Not long ago I bought a book of short stories
about people who quit their current lifestyle to pursue a completely different
path in life. The premise was to get out of a rut, take a chance, and do
something completely different than they were used to doing. Some of the stories were truly inspiring, and almost
every person was glad they had changed their way of life. Many of them, rather than find success in making more
money or having the security of their current job, found a much more satisfying
life in the new one they had chosen even though they were not getting the same
financial reward. Some traveled to far-away places, others changed careers,
some pursued daring sports, and others opened their hearts to new
relationships.
Change happens to us all, and it can be exciting and
invigorating. However, what about the many
people who do not have the opportunity to make these kinds of significant
changes? For many of us, we will not
have the opportunity to deliberately and radically make a big change in our
lives due to solid commitments to family, health issues, or just sheer busyness
with our current lifestyle. Sometimes we have to wait, and sometimes God has
completely different plans for us than what we think (and they are always
better). In fact, whoever comes to know
Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, a complete life change will
occur on the inside, for God gives a person a new heart, a new life and a new
start and they will never be the same again, nor will they want to go back to
who they once were. But we are to no
longer do whatever we feel like; now out of our love and gratitude to God, we
turn our lives over to Him, and by faith and His help and strength, we do what He
says to do in His Word, the Bible.
Along with new life, comes a new purpose for living. We may have plans, but the Lord’s plans will
many times differ from ours because He knows the beginning from the end. His plans will always work out for the
absolute best when we put our trust in Him.
So for followers of Jesus, life changes occur, but when they happen are in God’s perfect timing if we wish to follow
His plan and not run ahead on our own. Unless a new door opens, believers are
instructed to remain in the calling where they already are. This is a far cry from secular thinking
that encourages us to do our own thing as long as nobody gets hurt in the
process!
1Co 7:20 Let
every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
1Co 7:21 Art
thou called being a
servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
1Co 7:22 For
he that is called in the Lord, being a
servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is
Christ's servant.
1Co 7:23 Ye
are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
At times waiting and staying in one place can
be the hardest challenge of all. If we are working in the Kingdom of God we will be making
a difference in the lives of others, and then likely the evil one will be hot
on our trail. We may be under so much persistent persecution and attack
that we seek escape. Yet, God is not done with us there, so we have to stay
until He moves us on. Even King David of the Old Testament was not free to move
around, or make a career change. He had to watch for his life since King Saul felt
threatened and wanted him dead. David hid in caves when he could have been enjoying the
expanse of the beautiful countryside in which he was raised.
Sometimes, we will know the course in life we must take
yet still we are tempted to be drawn away and do something else or be someone
else. For myself, I know what my calling is and the work I must
complete is clearly laid before me, and that is writing. Yet, many other ideas and thoughts and suggestions will
come my way, and interrupt my flow of writing. Some of the stories I read in the book I mentioned above
created in me a stir to change the course and pursue something less disciplined
and more adventurous. Then I knew that these thoughts were merely a distraction
to create a sense of discontent, rather than strengthen and encourage me in my
current task of writing.
Also, sometimes in life when we are busy, and working in the
place we have been called, the world and people around us will pressure us to
change.
If we not sure and committed to the calling
we are in, we can get caught completely off guard and then discontent settles
in and we aren't even aware of it. This is where verse 23 (above) comes in: Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of
men. As servants of the Lord, we must remember that only in
this capacity are we really completely free!!
So it is within the calling we are obeying
that true freedom lies, whereas in the book I am reading, they believe that
true freedom is being able to unshackle yourselves from an unpleasant job or
situation and find true happiness! Yes, happiness is something we all want, but it is so
often temporary, and it does not mean true freedom. True freedom does not depend on circumstances or fleeting
moments of happiness, but is dependent on a personal and trusting relationship
with the Lord. He is the God of all creation Who loves us and
died for us to give us life in the first place!
He knows our every desire and our every need even before we do!
When we first come to the Lord, every single
person is given a gift and calling of some kind meant to fulfill not only the
person receiving it/them, but also to bless others. Think of it –if everyone suddenly got bored and for
instance, left their calling to be married, or to be a parent, or a minister,
or a nurse, a doctor or writer, etc. what a mess our world would be in! I am so
thankful today for all the people in my life who stayed the course and remained
true to their calling. For if they hadn't, I certainly would likely not have
been able to continue in mine. I hope I
can be as faithful and complete the work He has for me to do. For true and lasting change always comes out
of the struggles we go through, and through them, we come forth as gold.
