By Jim Hargis

Do you ever wonder how your life contributes to the work of God in the world?

If you are a business owner, manager, or just find yourself in a "secular" occupation, you may conclude that the only way to further the kingdom is to pray for and contribute financially to those who are in "full-time" Christian work. But is this your only option?

Paul described Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus as "fellow workers for the kingdom" (Col. 4:11), indicating that they may have been vocational Christian workers. However, there is no way to confirm whether they were employed full-time. In fact, if they followed Paul's example, they probably had other jobs through which they made their living. At the time Paul wrote Colossians, there were few, if any "professional" clergy in the church. Paul himself was a tentmaker by occupation, along with his friends, Aquilla and Priscilla (I Cor. 16:19; & Rom. 16:3-5A). Other church leaders also practiced a wide variety of professions and trades.

The point is that drawing a paycheck for doing ministry is not the criterion by which to judge whether someone is a worker for God's kingdom. Kingdom work involves promoting the values, beliefs, and lifestyle of Christ.

This may involve professional employment such as pastoring a church or serving on a mission field. But kingdom workers are also found among engineers, accountants, doctors, painters, salespeople, auto mechanics, and homemakers. Wherever believers are furthering the goals and objectives of Christ, they are ministering for His kingdom.

How does your life promote the purposes of God? Do you use your skills and abilities toward that end, whether or not pay is involved? Or have you given up and concluded that because you are not a vocational Christian worker, you aren't really serving the Lord with

your life and career? If so, you'll want to reconsider what it means to be in ministry for Christ's kingdom.