CONTENTMENT WITH YOUR CALLING

How many people are content with their calling by God when that calling, that ministry, that role in the their lives, in the church, in their job, is very un-special?

Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. This calling would have been despised by the Jews.

It is rare in any church when people fight over the lowest calling. People don't usually argue over who gets to be bathroom attendant at a church. Even the children's ministry doesn't often have a wait list of volunteers. But I have often heard pastors mention how many people ask to be in positions of teaching, of worship, or of authority.

So here is Paul, ordained by God to a position that is typically despised. He is the missionary to the Gentiles. So what does he do?

"Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry." (Romans 11:13b)

In other words, Paul exalts the calling he has already been given. He takes pride in doing what others would avoid, because it is the calling God had for him. Paul magnifies what most of the others would have disdained.

Now, why would Paul exalt this ministry? Why would he boast about his work with the Gentiles?

"Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous." (Romans 11:11b NASB)

The NLT Bible explains Romans 11:11 this way: "Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves."

So Paul magnified the ministry he had with the Gentiles so that the Jews would get jealous, and ultimately come to salvation.