I could just see it all in my mind’s eye; a huge colosseum filled to the max with people, all waiting to hear the message God had given me to preach. I was only seventeen years old, and I knew God had called me into service for Him, but I envisioned being the next Billy Graham. That wasn’t what God had in mind. In fact, during all the years of ministry I never was allowed by God to do it full-time (at least by the world’s definition. I never received a regular salary that would support me and my family. I always had to work and minster too). For many years I secretly felt God was being unfair to me. Why were others allowed to make elaborate salaries, some even achieving millionaire status, while I had to push myself to work 8-10 hours a day and still do all the duties of a good pastor, barely scraping by on a meager salary. I preached my first message when I was sixteen. Now I’m only a few weeks away from seventy-one. WasGod being mean to me? I hardly think so. I have learned that what modern man describes as “ministry” is sometimes a far cry from how God describes it.
We say that we are “called” to do this or that for God. Sometimes that is true. There are times that God genuinely appoints a person to a certain task such as being a pastor. The Bible outlines what we have called “Office Gifts.” These are various positions of leadership in which God uses individuals to serve Him. But I have come to realize over the years that each and every person that God has saved has been called into service for Him. I know this because from birth, He has instilled in each of us desires and talents that are uniquely characterized in us. Until we come to Jesus Christ those skills and gifts are “in the rough.” But when we are saved then God begins to hone, sharpen and develop those skills to be used by Him. Yes, because He has put these unique things in your life, He does intend for them to be used for His kingdom and in that respect, you are called.
Luke wrote the words of Jesus in Luke 9:57-62: “Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, ‘Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.’ and Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’ Then He said to another, ‘Follow Me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.’ And another also said, ‘Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’” So, if God wants to use us in the gifts He has instilled in our lives, why would He say such things to people? Why would He turn away one who wants to go and criticize those He calls because they want to put things in order before they go? In the case of the first guy, I’d say (reading between the lines) that this man saw the miracles Jesus did. He witnessed those who followed Him. In his mind he most likely thought that it would be a glorious life for him too. But he was operating out of what he thought was his desire. Jesus looked at his heart and saw that this man needed a roof over his head and would not be satisfied with the life Jesus and His disciples lived. That’s why, I believe, that He discouraged this young man. Jesus knew he couldn’t fulfill his vow. He didn’t really have those giftings in his life.
The others, Jesus called but they made excuses. The one who asked to first bury his father may have meant that he wanted to wait until his father passed away. That could have been years down the road. The one who wanted to tell his family “Goodbye,” may have only been using that as an excuse to not come back. Who knows? I believe that these He called who made excuses had the gifts but refused to use them for the Lord. The key is that if God has really called us then we must be willing to obey. It isn’t about receiving glory, fame or fortune. It is truthfully only about serving Him in the capacity He has given us.
In the story I used from my own life at the beginning of this article, I was hoping and wishing out of what I had seen others do. I was operating in what had been acceptable forms of service to God. But He hadn’t called me to do that. He called me to serve Him with the things that came natural to me, within the confines of the talents that He had given to me. As we use those for His kingdom they are honed to perfection and they grow as we use them for God. Thus, we become useful tools for the Master in the work He wants to do.
Does God want to use you? You bet He does. But He will use you for who you are. After you have committed to Him in salvation, He will enhance your gifts and use you uniquely for His purpose. I’m not talking about lifestyles, or sins, but about gifts. There is a difference. We must first find out who we really are. Not who the devil wants us to be, or who the world tells us we are, but who God says we are in the confines of His word. We may need to change our lives drastically. We must conform to His will and what He has told us in the Bible. When we do, then we become useful tools for God. God really does want to use you. Turn yourself over to Him and He will begin sharpening you, shaping you and turning you into that which will accomplish His will for your life and will win souls into the kingdom.
— Jerry D. Ousley is the author of “Soul Challenge”, “Soul Journey”, “Ordeal”, “The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional” and his first novel “The Shoe Tree.” Newer books include “Finality” and “Dividing God’s Church.” Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge