For born again Christians like me, serving the Lord full time seems to be the obvious progression in our spiritual journey and if we don't do that then there is always a sense of condemnation bothering us and making us feel that we are not serving the Lord wholeheartedly or we are like lukewarm water..which can only be spitted out...Rev 3:16
I have struggled in this area a lot and just want to share with you my thoughts.
I have seen a lot believers get into full time ministry without thought. Most of the time it is the pressure from the church leaders who convince these blighters that ..Hey you are not doing the will God brother..or you do not love the Lord unless you serve full-time..
Some church leaders blame you and call you Jonah and other says you are not trusting God.
It is fine to motivate and encourage people to reach new levels of faith but what if God does not want some of these full-timers to be actually full-timers?
My point is that before stepping into full time ministry, are you sure that you have been asked by God to do so?
I am seeing a lot of such full timers who are in a very sorry state because of the rhetoric of immature church leaders. Some of these smart well educated full-timers are now struggling to make ends meet. Who is responsible for this mess?
Number One - Full timers themselves who did not hear God's voice and only believed people around them. Therefore when the storm came their future was washed away ( Matt 7: 23-25). Their decision was not based on solid foundation..The Voice of God..
Number Two- Immature and selfish church leaders who lead people astray for meeting their own objectives. Church Leaders, are you sure that you are speaking the will God for your people or are you just trying to fulfil your agenda?
Then what should one do before embarking on full-time service of the Lord? The following point, I believe answers this question.
Being Ready
In Matt 25, the virgins who did not have enough oil were left behind because they were not prepared. The question we should ask our self is that are we ready if Jesus calls out to us and asks us to follow Him? Are we in a position like Peter where we can drop just anything we are doing and walk behind Jesus.
Some of you may not be ready because of responsibilities but that's when you need faith.
In Matt 19:21 when the young man approached Jesus and asked what more should I do, Jesus decide to test and see what was more important for him. The same applies to us, are we ready to let go what we love the most?
Examine your motives
Some people get into full-time ministry because it is a fairly easy and respectable job if done half heartedly or with wrong motives.
My brother once met a pastor who told him quite plainly that if you raise funds for me I will give a certain %. I also know a pastor who is forcefully occupying the home church had given him.
Each of us know plenty of examples where people misuse church money.
So check whats your motive behind working for the church - comfort, easy money, respect?
If so, then brother you are heading in the wrong direction .
Being Holy
Needless to say, this is also a very important aspect. God called us while we were sinners is true but when he calls you to be His ambassador, is your life and character worthy to be identified with Jesus' name?.
As in Matt 22 , when the king invited the poor for his son's banquet he gave them new clothes to wear but those who did not change their clothes were put to death. Have we changed our clothes to go out and proclaim His name?
The three points I have mentioned above are the only things you need to do if you wish to serve God full time. This is your part and you should be ready with your part.
The other part is God's part which is calling you. This is the key and this is the area where we make a mistake when we think of full-time ministry. God will let you know when we wants you. Don't try to do His part. Don't try to help Him like Abraham did. Wait for his call and He will call you.
There are plenty of ways to serve God while managing our full-time jobs and an example is writing blogs like these :-). I don't want to be the servant who did not even deposit his master money for interest, so I am doing whatever I can.
I have struggled in this area a lot and just want to share with you my thoughts.
I have seen a lot believers get into full time ministry without thought. Most of the time it is the pressure from the church leaders who convince these blighters that ..Hey you are not doing the will God brother..or you do not love the Lord unless you serve full-time..
Some church leaders blame you and call you Jonah and other says you are not trusting God.
It is fine to motivate and encourage people to reach new levels of faith but what if God does not want some of these full-timers to be actually full-timers?
My point is that before stepping into full time ministry, are you sure that you have been asked by God to do so?
I am seeing a lot of such full timers who are in a very sorry state because of the rhetoric of immature church leaders. Some of these smart well educated full-timers are now struggling to make ends meet. Who is responsible for this mess?
Number One - Full timers themselves who did not hear God's voice and only believed people around them. Therefore when the storm came their future was washed away ( Matt 7: 23-25). Their decision was not based on solid foundation..The Voice of God..
Number Two- Immature and selfish church leaders who lead people astray for meeting their own objectives. Church Leaders, are you sure that you are speaking the will God for your people or are you just trying to fulfil your agenda?
Then what should one do before embarking on full-time service of the Lord? The following point, I believe answers this question.
Being Ready
In Matt 25, the virgins who did not have enough oil were left behind because they were not prepared. The question we should ask our self is that are we ready if Jesus calls out to us and asks us to follow Him? Are we in a position like Peter where we can drop just anything we are doing and walk behind Jesus.
Some of you may not be ready because of responsibilities but that's when you need faith.
In Matt 19:21 when the young man approached Jesus and asked what more should I do, Jesus decide to test and see what was more important for him. The same applies to us, are we ready to let go what we love the most?
Examine your motives
Some people get into full-time ministry because it is a fairly easy and respectable job if done half heartedly or with wrong motives.
My brother once met a pastor who told him quite plainly that if you raise funds for me I will give a certain %. I also know a pastor who is forcefully occupying the home church had given him.
Each of us know plenty of examples where people misuse church money.
So check whats your motive behind working for the church - comfort, easy money, respect?
If so, then brother you are heading in the wrong direction .
Being Holy
Needless to say, this is also a very important aspect. God called us while we were sinners is true but when he calls you to be His ambassador, is your life and character worthy to be identified with Jesus' name?.
As in Matt 22 , when the king invited the poor for his son's banquet he gave them new clothes to wear but those who did not change their clothes were put to death. Have we changed our clothes to go out and proclaim His name?
The three points I have mentioned above are the only things you need to do if you wish to serve God full time. This is your part and you should be ready with your part.
The other part is God's part which is calling you. This is the key and this is the area where we make a mistake when we think of full-time ministry. God will let you know when we wants you. Don't try to do His part. Don't try to help Him like Abraham did. Wait for his call and He will call you.
There are plenty of ways to serve God while managing our full-time jobs and an example is writing blogs like these :-). I don't want to be the servant who did not even deposit his master money for interest, so I am doing whatever I can.
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