The Call to Serve
"Why am I here on this earth?" is perhaps one of the most fundamental philosophical questions of life. It has been asked, answered, and debated by countless writers, philosophers, and ordinary people over the centuries. While Christianity offers an explanation, there is a question that remains for many believers: "Why am I still here?" Having received God's free gift of eternal life, why should we be left to struggle and suffer on earth? What is our purpose for remaining here, if as the old hymn proclaims, "This world is not my home?"
Paul addressed this question in his letter to the believers in Ephesus:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
While we are not "saved" by our acts of righteousness, Paul reminds us that our salvation was indeed for a purpose--in order that we might do good works. This does not contradict James' assertion that "faith without works is dead" (James 2). Paul and James are simply examining different aspects of salvation--for Paul it is justification, and for James, sanctification. Paul is focused on how we are "saved" (i.e., justified) from sin; James is focused on the aftereffects of salvation in our lives.
How fascinating to think that God has prepared in advance good works for us to do. Therein we can find great purpose and fulfilment in a world that offers little of either. Sadly though, there is a dramatic shortfall of workers:
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (Luke 9:57 - 10:2)
Jesus called many to follow Him, but few were willing to consider it and fewer still willing to count the cost (Luke 14:26-35) of being a disciple. The Kingdom of God needs workers, but there are few who are willing to work. And ironically enough, it is in the ranks of the Kingdom's "unemployment line" that some of the greatest critics of ministries can often be found. Listen to a conversation at a typical church and you're liable to hear such things as:
We have all heard comments such as these at one time or another. And all too often, we find ourselves hearing such comments because they are coming from our own lips!
Did you notice how poorly written the church newsletter was this month? If you did, it could be because you were not able to assist in writing it. Did you find the Sunday School teacher boring? If so, perhaps it was because you were not available to teach. Did you find some fault with the music? Perhaps you weren't available to contribute your musical abilities. As you were "too busy," the job was instead given to someone less able--but more willing. Someone who was less skilled--but more committed.
Indeed, for the angels looking down at the earth it must seem as though the Kingdom of God is like a professional sports team on strike. The field should be full of top-notch athletes, but instead it consists of second-rate amateurs who have been sent as replacements. For whatever reason, the professionals who should be on the field have refused to appear, leaving a sorry lot of substitutes to play in their place.
Nevertheless, the work of the Kingdom must continue, with or without the help of professionals. God is pleased to call in the "second-string" players on His team. He delights in using those who might seem weak in every other respect. His name is glorified by ordinary people who can't sing, can't write, or can't teach. You see, we've missed the point of it all. Service to the Kingdom of God is not about perfecting abilities or discovering some hidden "spiritual gift." It is first and foremost about people who are willing to serve. It is about people who desire to glorify God. What a relief it is when we come to the realization that God is glorified in our weaknesses (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10). The sermon doesn't have to be interesting, the newsletter riveting, or the music performed to perfection.
God is glorified by the faithfulness of His people. For those who are faithful, it matters little as to whether they are skilled.
Perhaps you are a "professional" who has been on strike; or perhaps you're a second-rate substitute with no particular skills. The work of the Kingdom must go on. The Kingdom is recruiting all kinds of believers--young, old, working, retired, single, married, skilled and unskilled. There is no discrimination, no entrance requirement, no prerequisite. The call to serve is given to all those who are willing to accept it. Will you?
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (Matthew 9:35-38)
Copyright © 1998-2000 Tim A. Krell. All rights reserved. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV), Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.