About a decade ago, when I decided to go full-time with the ministry, out of concern, one of the closest relationships I have said these words to me; “Why did you go ahead with a postgraduate study when you know you were going into the ministry full time? I consider this a waste of time.” His sincere submission revealed the mindset of a lot of people about matters of the calling today.
Friend, education is not an enemy of your calling. It is rather an enhancement of the calling if properly done. By education, I am not necessarily referring to a postgraduate study or formal education. I’m talking about getting informed, knowledgeable, and sound enough to discharge your calling with excellence and beauty (Acts 26:24). Gone are the days when people think that the calling, especially into pulpit ministry, is only for those who have nothing to do with their lives.
Before now, people wondered why God seemed to call uneducated people, so they looked at God’s call with disdain. Now that God is calling engineers, medical doctors, bankers, lawyers, and captains of industry into pulpit ministry, some people still criticise this move, saying that people have turned the ministry into a professional ground. Oil companies, banks, law firms, etc. always look for the best. Why do you think that God deserves less (2 Samuel 24:24).
Some people consider it a waste if a high-profile lawyer or medical practitioner leaves his profession for the ministry. A careful consideration of the choice of Jesus’ disciples reveals that Jesus went for the best (Matthew 9:9, Mark 15:43, John 19:38). Apart from fishermen, we noticed that Jesus included a tax professional, a medical doctor, lawyer, government official, business people, etc. in His program and agenda. He is still doing the same today.
God deliberately chooses the paths you go through in life as an enhancement of His program for your life (Ephesians 1:11). The error now comes when you refuse to use them to drive His call on your life. This is why the education of Moses in Egpyt, the medical career of Luke, and the education of Paul under Gamaliel were all instrumental to the furtherance of God’s purposes for their lives (2 Peter 3:15-16).
Like Smith Wigglesworth rightly opined; “God will blow through a ram’s horn, but if He sees a silver trumpet, He would drop the ram’s horn and go with the silver trumpet.” Your level of education plays a vital role in the discharge of your purpose and calling (2 Timothy 2:15). You will always reduce divine revelation to the size of your mind. Your education and exposure can place a limit on how far God can use you.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria