Choosing service

How do you choose what you do?  Whether that is in the field of work or of service?  I wonder if its helpful for us to weigh up two things when it comes to thinking about this.  First of all our competence, in other words how God has gifted us, and secondly how we may benefit, or love, others.

What do I mean by competence?  I mean our gifting, what has God gifted us to do.  It is clear in Genesis 1 and 2 that God has a task for Adam and Eve to do and that he has enabled and equipped them to do it.  But it is also clear that he has in mind for them a task which they are capable of doing, God does not give them a task which is unmanageable or which will burn them out, in fact he interweaves rest and work together.  We live this side of the fall so some of the joy of work is lost and it is at times fruitless and frustrating, but we see in Exodus that God still envisages and calls his people to a balance of work and rest.  God does not call us to a work that is beyond our capacities, or that calls for us to slowly, or quickly, burn ourselves out.  God gifts us in both our skills but also in our capacities.

That means when choosing both a job and/or a ministry we need to bear these things in mind.  Helpfully if we are looking at it rightly and not hoping to find our fulfilment or sense of identity in our ministry or work we will wisely consider our competence and fitness for a work.  On a basic level if we are not remotely mathematical, accountancy is probably not for us, if we have no skills at all with children then probably teaching is not for us, if we can't deal with people the pastorate is probably not an option.  At the same time if we don't have a great capacity for dealing with stress or pressure we should probably not enter highly stressful fields of work or ministry.

And to do so is not failing.  We are never justified by the work we do, we are called to glorify God by working well and caring for God's creation.  All kinds of work have dignity as God works to provide and care for others through our work.  That should liberate us to find a work or ministry that fits our competence.

Secondly how in this area can I work to benefit others.  Our work, as well as our ministry, is an opportunity to love others, be that as the council worker who works in the office in a behind the scenes role ensuring that services run smoothly, or as the midday supervisor caring for other peoples children in the playground, or as the volunteer serving in the creche serving young parents so they can hear God's word taught.  Thinking about work and ministry as an opportunity to serve others liberates some of our narrow thinking.

We too often focus in choosing a career or ministry based on our wants and needs.  Looking for something that others will value, the big job, a well paid profession, a job with status, or a big church, or a successful ministry which is recognised at a county level if not preferably nationally.  But if one of the factors to bear in mind in choosing a career and/or ministry is how I can serve others we are liberated from that narrow focus and a narrow field of options. 

For the young person thinking about work opportunities it means or not going to university does not matter, they do not have to automatically aim for a traditional "good job with prospects" they may choose instead a career that simply serves others.  A graduate may choose to use their degree and maximise their earning, and therefore giving, potential and work with integrity for the glory of God, doing good and standing as witness, or they may choose to pursue a more lowly paid career which suits his or her competence and which has a perceived lower value in society but which enables them to serve others.

In terms of choosing ministry or where to serve in a local church it liberates us from considering up front roles, it liberates pastors from seeking the bigger congregation or the easier flock to shepherd.