When I conduct purpose seminars, which by the way I could do every week if I had the opportunity, I sometimes make this statement,
"Jesus never recruited anyone to a paid ministry position. He recruited people to fulfill their purpose, and He promised to be with them no matter where they went or what they did." Let's look at that statement more closely.
Jesus didn't approach His disciples and say, "Men, I have a job for you to do, and that is to be fishers of men. Now, I'll pay you a certain amount, plus benefits, for your efforts. You'll have two weeks off every six months, and I'll put away a certain amount for your retirement." Jesus didn't fully explain how He would take care of the men, but He did promise to do so.
The issue that people raise with me when I talk about this is, "That's because the disciples were in ministry, and that's how people in ministry are to live. But I'm a carpenter or a teacher or a nurse, and I need to get paid!" That, my friends, is the crux of the matter, isn't it? Does God have the right to ask you to work at any job and trust Him for your provision from another source?
A WORKER IS WORTHY . . .
Let me give you some examples. I often meet with people to coach and counsel them where purpose is concerned. I don't charge them anything to do so and most of the time, they don't offer to pay. God has sent them to me and in a sense, I'm serving a pastoral role at that time—which is God's will for me. Another example is that I have completed a full commentary on the New Testament, verse by verse. I couldn't escape the fact that I was to edit and publish it in its entirety—all twelve volumes.
That was my work God had assigned me to do. No one paid me to do that, and there were no guarantees of sales to support me. Yet God provided for me to work on that project in other ways, and I felt His pleasure as I did it. God has recruited me to write and has promised to care for me as I do. So far, all the bills are paid, money is being saved, health benefits are covered, and I have money left over to give away. Am I the exception or the rule where this issue of God's provision is concerned?
At some point in the discussion, people often quote the verse that says the laborer is worthy of their hire (see Luke 10:7 and 1 Timothy 5:18), and of course that principle is true. A laborer should be paid by whatever entity benefits from their efforts. But isn't that verse also a promise about God's faithfulness? If God "hires" you to do something, won't He be true to His own promise and, as your employer, make sure you are taken care of—perhaps from sources you don't know or expect provision?
People usually tell me that "I have a family to feed and support," to which I respond, "Oh, so you are the one to take care of your family? God has no role in the process?" Do you think it's more difficult for God to provide for a family of five than for an individual? Do you think God needs a company to do that? Do you think God needs you to work at a company to do that?
God can use a company to feed you and yours, but God doesn't need one to feed you all. And ultimately, who is the real source of the provision—God using the company or the company itself? And one more question: Is God limited only to use your company to pay you or can He provide for you in other ways along with the pay you receive?
JESUS SAID . . .
It would be good to read and then reflect on Jesus' own words on this matter. Ask yourself, "Did He mean this for those in ministry or for every one of His followers?" If He meant them for all, then how can you apply them to your life and work? I have shared with you how they apply to mine.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:25-34).
Do you need to adjust your thinking where your provision is concerned? Yes, your company pays you as it should, but ultimately it's God who is using them to provide for you. Therefore, you can put your trust in Him to provide with or without the company. That means you can embrace any work He has given you to do and trust that He, as your employer, will be sure to provide as promised, even if He has to use unusual means to do so—means that prove He is your source in every situation. Have a blessed week.
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