When I was a pastor near Springfield, Mo. we had a lot of Bible College students attend the church. I mention this because it relates to a certain phrase that I heard over and over–“God called me into full-time service”. I knew what they meant and I didn’t make an issue of it, but perhaps I should have. That phrase is generally used in reference to someone who has been called to preach, a pastor, a missionary, or a paid staff member. The truth is, all Christians are called into “full-time” service. God doesn’t call everyone to preach, nor even enable all preachers to receive a salary from a church, but He most certainly calls all Christians to serve Him at all times.
God expects you to serve Him whether you are a pastor or a plumber, a missionary or a merchant, etc. As disciples we are on duty full-time, every hour of every day of the week. While our duties may vary our purpose and mission is the same– regardless of what we do to put bread on the table. Nor does your vocation make you any less important than the person whose salary is paid by the church. Rather than dividing everything into the sacred and secular we need to think of all ground as holy ground. That would do away with the foolish notion that some of us are more important or deserving than others. You should commit yourself and conduct yourself as the full time servant of the most high God. Being anything else, doing anything less, is to miss your mission, and that is to fail at life.
Speaking of “paid”– our reward is out of this world! Your labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58). As Paul said in Gal. 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” There will be a payday some day and that makes everyday important in some way. Spend them wisely my friend.–HDS
