Two years ago, I made a decision that cost me money.
As the owner of Scotteez Apparel—a custom printing business in a small, tourist-driven town—Sundays were prime time. Tourists show up. Out-of-towners wandered into shops. And every open sign meant opportunity. But I turned that sign off.
I closed.
Not because of burnout. Not because I had no staff. Not because sales were down.
I closed because I needed to be in church.
At the time, I wasn’t a pastor. I was just a man trying to live more intentionally for Christ. I had been a Christian for years, but something inside me shifted—I knew it was time to stop fitting God into the margins and start building my life around Him. And that meant rethinking how I spent my Sundays.
Now don’t get me wrong—I didn’t make that decision lightly. I understand what it means to run a business. I know the weight of responsibility, the pressure to provide, and the constant pull of the bottom line. This wasn’t about neglecting my duties. It was about prioritizing the One who gave me those duties in the first place.
So I trusted God. I shut the doors. I showed up at church.
And over time, something amazing happened.
God didn’t just honor that decision—He used it to transform me.
Week after week, as I sat under the Word, worshiped with my church family, and grew in faith, God was shaping my heart. He was reordering my priorities, deepening my convictions, and stirring a calling I didn’t see coming. I wasn’t just being fed—I was being prepared.
Fast forward to today: I’m now the pastor of that very church.
I never saw that coming. But looking back, I see how God was paving the way all along. He didn’t just ask me to close my shop on Sundays—He was opening something greater in my heart. Something eternal.
Now, I still run Scotteez Apparel. I still work hard. I still want the business to succeed. But my definition of success has changed. It’s not just about revenue or recognition. It’s about obedience. It’s about faithfulness. It’s about building something that lasts longer than a paycheck.
I’m not writing this to shame other business owners. I get it—not everyone can close on Sundays. This isn’t a blueprint—it’s my testimony. But maybe it’s a reminder we all need: our purpose in life is bigger than profit. Our identity is more than what we do. And the God who gives us work also invites us to worship.
And He’s worth prioritizing.
God didn’t shortchange me for closing on Sundays. He redirected me. And in that redirection, I found more than rest—I found my calling.
So if you’re a business owner, an employee, or just someone feeling the pull to step deeper into your faith—don’t underestimate what one decision can do.
Because sometimes, closing a door is exactly how God opens another.