I felt humbled as I returned from teaching pastors in the deep south of Sri Lanka. In these pastors’ experience, it often takes ten to 15 years’ pioneering in unreached areas before they see significant fruit and reduced hostility. Many give up after a few years. But those who persevere bear much eternal fruit.
When I return from ministry in the West my feelings are very different. I have been able to ‘use my gifts’; I am hit by frustration when I return to being a leader in our less efficient culture.
As a leader I am the bond-slave of the people I lead (2 Corinthians 4.5). My schedule is influenced more by their needs than mine. Vocational fulfilment in the kingdom of God is quite different to that in society. Jesus said: ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work’ (John 4.34). If we are doing God’s will we are fulfilled. But for Jesus, and for us, that includes a cross. The cross must be an essential element in our definition of vocational fulfilment.