Keeping God’s commands is what counts. Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to. (1 Corinthians 7:19–24, NIV 1984).
My Musings – Unless (until) God calls you somewhere else or to do something different, “do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are.” (Theodore Roosevelt). As it relates to your calling in Christ, “do what you are called to do, with the gifts and resources God has provided you, wherever God places you.”
Although not universally true, most people are likely already in the place where God wants them and are already equipped with gifts they need to serve Him when they accept Christ as Savior. The “works, which God prepared in advance for [them] to do.” (Ephesians 2:10, NIV 1984).
Of course, there have always been unreached people groups that God ended up sending people to in order to build His Kingdom. And, as God has allowed this world to become more mobile the sending is happening more as “the kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing,” (Matthew 11:12). More and more as the end of the age advances nearer and nearer.
Also, do not be surprised once you become a Christian if you discover giftedness, you did not know about, or even didn’t have, before you were born into His Kingdom. For it is also true that God doesn’t always call the equipped, but He always equips the called. As trite as that might sound, it is true. Just as trite, and just as true, is that if God calls you to it, He will see you through it.
My Advice – Don’t yearn for “darkest Africa” it that is not where God is calling. But don’t fear it either, if He says go. For, “surely [He is] with [us] always, to the very end of the age [and the earth].” (Matthew 28:20, NIV 1984).
Don’t yearn for greater tasks when God has given you smaller tasks. Each link in a chain is of equal importance, no matter the size. Don’t shrink from greater tasks God calls you to because you think you are only capable of smaller tasks. Those who “have been faithful with a few [smaller] things; [may be] put…in charge of many things.” (Matthew 25:21, NIV 1984).
For “in fact God has arranged the parts in [His] body, every one of them, just as He [wants] them to be.” (1 Corinthians 12:18, NIV 1984). The where and what for you has been arranged. I may even be different in different stages of your life. Just be faithful, whenever, wherever and whatever. For ever more.
