We are all full-time ministers
When we hear ‘full-time ministry’ we think of Pastors and Missionaries. You could also throw in Seminary Professor. Perhaps a loose definition of ‘full-time minister’ is ‘someone who spends all their working hours doing God’s work’ or in these cases ‘teaching, preaching, and spreading the Word’. The problem with this kind of approach is that only these few jobs then classify as ‘doing God’s work’. What is everything else? Is it Satan’s work? Col 1:15-17 says that all things were created by him and for him.
Being a Pastor or a Missionary is something created by God and for God; they do his work. The job of a school teacher was created by God and for God. The job of a businessman, farmer, web designer, mechanic are all created by God and for God. Everything is created for God and is thus doing his work. Therefore all jobs are ministry and any full-time job is full-time ministry.
So often we live in this dichotomy where only if you’re a Pastor or Missionary then are you doing God’s Work. Every other job is secondary in the kingdom perspective. Sure you can be a sender or supporter or ‘lay worker’ but that’s in-addition to your job. You’re a programmer by day and when the bell sounds, then you can get started with your kingdom work of being a small group leader after. Or if we’re a little more “holy” we redeem our jobs by “reaching out to our non-Christian coworkers”. We become missionaries at our job. But what about those who work alone? What about the night watchman, or the stockboy who just stocks the back room? Is their work irredeemable?
No! Our work in and of itself is ministry! The sheer act of doing our jobs gives glory to God. The more excellent you are at work, the more God is pleased. Before there was sin, Adam had a job and when we get to heaven, we’ll have a job. There will be mailmen, cashiers, bankers, businessmen and hair dressers when we get to heaven. It is highly likely that we will have very similar jobs in heaven as we have here on Earth because the job is ministry! We are all full-time ministers if that means we preach, teach, proclaim, type, clean, present, drive, cook, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31). No one has a second class kingdom job; we are all doing God’s work so do it well!
*Reference material: Creation Regained and Heaven