My senior year of college I committed to serve God full-time through a college ministry called Campus Outreach. Later that Spring, I had a very successful senior year on the varsity tennis team. I ended up being named a NCAA All-American in singles and doubles. I began to reconsider my commitment upon graduation. As I was praying and searching the Scriptures, God led me to Jesus’ words in John 15:16. Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit; fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” I had no choice in the matter. God had already chosen me to go and bear fruit, fruit that would last for all eternity.
Over the past few weeks, I have talked with three different men in our church in regards to whether or not God has called them or is calling them into full-time Christian ministry. All three of these men are in the business world, and all three of them have asked the same question, “Am I good enough?” I think it is an honest question. But if truth be told, none of us is good enough. Actually, the Apostle Paul teaches in the book of Romans that no one has done good (Romans 3:10-12). None of us is good. In fact, only Jesus Himself is good. The reason that Jesus died on the cross for our sins is that none of us is good.
Are we good enough to serve God? Some of our heroes in the Bible asked the same question and had the same struggle. In Moses’ famous burning bush encounter, he says that he is not worthy. He asks God to please find someone else to lead the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 3-4). When God calls Gideon to deliver the Israelites from the hand of the Midianites, Gideon says, “My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” Gideon was extremely insecure and viewed himself as the last person God would use to be a “mighty warrior” (Judges 6:11-16). The Apostle Paul, who would be the first to take the gospel of Jesus to the Gentiles, viewed himself as “the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).”
We read over and over again throughout the Bible, that God uses ordinary men and women to do extraordinary things. The question should not be “Are you good enough to serve God?” None of us is good enough. The people God used in the Bible have quite a laundry list of sins: prostitution, murder, adultery, etc. The question should be, “Is God calling you to serve Him?” Has he clearly spoken to you and invited you to join Him in His work?
Yes, I do think we should all strive to live holy lives (1 Peter 1:14-16) and be clean vessels to be used by God (2 Timothy 2:21-22). But our sins or lack of being “Good Enough” does not disqualify us from serving God full-time, part-time or one-time. Those of us who serve God have never claimed to be perfect or without sin. We have claimed to be forgiven and called.
I believe when we get to the end of our lives, we will all be held accountable to God. Were we faithful and obedient to do what God called us to do? Whatever it is that God has called you do to, I want to encourage you to do it. And I hope and pray that at the end of your life you will hear those sweet words from our Heavenly Father, “Well done, good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:23).”
Jonathan Howes has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Jacksonville State University and a Master in Divinity Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the lead pastor for Graystone Church. Locations include the Ozora Campus: 1551 Ozora Road Loganville, GA 30052, the Walton Campus: 723 N Broad St Monroe, GA 30655 and the Oconee Campus: 1275 Lenru Road Bogart, GA 30622.
Phone: (770) 466-3159
Email: info@graystonechurch.com
Website: GraystoneChurch.com
Blog: http://toliveischrist.cc
Twitter: @JohnnyHowes
