We've all been called to Full-time Ministry

I have met countless individuals plagued with anxiety over whether God has called them into full-time ministry. They question whether their current vocation is preventing them from giving their lives fully ministering for God.
But first off, at the core of this anxiety laden question is a crucial misunderstanding of what being in the ministry actually is. Let’s clarify the definition: Webster’s defines a ‘minister’ as, “a person acting as the agent or instrument of another.”

We have all been called to be ministers and in the ministry. 2 Cor. 3:6 states that, “[God] has made us competent to be ministers…”
So here is where the communication breakdown is: We refer to ‘ministry’ as a vocation rather than a personal responsibility that we each bear. But because ministry is mostly associated with working in traditional ‘ministry’ organizations (i.e. non-profits) the disconnect between practicing ministry within your current vocation and ministry being a completely separate vocation is exacerbated.

You can minister as effectively (sometimes more so) outside of traditional non-profit ministries as you can in. The secret is to realize that God has gifted everyone with gifts and talents (business, accounting, mechanics, artists, farming, nursing, etc.) which are to be harnessed to enrich those whom you come into contact with. Ministering is simply being God’s hand extended to whatever location and vocation you are presently in.

What does God’s hand look like? What does his ministry look like? Simply this: Loving your neighbor, co-worker(s), spouse, family, friends and customers as much as you love yourself. This was exactly what made the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren so popular – it was a book that began with telling you – it’s not about you. Consequently people started to see the joy and meaning that comes from living a life for something bigger then yourself.

Dr. Martin Seligman a professor of psychology from the University of Pennsylvania states that, “[helping] other people [is] the best antidote to the downs of life and the single most reliable up” (p. 20). Numerous studies (to many to mention here) in science and psychology are discovering the prevailing disenchantment of many North Americans is due mostly to a self-focused mindset – whereas altruistic behavior (i.e. kind/loving behavior and/or acts towards others) provides an incredible release of meaning, purpose, and joy to the one ‘giving!’

Maybe God has called you into full-time employment with a non-profit organization – but in the mean time, realize that God has called you and given you the ability to be in full-time ministry within your current vocation and location. As ministers we are called to be God’s hand outstretched to society. What does that look like? Read Galatians 5:14 – it’s really simple.