Volunteering For Your Destiny

by John Garfield

Servants Obey, Kings Volunteer -

One of the biggest theological issues of market place ministry is knowing how much initiative to take. We've all been raised on a diet of obedience and taught that initiative is rebellion. New believers are wise to lay a foundation and just learn to obey mentors as a pattern for obeying God. However, maturity starts when our own dreams begin to form and we volunteer to participate in the Kingdom. Obedience, taken too far or lived in too long, will produce serfs that are subject to all kinds of imbalance and sectarian or cultish excesses. The language is, I'm obeying God's Leading, or My leader told me to." Again, that language is fine for the first years of our salvation. But, it becomes the letter of the law that kills our spiritual vitality if we try to make it a lifestyle. God designed us to be creative and entrepreneurial in His own image, not just mindless serfs that do what we're told.

We actually have to overcome some degree of guilt to make the transition to Kings, it's scary to step out there into initiative. But eventually we all realize that choosing life voluntarily is where ministry, creativity, wealth and rewards reside. First we labor in that which is another man's and then we receive that which is our own. God loves it when we willing accept responsibility instead of shoving it back to him under a false cloak of humility and obedience.

Connecting the dots between my will and God's will - As Kings mature, we allow ourselves to see the connection between our personal dream and what God is doing in the Kingdom in our particular mountain. There is always more than one choice in the will of God. We are comfortable choosing a path and volunteering to take our land and build our part of the Kingdom. Notice that waiting to be told what to do is tantamount to forfeiting our reward! Pretty amazing, isn't it?

If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.  What then is my reward? 1 Cor 9:17-18 NIV

Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.  And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 1 Peter 5:2-4 NIV

The Process of Volunteering -

It's really not that hard to pick up on what the Lord is doing. The next step is to decide if it's something for me to get involved with, it may belong to someone else! The real question is, "What would you like to do for the Lord?"  That's a question He is asking all of us right now. He's not pushy about it. It's always a gentle theme of the Holy Spirit that marks the starting point for one of those conversations with the Father. It's a delightful place to live.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"  Isa 6:8 NIV

On a personal note: For several years I've been living in a place where I do what I enjoy and what I see the Father doing. The first 35 years of my Christian life, I didn't believe such a place existed, but it does, and it's an absolute delight. We all have to admit that there is financial component in that lifestyle that frees up our time. Instead of offerings, Kings have to have a strategy to create wealth - it's part of our ministry and it enables our ministry. Life is fun and ministry to other people is a joy. My personal challenge is learning to create wealth and turn it into ministry that will virally reproduce itself. I'm just back from a working vacation with my brother. I sweat through my clothes nearly every day, worked like a horse and slept like a baby. Yes, it was fun.

I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart." Ps 40:8 NASU

When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty. Jer 15:16  NIV

"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. John 4:34 NIV

John Garfield