I ran into one of my classmates recently at a corporate office. We had our post graduate studies together few years back. After telling him my relocation to Akure and my ministerial work, he asked a funny but sincere question; “…but is it better?” My response quieted him.
Friend, answering God’s call is always better. It may look stupid to others but it’s the best and wisest decision you can ever make. God always calls us into something better. Serving God costs, but the payment far outweighs its cost. The process may be rough but the end result is always better (John 12:24).
“Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him” (Isaiah 51:2). When it comes to answering God’s call, who you look up to matters. Jesus is our model and pattern for life and ministry. His life evidenced what God can do with a man who is yielded to Him (Philippians 2:5-11, Hebrews 12:1-2).
Abraham’s life is also worthy of emulation here. You get discouraged when you look at the wrong people or place. If God has called you into the ministry or to walk a peculiar road in life, your friends in the secular cannot be your model. The more you look at them, the more you feel that God has cheated you.
God may not pay you every weekend or month end, but know that He would certainly pay you. God does not owe any man. This is what people don’t often understand. Don’t judge the wisdom in your decision to follow God’s plan by what you are seeing today; time will tell. When you look back after some years, you would discover that you are better off following God than otherwise (Malachi 3:13-18).
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure…” (2 Peter 1:10). Success in life and ministry is not automatic; you need to pay your dues (Galatians 6:7-9). God supplies the calling, you supply the diligence (2 Peter 1:10). I know it’s a journey of faith but the end is predictable if you walk the road and submit to the process.
© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria
