The other day, I got talking with a young man. He works with a youth organization. According to him; “My leader is an engineer and has been running this youth conference imparting youths for well over 20 years now. But he’s still an engineer by profession.” My response to him drove home a major point; “We need men like this, who would not use their career as an excuse for not doing ministry.”
Friend, give God your best life now. Ministry is not what you do when you are done with your secular engagements. It is what you use your practical, day to day, secular engagements to do. People who wait until they are done with secular engagements are at best giving God the remainder of their lives. God is not just looking for the remainder of your life. He is looking for the best part of your life. He is asking for your entire life (John 21:17-19).
If multinational companies specify age-limit on some employments, don’t you think God deserves more? Why would blue chip companies put age-limit on some jobs? It is because they want people who still have a lot of energy, ideas, creativity, and years to give to the organisation. God also wants you to serve Him with the best part of your life, not just the remainder of it (Ecclesiastes 12:1).
Sometimes, people say that some professions require a lot of focus that you don’t have time to do something else, especially serving God. That’s a lie from the pit of hell! How was Luke, a medical doctor, able to do ministry despite his medical practice (Colossians 4:14)? Did you notice that Luke was a major part of Paul’s ministry?
Luke, a medical doctor, gave us two of the finest and detailed books in the New Testament; the books of Luke and Acts of the Apostles (Luke 1:1-4, Acts 1:1). Why would you allow someone to lie to you that because you are a medical doctor, banker, engineer, etc., you cannot have time for God and ministry? The problem is not your time. The problem is your priority. You will always have time for what you consider important (Matthew 6:21, 33).
The problem of some believers is their pastor. Some pastors excuse their members from ministry with the mindset that they are busy. You need a pastor that would include you and not excuse you from ministry (Titus 3:13). If your pastor excludes you, be wise enough to include yourself. When you stand before God, the question would not be; “How much money did you make, or how high did you rise in your career?” It would be; “What did you do for the Kingdom with your life on earth (Esther 4:14)?” Think about this!
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria