Originally posted by Nathan:
Nathan - who currently has a Cherry stout, honey wheat, and Maple Brown ale fermenting away.
I hope for your business' sake that those are separate drinks!
My personal view is that it is not sinful to work on Sunday if the alternatives will further impede your ability to do what God has called you to do. You do not mention here, and I do not remember from other posts, if you are a husband and/or father. If so, you have a responsibility to maintain a marriage and raise your children. If you and your wife agree that you are not meeting the responsibilities there, and there is a way to adjust things to be able to do so, then I'd say you two would seriously need to discuss the options.
What if the business fails? Will you have the PO job to fall back on? Do you have savings to provide for the risk of relying on a home business? Do you have a company plan drawn up? Have you looked into and fulfilled the requisite legal formalities to protect your family (such as the differences between limited liabilities, corporations, etc)? Have you established a customer base already that you could broaden with more time and effort? Have you discussed the possibility of getting your product into some of the stores around you that buy locally? How much more time would you need to dedicate to it to replace one of the other jobs (such as auctioneering) as well? If it would be less time and money to pitch in a little more to this venture than to maintain another one as well, will you be looking to replace the secondary and tertiary jobs with this? If you would do this, would the time also be required on Sunday?
Most importantly, if you have a wife, what does she have to say about it? Is she worried? Is she supportive? Does she have boundaries on what she is comfortable with?
If, after all this, you decide it is best for you in your walk with Christ to undertake this endeavour, what will you do to maximize your time for your other responsibilities such as church and family and charity? If you drop the post office and the auctioneering, you'll be able to maintain your home and personal life on Sat morning, do some charity work and real estate work on Saturday afternoons, and even go to church on Saturday evening, then go to church on Sunday morning, and you'll be able to spend Sunday afternoon with family or friends and to work Sunday evening before bed. If you can work that, you might actually be coming out ahead in every regard. So I'd say in that case, it wouldn't be a sin but an asset.
On the other hand, if you just like to brew beer and think it would be fun, but it would put a further strain on your week, your day, and your responsibilities, then I'd say yes, it is sinfully self-indulgent.
