Embracing Our Humble Callings

"You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other.  Doesn't that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren't you living like people of the world? When one of you says, "I am a follower of Paul," and another says, "I follow Apollos," aren't you acting just like people of the world?  After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul?...I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering." (1 Cor. 3:3-7)

This verse really struck me today because as a younger Christian, I attended a locally famous church and I remember that some people who attended used to liken the pastor to Billy Graham and his gift for evangelism.

But as I've grown older in Christ and in wisdom, I realize that my Pastor that seemed so famous, pious and good is only a man.  In reality, he's not really that famous, although he is, as far as I can discern, pious and good (for which I am glad).

But even when it comes down to someone like Billy Graham, a man I completely admire and respect, who is Billy?  He is a man who is faithful to the call of Christ to water or plant the seed of faith in many worldwide.  Yet, can even Billy Graham take credit for anything?  As Paul says, "No, it was God who made it grow."

Being a former missionary, it is easy to compare accomplishments and to get into a numbers mindset.  We are not rating even ourselves in the church based on Paul's metric in this verse, but instead we are trying to measure success using boardroom metrics for success.  How big is our facility?, how many were "saved" this weekend?, How wide is our television net?

I am no longer a formal missionary -- I was called into business, and God has blessed my career.  What this verse really speaks to me is that I really need to run my own personal race and follow my own calling.  God has me in business for a purpose -- I really don't know all the ramifications of why He has placed me where I am, and it doesn't seem like I'm making a huge difference in His kingdom.  However, I simply try to live and conduct myself in the Lord's ways as much as I can.

I'm not a gregarious Christian who is trying to convince everyone around me to join my church...however, I try my best to identify myself as a Christian and to lend Christian viewpoints to daily conversation.  If I encounter moral challenges in my job, I try to example the Lord's ways and even attempt to convince those I report to as well as those I manage to make moral choices in our workplace decisions.

I know that I may never really truly convince someone I come across to make a choice for Christ.  But, does the numbers of those who pray the sinners prayer define who I am?  No -- nothing besides the truth that I am a new creation in Christ can define me from the day I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior.  Nothing and no one.

God places each man into a certain role in life -- and few of them, even those that seem so famous to a young Christian, truly are glamorous. The job of "watering can in the business world" is actually very mundane and hidden.  But -- if I simply remain faithful to the job I've been given by the Lord, I know that I will be pleasing to Him.