Who are you going to be when you grow up?

Little Blog…Big Meaning
Ministry or Plumber?
(read the addendum)

My husband and I were sitting outside on the deck the other day just chatting. I don’t know how this came up but we started talking about the church. My husband did not grow up in the church and did not become a Christian until he went to the Naval Academy where he was befriended and became a believer at age 19. At that time he began to attend church. My father was a preacher so I was raised in the church, but I did not become a true believer until I was 19 also. We both came from different directions but ended up on the same path, as far as the age we became Christians.

We’re sitting there on the deck and my husband made mention of one thing he had never understood in the church and it was something that really bugged him. I guess this is going to be a toe stepper. I had never really noticed it being raised in church, but my husband questioned “why” when a youth decides to go into the ministry, become a preacher, missionary or whatever Christian service there is this huge expected celebratory response and everyone encourages the youth? Now of course this should be celebrated, it’s a big calling and should be supported and encouraged. In our denomination it is customary for the person to come forward and be presented to the church.

But my husband’s beef is this: What if some youth were to stand in front of the church and he announced he was going to serve God with all his heart and that he had been called to be a plumber….or engineer or any other kind of profession or trade. Would the eyes in the congregation fall and people look down in embarrassment? Would their choice of work be less of a ministry or less celebrated? In the church are we sending our youth the wrong message that being in the ministry is more, because no kid is going to get up in the church and say that. I’ve never seen it happen. Now why is that?

What does it matter what we do occupationally as long as we love God and serve others?

The Bible says:

Colossians 3:17
17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:23
23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men

I Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Peter 1:17
17Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.

Whatever we do, as long as we are serving God by him being evident in our lives, it’s not the occupation… it’s the attitude of the heart and our service to others.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

ADDENDUM: I've chosen after several days of thought that I half-way agree and half-way disagree with this opinion. Oh sure, there are shallow christians in this world, but I think for the most part I have to conclude that if I were a young person, or older, and made a decision in whatever respectful occupation that that would be supported... or maybe not. What does it matter? Because in all things only Christ is most important than life on earth itself and He is to be shared in our personal lives and our occupations, whatever that may be. No calling is above any one else's because we will ALL give account in the eyes of God.

Follow-up: I read these blogs through on occasion, not because I think I'm a great writer, but to keep a check on how "I'm" doing. Well, tonite I realized I wasn't doing so good on this one. As I was reading over this blog I was breezing through the scriptures above and I felt God said slow down and "really" read them. This one stood out, "23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men". I read it over and I realized that there was a service I had been doing that I had stopped because of the way someone treated me. So all of a sudden I was "working for men". I didn't like that so I quit. Uh Oh. So I must humble myself and get back to the task as it did bring me great joy in the Lord. Yes, that person will probably be there, but I must keep my eyes on Jesus and get back to working for the Lord. Sometimes we have to go ahead and do something and let the heart catch up. I believe God honors that also. God is so wise. Thanks God for pointing that out. :)