sit down first and count the cost
Robert Canfield and Austin Gardner discuss the call of God to missions
Having seen so many missionaries not learn the language, not adapt to the culture we want you to strongly consider God’s call. Jesus said it was better to sit down first and count the cost rather than start to build and not be able to finish Luke 14:28-32. The purpose of this chapter to lay the awesome weight of the mission field on your shoulders. Consider, pray, take your time before making the decision.
Charles Spurgeon spoke about the importance of his calling and said the following:
“And it may be, if I had not been called to the ministry, and had no seal of it, I had better leave it alone, lest I go without God’s commission; and that would never answer my purpose, to begin without his having sent me; for if he has not sent me, it may be I shall break down in my errand, and do no good. I do not ask whether you are much instructed or learned or all that; I do not need to ask you; for I do not care about it myself. But I ask you these questions. Have you tried to address a Sabbath school? have you gained the attention of the children? Having tried to address a few people when they have been gathered together, have you found they would listen to you after you had preached? Had you any evidence and any sign that would lead you to believe that souls were blessed under you? Did any of the saints of God who were spiritually minded tell you that their souls were fed by your sermon? Did you hear of any sinner convinced of sin? Have you any reason to believe that you have had a soul converted under you? If not, if you will take one’s advice for what it is good for—and I believe it is advice which God’s Holy Spirit would have me give you—you had better give it up. You will make a very respectable Sunday School teacher, and you will do very well in a great many other ways, but unless these things have been known by you, unless you have these evidences, you may say you have been called, and all that; I don’t believe it. If you had been called to preach, there would have been some evidence and some sign of it.[1]”
[1] C. H. Spurgeon,
“The Sound in the Mulberry Trees,” in The New Park Street Pulpit Sermons, vol. 3 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1857), 319.
Am I Called to be a Missionary
