The last word I would ever use to describe my brother Matt would be “pretentious.”

My big brother’s faith in the Lord is strong, genuine, and steadfast.  People (including me) often misjudge him because he is not outspoken about his faith, but instead humble, sincere, and quiet.  He reminds me of 1 John 3:18:

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

The other day I took a walk with my big brother around the block.  This year my brother proposed to his girlfriend, graduated from college, and landed a job at a parachurch organization.  God has obviously blessed his life, and because of his absorption in God’s truth, wisdom leaks out of him like a sponge.

Along the way, he quoted a principle from Jesus that has guided his life: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48).

Since Matt works with international customers, he sees that we have the abundance of a certain resource that many other nations do not have: Opportunity.

The very fact that I was born in America means I have been “given much.”  I had never thought of it in the context of simply being an American.  I always thought it meant having talent or money or influence.  But by an event that happened beyond my control (my birth), I was given the ability to control much more of life than the vast majority of people on this planet.

Wow!  How do we keep that from going to waste?  And how could we even think of using that opportunity just to get what we want?  That would only affect one person.  If we want to use it to its full potential, should we not try to affect as many people, and as deeply as possible, with the positive influence we can offer?

Lately, God has been blessing my socks off with opportunities.  In fact, just a couple hours ago, I was offered an internship with a company doing something that is meaningful and something that I love.

But I couldn’t help but feel conflicted.  Was this God’s will?  I couldn’t allow my excitement to make me gloss over the significance of this decision.

Doesn’t God call us to be the least in order to be the greatest (Luke 9:48)?  To be weak so He can be strong (2 Corinthians 12:9)?  To give up everything for His kingdom (Luke 14:33)?  To make sacrifices to do His work (Romans 12:1)?

… How the heck does this apply to the business world?  Does that mean getting a decent job is from the devil?

I know my God, and I have the Holy Spirit inside me to give me discernment.  And I really don’t think that’s what these verses mean.  But I wanna make sure.

God chose the Church to be set apart, a hopeful people in a decaying world, to bring His kingdom here on earth (Leviticus 20:26).  But how does that relate to Christian businesses and parachurch organizations?  There are so many organizations and individuals beyond my own church that have influenced my own faith, that are in motion as God’s hands and feet in the world.  Does the existence of parachurch organizations stifle the work and the potential of the local church — a form of outsourcing?

Steve Shadrach of The Traveling Team wrote this about the church–parachurch debate:

“Especially among believers who are in full time ministry, no topic seems to stir the emotions more than the church-para church [sic] discussion. And let’s admit it, if we have spent our years primarily ministering through a local church, that’s going to be the lens we have affixed to our perspective. Or if our spiritual growth or training mainly came through a para-church ministry, that determines the starting point (i.e. bias) for our evaluation.

So, if that stadium represented the Body of Christ and was now filled with Christians, what would we have? On one side the Pastors, Elders and Deacons might be yelling, ‘The church is God’s chosen instrument! He has given His authority to us! Christ died for the church, not the para-church! Your time, talent, and treasure needs to be given here, and no where else! Tell the para-church people to quit stealing money and people from our congregation! Now, back off!’

“The other half of this stadium is full of para-church workers and participants pointing across the field and fervently shouting, ‘You’ve had your chance and blown it! We’re tired of your mediocrity and bickering! We’re the truly committed believers, you guys are just playing church! If this Great Commission is going to get accomplished, it will be because we gathered the resources and gumption to get it down! Now, back off!’

“While both groups are busy trying to defend their position and criticize the other, the world is going to hell by the truckload. Every ten seconds, 23 people pass into eternity and an estimated 19 of those into a Christ-less eternity. While wasting time and effort spouting forth our petty prejudices and insecurities, a broken hearted God weeps, waiting for His children to quit attacking one another and turn our God given resources toward defeating the real enemy ─ Satan.”

As a leader in my campus ministry, as well as a volunteer with a few parachurch organizations, I’m torn.

…But a body that’s torn apart can’t do much, can it?

Wherever I go, I want to be found in God.  I want to follow Him.  His staff comforts me, leading me and directing me and using my steps for good even when I tend to go astray — as he’s shown me this summer.

God’s house has many rooms (John 14:1-4), many doors, many God-honoring hallways down which we can walk.  When opportunity knocks, I am confident that God will open and close doors as He pleases.  Meanwhile, I will dwell in the house of the Lord (Psalm 27:4).

I’m still praying over my opportunities this year — this internship, my leadership position in The Rock, my household as a place of hospitality, my passion for music.  If you will, please join me in prayer, faith, confidence, and thanksgiving that, as Americans and as the Church, we can work as one to influence our families, our communities, our nation, and our world for the kingdom.

And like my big brother, whatever we do, let’s do it with humility and reverence for God.