"Many plans are in a man's heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand" Proverbs 19:21
My wife and I felt called by God to go into the ministry last June while on our Honeymoon. It was a peaceful night camped out by the fire in the Ozark mountains, where you can see God's majesty in the heavens so clearly. Not a bit of air pollution in sight! Only the stars off in the distance declaring the glory of the Lord(Psalm 19:1) It was there that we began discussing the open doors in front of us. I was in between jobs, and Marie was working at Creekside Veterinary Clinic. It was amid the atmosphere of that wondrous scenery God made that my heart was churned to go into the ministry. I felt so compelled...and I still do.
"Well how do you validate your ministerial call?" I would ask my wife(as well as myself). The answer fell upon going to the nearest, most theologically sound(in my opinion) seminary we could find. That description fell on a trip to Covenant Theological Seminary up here in St. Louis where we are currently residing. I have learned a lot over the last couple of months about God and His creation, but something felt out of place.
I've known of the financial precautions we should have taken for a while now, but I also never took a step back to look at the big picture. If I was to stay at Covenant, I would end up being in well over $100,000 worth of debt (in a country that's national debt continues to sky-rocket). The economics weren't matching up, which led me into some deep spiritual thinking.
Would this be biblical? To send my family into a pitfall of insurmountable debt on a whim? Do I think God could get me out of it? Absolutely. Do I think God wants me to spend $100,000 that I DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE(which is like selling away part of your freedom) in return for a "validation"? Absolutely not.
I'm not here to say debt is a horrible thing to do (or seminary for that matter; I think what they do is great). I'm just stating what God has put on my heart about the subject. Americans have fallen into this horrible ideology that goes "If I want it I need it now!" I have fallen victim of this several times on a smaller scale, but never quite this large. Without realizing it, we covet. Oh how we want things and we want them QUICKLY in this country. Now I do know what the Good Book says about coveting:
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor."-Exodus 20:17
When there is a commandment to NOT DO something, it's usually implied that we DO something. And the opposite of coveting is being content.
"But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment" -1 Timothy 6:6
1 Timothy 6 also goes on to say that the love of money is the root of "all kinds of evil". Jesus said no one can serve two masters. Money can get to us folks...the love of money is sinful because of the depraved coveting desires going on today in our fallen world by the media, institutions, or even ourselves.
So my hypothesis is that going into seminary without having the necessary means to provide for my family someday is sinful. It's following a covetous custom (Or "I need it now! philosophy). I also feel like I'm trying to expedite the "validation" process to minister.God doesn't need me to carve my own ways. He's already paved my path before the foundation of the world(Eph.1:4). And what validates someone to ministry? Nothing but the Lord of hosts!! A group of men may help you in our world, but God is the one who calls(1 Thes. 2:12). We all are partakers in the ministry, not just the shepherd. The entire flock of God (John 10:14). After all, the shepherds(pastors) of this earth are followers too, of the Most High Shepherd- Christ the Lord. So all of us have our equally dependent roles within the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12)
I know God can call and move on somebody in a matter that seems completely illogical and strange on the outside, but it happens. Listen to God folks! If your heart is stirred or convicted, reflect on His word! Pray to Him! Nothing is too big for the star breather(Psalm 33:6). Some of us are meant to go to seminary, but some are not. Some are meant to go NOW, and some are meant to be patient. As for me I do not know that answer at this time, but I do know part of it. Not right now...
Anyways, The Lord put this on my heart today to share. To all my friends in southern Illinois, I will be with you very soon and I look forward to getting together and reflecting on God. It's been way to long in my opinion! To my friends in St. Louis: I will miss you all. Even though our time has been short together, you all mean a lot to my wife and I. Thank you for your grace and hospitality.
Christ be with you all!
"May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ" -2 Thessalonians 3:5
Blessings and thanks,
Hank ✝
