See your job as a gift from God

This is a story about Brandon, a plastic factory employee who was previously employed as a worship pastor.

You might read about Brandon’s transition from worship pastor to a plastic factory and think “oh no, what happened?” Brandon himself admitted that this was how he used to think. He would have been disappointed and discouraged to hear of someone making that transition. He used to think that way, but he doesn’t anymore.

The full-time schedule he had as a worship pastor was, well, full. And despite the many activities, all of which had some merit, Brandon realized that he wasn’t making disciples like he thought he would when he started in “full-time ministry.” He found himself not doing ministry but doing tasks that came along with his job at a church. He stated it plainly: “I wasn’t making disciples.” and “I found myself not knowing any lost people.”

Now, these aren’t new problems for full-time pastors. There will probably always be a challenge and tension between tasks and ministry if you’re employed by a church. But what I admire about Brandon is his desire to follow God’s leading into ministry instead of thinking he was just called to do tasks at a church job.

It isn’t that Brandon left his church job and is now “out of ministry.” In fact, he’s more in ministry than he’s ever been. He is owning the great commission at his job. He used to think it was hard to find lost people, but now, in his plastic factory job, he spends countless hours with people that need Jesus.

“He has provided me with this job, and how can I not do everything I can to share his word with the world?”

Which job do you think Brandon said this about? His job as a worship pastor or his job at a plastic factory?

What’s your attitude about your job, be it at a church or a plastic factory or anywhere in between? Do you see it as a gift to “share his word with the world”? Or a place to get tasks done?