His followers.
