The Higher Calling
By Mike Rule

Most of us as believers have the idea that the Christian life is like a pyramid and that if we are “good and holy enough” someday we might be able to reach the top to be in full-time ministry. Others believe that they will never be good enough to reach that goal so they “settle” for what they believe is a life of mediocrity. Of course the top of the pyramid could be exceeded by becoming a missionary in a foreign land, which according to many people means nearly attaining perfection and being off the scale in commitment and holiness.

Let me be candid. I am in ministry and a missionary, and as such I am free to focus on God all day without distraction. It is easy to stay focused on Jesus when I am called to talk about Him, teach about Him, think about Him and read about Him all day long. Ministry is a lesser calling than what the majority are called to do. The lesser calling is to serve God vocationally without having to work out my salvation in the midst of worldly carnal unbelievers. The higher calling is to serve God and work out salvation and faith on a daily basis amidst all the pressures and distractions of this world. In fact, the higher calling is for those who serve God faithfully through their vocations and families because they enable those in full time ministry to fulfill a lesser calling through their support. They are truly the servants of the servants.

I recently counseled with a gentleman who felt guilty and lamented that he had lived a good life and enjoyed it. He had worked, raised a family, attended church, and served the Lord for nearly 70 years, yet he felt substandard and that he had never truly discovered his purpose in life. My question to Him: Which takes greater faith? To travel the world as a missionary and know that thousands of people have been impacted for the Kingdom, or to still trust God while wondering if your life has mattered because you never saw Jesus touch anyone through you? This man did not recognize his high calling of working out his salvation in the midst of the daily grind of life. So what takes the greater faith? Though not seeing that his life mattered in the Kingdom, this man still believed and trusted God!

To those who feel they will never be good enough to be in full-time Christian service, don’t buy the lie that ministry is a higher calling attainable only to the spiritually elite. Ministry is a lesser calling filled only by those who need constant reminders and are too weak to survive in a work-a-day world. If you are called to live in the world, don’t think less of yourselves than you ought. Though you may never see the contribution Christ gives to the world through you, BELIEVE.

Verses for Reflection

Brothers and sisters, consider what you were when God called you to be Christians. Not many of you were wise from a human point of view. You were not in powerful positions or in the upper social classes. But God chose what the world considers nonsense to put wise people to shame. God chose what the world considers weak to put what is strong to shame. God chose what the world considers ordinary and what it despises-what it considers to be nothing-in order to destroy what it considers to be something. As a result, no one can brag in God's presence. You are partners with Christ Jesus because of God. Jesus has become our wisdom sent from God, our righteousness, our holiness, and our ransom from sin. As Scripture says, "Whoever brags must brag about what the Lord has done." (1 Corinthians 1:26-31 GW)

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, (2 Timothy 1:8-9 NASB)

“But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you…” (1Peter 2:9 The Message)

“For the free gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” (Romans 11:29 MKJV)

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 3:14 MKJV)

“Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power…” (2 Thessalonians 1:11 MKJV)