Is there Hierarchy in Calling? by Os Hillman
"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it (1 Cor 12:27)."
All legitimate work matters to God. God Himself described himself as a worker. In fact, human occupations find their origin in His work to create the world. Work is a gift from Him to meet the needs of people and the creation. "You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas" (Ps 8:6-8).
However, there is often an unspoken hierarchy that positions clergy (missionaries and evangelists, pastors and clergy) at the top, and occupations such as of the "helping professions" (doctors and nurses, teachers and educators, social workers) next, and "secular" workers (business executives, salespeople, factory laborers, and farmers) at the bottom.
So what determines the spiritual value of a job? How does God assign significance? The hierarchy assumes sacred and secular distinctions, and assigns priority to the sacred. But does God view vocations that way? No, He does not.
God creates people to carry out specific kinds of work in order to meet human needs. God uniquely designs each of us, fitting us for certain kinds of tasks. He distributes skills, abilities, interests, and personalities among us so that we can carry out His work in the world. That work includes "spiritual" tasks, but also extends to health, education, agriculture, business, law, communication, the arts, and so on.
Paul was a tentmaker by occupation, along with his friends, Aquila and Priscilla. Other church leaders practiced a wide variety of professions and trades. There's no indication that God looks at vocations in the form of spiritual hierarchy.*
The next time you consider your vocation a second-class spiritual calling, consider what God says. Your work matters to God and is valued by God equally to other forms of work.
3 comments:
I would agree every one is created and of value in Gods sight each to fulfill a purpose and yet God is orderly as Luke 1:52 Mary's Song of Praise…51"He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. 52"He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. 53"HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed.…heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. 1 cor 12:28 28And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, ADMINISTRATIONS ORIGINAL LANGUAGE STUDY GOOD !, various kinds of tongues. and eph 11And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;… So what kind of leaders will God give-Jeremiah 3:15
Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. What could draw Discipline from God Jude 11: "Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion." We all fight our flesh but God sets and order and where the Spirit is leading there will be unity and order usually. Interesting thoughts as far as the post goes if it where a prophetic Word I would flag it simply by listing scripture after scripture after scripture from both old and new testament.
hbr 3:17 17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. I do believe God creates each individual for a purpose and all have value in Gods sight for it is the Law of the Spirit that gives life and simply the letter apart from the Spirit killeth however and army without leaders as in the example of pauls letter to timothy. Well is it really any army at all In a Body the command starts at the Head and travels to specific nerves to create an effect. 2 peter definition not a diagnosis of whoever wrote the article by any means we all are in a learning process-destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. So that being said are we to be enslaved by ministers no but let everything be done decently and in order.1 Corinthians 14:37 to do that there must be measures of authority granted-Hebrews 13:17. Kenneth hagin broke his arm and ask God why He testifies to the Lord telling Him you have drawn back from the prophets mantle for several years I put them in order for a reason your arm will heal in twice the time but only 99% I told you to not spend so much time ministering to people it is hurting your your body. from that point on if he tried his arm hurt. He admitted he drew back from His prophets mantle and leaned on his teaching gift because of the confrontation and persecution that came from it. God told him I set those offices in order for a reason. Ed dufrense same issues different injury stood weeping God did it because he cares to protect me from myself he only has so many apostles and prophets my hip hurts now onlt when I minister to people for to long. also disciplined for leaning to the teaching gift refusing to confront and warn operating as a prophet because of persecution from Christian leaders and layman.All this is in their books. It's kind of off subject but God in His Word has many attributes and means of dealing with His people many are so out of balance in presenting God as He is and His actions concerning His people. Well as john bavere would say don't make God according to an image that is not Him accept Him as He is in entirety as revealed in His Word or run the risk of creating an idol in the sense of a God you want and fully accept but not the God of the bible. Don't be deceived this is one of the dangers of heresy treat the bible like a menu take all the scriptures you like and omit the rest.As a child God is patient but we are given Power to become sons not remain infants.You can't do that in the natural don't expect to do that in the kingdom because eventually you may still go to church and claim heaven but by your actions end up refusing Him in His right to your body and life therebye resisting and grieving the Holy Spirit which will lead to be unforgivable if continued and ultimately deception as your conscience is so seared you can respond to your leader and end up with a form of religion denying The Spirit of Power and Grace summary
First things first adam was as he stated. Jesus was the firstborn of many bretheren we are created to will and do His purpose we are not our we are bought with a price the Blood of Jesus if any man defile the temple of God him shall God destroy. also it is written we are to present our bodies as reasonable service a better understanding is this as paul put it. That I mat know Him and the Power of His resurrection according to the Spirit of Holiness being made conformable unto His death in hopes of a better resurrection. WE are Indwelt by the Holy Spirit one body every joint supplying a need adam and eve where entirely different than us although a perfect creation with an assignment they are miles apart from a born again Christian as Jesus was the firstborn of many bretheren we have different assignments a different equipping and God himself gave gifts to the Body for the equipping and maturing of the saints. I hear Copeland use adam as an example in some cases we can but there are some when teaching we absoloutly can't to stay in line with new testament teaching.
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