I recently received an email from an old friend. Here’s it what it said:

I’m considering two different job offers at the moment.  One is a job similar to the one I have now. It is secure and with a great retirement plan.  The other is at a private faith-based agency that I had worked for years ago.  It is not so financially secure.

I know that you have had a similar situation in the past.

Any advice for an old friend?  If not, I’d appreciate a few prayers for direction.

In a way we all have similar decisions to make in life. We want security and in our culture financial security is at the top of the list. But we also find reason to risk our security for what we believe is a higher calling. Compassion draws us to sacrifice.

I’ll share with you the advice that I gave. My advice could not simply have been to take one job or the other but rather to find out from God which one to take. We should not allow fear (desire for security) to be the basis of our decisions nor should we allow compassion to be the deciding factor. Ephesians 5:17b tells us to “…understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Please read it in context. I am not implying that any of us are foolish!)

Here’s most of what I said: (I also edited the email a little here.)

The number one factor that caused me to work for a non-profit at less than half my pay at the time and with far less security than the large corporation where I worked, actually the only factor is that it became clear to me that God called me to work there. I had no other motivation or impulse. It was an act of faith – faith that God gave me to exercise and to obey Him.  Otherwise it would have been a mistake, futile at best.

Our desire must be directed at pleasing God and our will submitted and obedient to His will in whatever we do. People often do things for God that God did not call them to do nor does He want them to do. It is sad to observe it because although their heart is sincere their labors are of the flesh and not led by the Holy Spirit.

I don’t distinguish between a so-called “secular” job and so-called “full-time-ministry.” Either you are a disciple of Christ (“Go, therefore and make disciples of all men..” is directed to all who love Christ), or you are not. 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 says (paraphrased) “God who said LET THERE BE LIGHT has caused His Light to shine in us but we have this treasure in jars of clay.”  The point is that WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD and that Light must shine everywhere according to His will and plan. As an engineer, I knew that God’s Light was shining in a place which was no less dark than the darkest jungle in Africa. God wanted me in that so-called “secular job” at the time that He did, and God wanted me in so-called “full-time-ministry” when He wanted me there. Neither vocation was about money, security, or anything else other than obeying His call for my life.

It doesn’t matter if you fish, make tents, or even collect taxes. You can minister (or not) wherever you are. I feel strongly about this mostly because people don’t understand what vocation means.

From Webster:
vo·ca·tion, n.
1. a particular occupation, business, or profession; calling.
2. a strong impulse or inclination to follow a particular activity or career.
3. a divine call to God’s service or to the Christian life.
4. a function or station in life to which one is called by God: the religious vocation; the vocation of marriage.

Since I’ve been born again I have not been employed soley for the sake to earn money. According to God’s grace and mercy I have always had a vocation, a calling of God to go to work at a dot.com or at a dot.org.

As the Apostle Paul said in 1 Cor. 9:23, “I do all things for the sake of the gospel…”  That’s why we are here: for God’s good purpose and plan. Wake up every day asking God to direct your paths. And trust Him to lead. And be prepared to obey His calling for you today.

I am disabled, not by my choice, but by the perfect and loving will of my Heavenly Father. It is the most difficult work that I’ve ever done yet along with it blessings which come from suffering. (Another topic another time.)  I have learned more about myself, about life, and about love in the 5+ years that I’ve been disabled than my previous 45 years with a healthy body.

Perhaps one of my favorite meditation passages since I’ve been ill is Philippians 1:20-27.

“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel…”

For me, also, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Whatever I do I do for God in whatever circumstances I am in, wherever I am at, and however I feel.  I am His now and forever, here and wherever.

I love the admonishment in verse 27: “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”  This is my hope for my family whenever I do go Home to be with my Lord forever.