A young man met me years ago and said this; “I envy someone like you, you have already entered your calling and are fulfilling it. I am just a businessman and hope to be in my calling someday.” I responded; “Don’t hope to be in your calling someday, pursue your calling as a businessman and give your best to it. No calling is higher than another.”
Friend, no calling is higher than another. Every calling in God is a high calling (Philippians 3:14). It is our pursuit of the same that would determine how high it would end. Rather than envy other people’s calling or wishing to be like them, pursue your own calling and be your best in it (Colossians 4:17). Don’t ever think that someone has a higher calling than you.
“Who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling…” (2 Timothy 1:9). We all have a calling. We are saved and called. It is our calling that necessitated our salvation. Like Apostle Paul, you need to ask; “Lord, what would you have me do?” It is the pursuit of that calling that helps you to maximize the purpose of your salvation (Acts 9:6). What are you going to do with the call of God on your life (Acts 26:19)?
Basically, God calls people in the areas of family, governance and ministry (Church work). The reason it seems only pastors are called is because it’s pastors that see their work as a calling. A businessman, called into governance, should also see his work as a calling while a school teacher should see his or her role in family as a calling. If everyone is armed with this truth, we would all be our best for God anywhere and everywhere.
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure…” (2 Peter 1:10). Whereas, God supplies the calling, you would have to supply the diligence and commitment. A high calling with a low commitment would still equal to a failure. God gives you time and opportunities to pursue and invest in your calling but what you do with such is what determines how you would end. It is the seed of commitment you sow today that would bring harvest of fulfilment tomorrow (1 Corinthians 15:10).
You must make a decision to never be ashamed about how your life turns out (Philippians 1:20). If you follow God well enough in your particular area of calling, there would be no reason to feel less than your friends and colleagues in their chosen paths. Whether you choose to pursue the call of a pastor and your friends end up in the oil and gas industry is not the issue. It is the kind of pastor you become that matters. That you pursue business must not make you feel less than someone who is in politics. Invest in your calling so you can get to the height primed for you by God.
© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria