Reframing the Vocation...

Recently I have had the blessing of a salary increase. It was a very significant raise such that I now have a lot of surplus money.

Up till this time I have not really been able to afford to give significant money to the church, and with the raise, even after more than doubling my contribution to the church, I am still able to enjoy (is that the right word), more money at the end of the month.

What has that meant?

Well for one thing, it has opened up more possibilities... I am now less constrained by my income, but what it has also done is that it has brought more tension. I was happy with the way I was spending my previous income, and now I have to settle on a new spending pattern. More income brings more responsibility.

But more importantly it has given me the ability to give more money to supporting gospel work. In fact, because of the contribution I am now making to gospel work I feel far more a part of the work than I was before. I think a lot of Christian people who are no in full time formal christian work feel a little on the side line, like they're in second rate employment. Fortunately that is less the case now.

I think the most indicative thing is that I now feel like I have a secondary occupation. It is hardly a secondary occupation. From an eternal perspective it is the most important occupation. Playing a part in changing the world, what could be more important.

That brings me to what I'm really trying to say...

I think the way I should start seeing myself, i.e. My vocation is as a “gospel supporter”. It would not only give me an interesting angle into exposing my Christianity but it would give me greater sense of meaning and fulfilment. The drudgery of every day driving to and from work would be significantly reduced because it would have an eternal significance.

The unfortunate thing about this is that I only feel like this now that I have sufficient financial muscle to support gospel work in a meaningful way. It is quite sad that it has had to come to this. What about those people that cannot afford to contribute so readily. As an aside, the traditional 10 percent is not easy for someone who is making R5000 a month – but a lot easier for someone who is making R40 000 a month.

It is a pity that it has taken a significant raise to bring me to think this way. It should not matter how much money is given because as the story of the poor woman in the temple goes to show, the amount is not important, it is the level of sacrifice. It's hard to say whether the sacrifice has changed, I don't know that it has. What I do know however, is that I am now able to invest in the next life for more effectively.