Paul is a great Kingdom work life model. Let’s see how a day in the life of Paul was similar to that of any Christian business person. He was a small business owner manufacturing and marketing leather products. His products included harnesses, cushions and coverings including tents. He appeared to have had a few co-workers who worked with him in the business. We do not know if they were employees or more like partners in the modern sense of the word. I am inclined to believe they were partners who were holding all things in common ownership.
Besides, they had all placed themselves under Jesus authority. They considered him the owner of everything and themselves as managers. Paul said they were ruled by the love of Jesus and those who live should no longer live for themselves but only for him who died and was raised to life for their sake. 2 Cor 5:14-15
Paul had a constant turnover of personnel in his traveling business. However, whoever was with him formed a community of Jesus’ followers working in their business. Probably Paul could not do the detail leather work and sewing, especially in later years because of a likely problem with his eyes.
They possibly worked just enough to support their common goal of taking the good news about Jesus Kingdom to the entire Roman Empire. Paul had been able to answer the age old question to his satisfaction. How much is enough? He said, “Religion does make a person rich, if he is satisfied with what he has… So then, if we have food and clothes that should be enough for us.” I Tim 6:6-8
In Corinth they met two other believers in the same business but in a permanent location so they lived with them in their home. Helping the same tradesmen did not seem to be a business threat to them. Aquila and Priscilla may have been known as the Great A & P Leatherworks. Who knows?
Unlike professional ministers Paul took pride in supporting his group through their business. I suspect he had never heard such elitist designations of Jesus followers as clergy and laity. He probably never knew about two arenas of life called sacred and secular. It seems Paul had aspired to be a professional religionist at one time but abandoned that when he met Jesus. He had been a Pharisee so zealous that he persecuted the followers of Jesus. Phil 3:5 Now he was a leatherworker, traveling the world like a nomad, driven by a sense of urgency to tell people all over the world that Jesus could set them free like he had been set free. He had become an ambassador representing a Kingdom not of this world.
Here are some of Paul’s business philosophies.
Work ethic: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for men. Col 3:23
Motive: Don’t do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast. Phil 2:3
Relationships with Associates: Always consider others better than yourselves. Phil 2:3
Accountability: Remember that you and your employees belong to the same Master in heaven, who judges everyone by the same standard. Eph 6:9
Profit and loss. But all those things I might count as profit I now reckon as loss for Christ’s sake. I reckon everything as complete loss for the sake of what is so much more valuable, the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. Phil 3:7-8
His Daily routines probably included the following.
They were up daylight to a little after dark working six days a week.
They probably worked outside and during bad weather. (No HVAC)
They probably did not do leatherwork 6 pm Friday to 6 pm Saturday but did read and memorize the Old Testament at the local synagogue and met with people to talk about Jesus.
They opened temporary business sites in each city not knowing how long they could stay. It is unlikely he had an office, much less one in private.
The community of partners produced excellent quality leather goods.
They laughed a lot and prayed a lot.
They communed with Father as he worked.
Paul was always ready to challenge people to repent and believe in Jesus by going to public places or meetings in homes. Acts 20:20-21
The only money Paul asked others to donate was to help poor people.
So this is how I think Paul likely spent his work day.
Got up early.
Read and prayed.
Ate.
Met with his co-workers and probably prayed at the start of the work.
Prospected for fur traders or herdsman to acquire raw goods.
Tanned hide into leather.
Analyzed the market to determine the leather products in greatest demand.
Designed those products, perhaps on parchment.
Located suppliers of other needed tools and supplies.
Set up a sales site in a public place.
Led co-workers in both sales and manufacture of product during the course of the day. (Somehow I see Paul at the sales site most of the time…. meeting and interacting with people, building relationships and networking.)
Communed with Jesus all day (prayed without ceasing).
Gave a leather product to someone in need.
Took an extended break after the midday meal.
Met with groups or individuals, unrelated to his business, perhaps during work hours and in the evening sharing Jesus and the Kingdom.
Ate.
Attended congregational gatherings.
Taught in large or small groups.
Dictated and partially wrote letters to individuals and the believers in other cities.
Went to bed.