A Call to Christian Service

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Q: Why are Christians called to service? Also, what is a calling?

A: I don't know that I have ever heard anyone ask why God calls us into His service. This is a great question, and one which causes us to consider many other questions as we ponder it. For sake of clarity, before I directly answer the "why" of the call to service let me discuss briefly the "who" and the "what" of this call.

Who is called to service? First of all, God calls those who are saved. How can someone minister concerning the things of God when they

don't know about the things of God themselves.

1Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Second, God calls those who love Him even though it's not yet a perfect love. Love of Christ was Paul's motive (2Corinthians 5:14), and love for God the Father was Jesus' motive (John 14:31), and the basis on which Jesus instructed Peter to feed His sheep (John 21:17).

Third, God calls those who love others. Jesus is said several times to have had compassion on a group or a person. As He dealt with one man, the Bible says, "Jesus beholding him loved Him" (Mark 10:21). Paul apparently loved Israel saying he could wish himself "accursed from Christ" for them (Romans 9:3). He also spoke of tender affection for the Gentile churches to which he ministered (2Corinthians 12:15, 1Thessalonians 2:7,8)

Fourth, God calls those who are diligent or faithful in their current occupation. Elisha was called while plowing, David was called while tending sheep, James and John were called while fishing, Matthew was called while receiving taxes, Paul was called while ministering and fasting (Acts 13:2), and Paul refers to this prerequisite here in I Timothy:

1Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

We realize, of course, that God has His hand on people even before they're saved or even born, but as to the call to Christian service proper, He uses those who are saved, and to some extent keep the first and great commandment and the second which is like unto it.

What is the call to serve? It is often taught that the call to service or call to preach has some or all of the following elements:

an inward urge or burden in spirit - Acts 18:5
a personal application of a Scripture, sometimes referred to as a verse "leaping out" at you
a recognition of or a burden for a particular need or ministry - Acts 17:16
recommendation of Godly Christians, especially from preachers or members of ones own church - Acts 15:25
circumstances occurring in such a way as to "open doors" to ministry - 1Corinthins 16:9, 2Corinthians 2:12, Colossians 4:3

The above elements are rough paraphrases of some suggestions by A. P. Gibbs in his work The Preacher and His Preaching.

Furthermore, we should add that there are Scriptures which support this idea of God choosing a specific person for a specific ministry.

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

On the other hand, there are things Christians can do without waiting for a call; for example, ministering with a gift or ability God has already given you for the good of others (1Peter 4:10, 11; 1Corinthins 16:15).

There are even indications a burdened saint can volunteer for ministry like Isaiah does in Isaiah 6:8, and the one who desires the office of a bishop in 1Timothy 3:1.

If a Christian would like to know God's will for his life, and surely this would include His calling, let him follow the instructions of Romans 12:1-2:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Now to directly answer your question as to why God calls Christians to service, here are several reasons:

He calls Christians to serve or preach for His own purposes, or to please Himself.

2Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

1Corinthian 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Galatians 1:15, 16 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

Even when God calls men to minister to others, He is often said to call them to Himself first to empower and enable them for the work to follow, for example in Matthew 15:32 the Lord calls His disciples unto Himself before He uses them to assist in feeding the five thousand.
Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

These missionaries are separated to God before they do the work He called them to.

He calls Christians to tell others about Him.

Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Acts 16:10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

He calls Christians to fight spiritual enemies.

Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

2Timothy 2:3, 4 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

He calls us to help saved people grow spiritually.

Ephesians 4:11-12 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

He calls us to help relieve us of our burden or debt to others.

The Christian sees himself as owing a debt to society and a godly Christian is not at peace unless he is doing something to pay that debt.

1Corinthians 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

Romans 1:14, 15 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

He calls Christians to service because the knowledge and assurance of His calling gives boldness to carry out his ministry as it did to Moses in Exodus 3 and 4, and to Paul who even dared to correct Peter in Galatians 2. Undoubtedly, the reason for Paul's boldness is found in Paul's assurance that he was following God's call for his life.

Galatians 1:10-12 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

This assurance also enable endurance in trial as it must have for Paul in the last days of his life when so many forsook him.

2Timothy 1:15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

2Timothy 4:16, 1 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

Notice how his encouragement is drawn from his call of God which we have already seen was to bear God's name before Gentiles and kings in Acts 9:15.

He calls His servants to deliver them blessings, and put upon them the resulting responsibility of using these blessings for His enrichment.

Luke 19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

God gives us blessings, but expects us to serve and bless Him with the opportunities He affords us.

God bless you as you consider these possible answers to your question.

Bobby Schoolfield

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