The Rev. Gary K. Briden Sr.

Normally a column such as this will deal with common spiritual questions or problems. I would like to take a moment to address a question, or problem, that confronts many church leaders, whether clergy or laity.

The will of God and His call to full-time service puzzle many, but it does not have to. The Scripture has three passages that can help discern God's call: Romans 12:12, II Corinthians 8:5 and Matthew 9:36-38.

Romans 12 shares the idea that it is reasonable to give the Lord Jesus our bodies as a living sacrifice and allow Him to renew our minds through His Word. II Corinthians 8:5 stresses the importance of giving ourselves to the Lord completely, and then He can lead us in our giving and service. Matthew 9: 36-38 stresses the Lord Jesus Christ's burden and compassion for reaching those who need a personal relationship with Him.

In the passage in Matthew, Jesus stresses that there is no shortage of people to win (none of us live in a city or community where all profess to know Christ and are reached with the gospel) but a shortage of laborers. His challenge to us is to pray for God to send (literally "thrust forth" in the original language) laborers into His harvest. As we do that, we have to be willing for our own young people and children from each of our churches and families to be called and sent into His harvest. In other words, as we talk and pray with our youth, our concern should not be which vocation provides the greatest financial security, greatest income, greatest prestige or power, but which vocation does God want them to enter.

The first priority for each of us that Jesus wants us to impress on our youth is, "What is the will of God?" God has placed us in this world for His pleasure and for His glory, not ours. The good news is that as we seek His will and seek His glory, He gives joy, contentment and fulfillment in return.

There are three truths God wants to impress upon us:

* God desires all to know Christ (II Peter 3:9).

* God desires all to be set apart for His glory (I Thessalonians 4:3).

* God desires His harvest to be reaped (Matthew 9:36-38).

To see His desires accomplished, He needs pastors, missionaries, church planters, evangelists, youth workers and Christian educators. Are you willing to pray that these needs are met? Are you willing to support your children and youth if God should call them? The desires of our Lord, and the future of the Church, requires us to do just that.

The Rev. Gary K. Briden Sr. is president of Southern Methodist College in Orangeburg.

Local pastors are encouraged to send column submissions to: Wendy Jeffcoat Crider, features editor, The Times and Democrat, P.O. Box 1766, Orangeburg, SC 29116, or by e-mail at wjeffcoat@timesanddemocrat.com. Submissions are due Tuesdays at noon. Based on response, a different pastor will be featured each week.

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