*All this week we’re hearing stories and thoughts on #LiveFully from others around the web. Our post today comes from Joshua Wold, a web designer and writer you can find at JoshuaWold.com. He loves Jesus, loves his wife, and is an all around cool dude. Check out his blog and twitter! If you’re here visiting from Joshua’s blog, WELCOME!
It was February of 2010. My wife and I had just returned from teaching an evangelistic seminar in rural India. We went with Share Him, an organization that teaches lay people how to share the gospel.
The seminar went extremely well, but I had a problem. For months I had been struggling with a decision. Should I continue working in the marketplace, or go into full-time mission work? On the one hand I was part of a web development company with a lot of potential for growth. On the other hand I felt a desire to preach and share Christ with others.
My wife and I prayed about it. We left all options open and we were willing to go either way. Finally after praying and discussing the issue, I decided to stay in business. While I couldn’t fully explain my decision at the time, I believed I made the right choice.
Now, a couple years later, I can explain my choice. I recently finished reading “The Legend of the Monk and the Merchant: Principles for Successful Living
I’m called to be a businessman, or a “merchant,” in the marketplace. This in no way diminishes the importance of ministers of the gospel, or in the case of this book, monks. God has created in all of us passions for one or the other. In fact, He has “made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Rev 1:6 (KJV). To go either direction is both honorable and needed, but we should go the direction God has gifted and called us.
God has placed in me the passion to be the best merchant that I can be. And, as my business prospers, I’m called to use my resources to help those who’ve dedicated their lives to the gospel, in the case of this book, the monks. This doesn’t mean that my ministry is limited to just giving my money to the church and then ignoring the fact that I’m a Christian. I have an example to set in the marketplace, I can reach people that pastors and church leaders would never encounter. It is my privilege as a Christian to share what Christ has done for me, and I can do it all the context of honest labor.
I chose to devote myself to full time business, but this does not mean I honor God less. I am always his minister, whether I am in the workplace or volunteering out at the local church.
What about you? Have you chosen to be a “monk” or a “merchant,” if so, what drove you to that choice?
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I wrestled with the same choice myself. I ultimately chose to be a “merchant”. I remember spending two months out in the Dominican Republic, away from the distractions of life. If I was ever inclined to dedicate my life to becoming a “monk”, it was then. God continued to call to my heart, though, and even in the quiet of the tropics, my mind raced with ideas for reaching people through business. That’s the bottom line. My goal in life is to have as much of an impact as possible and, even as I reconsidered my choice just over a month ago, I concluded with even more confidence that for path that God has led me on I can have more influence for good as a merchant. I’ve also gained an increasingly strong desire to wholeheartedly support my fellow co-laboring “monks” as we work together for God.
That’s great! Your passions and gifts are essential to determining if you are called to ministry or merchantry. So cool to see your primary goal and desire to support your co-laborers!
Thanks for the thoughts, I really believe that God has called us to work in both areas of life, in the marketplace, and in ministry. Of course that’s not to say they are mutually exclusive. You can work in the marketplace and still devote yourself to ministry.