Have you ever told one of your children to do something and another pipes up, “I’ll do it”? Then you tell them, “No, I didn’t want you to do it. I wanted them to do it.”
The child who says, “I’ll do it!” isn’t necessarily doing anything wrong. In fact, you appreciate the willingness. But you may still respond, “No, I asked your brother to do it.” Why? Because you had a reason for giving that particular assignment to that particular child.
Sometimes we have certain assignments, and they are ours to do, but likewise, there are some assignments that are not ours.
We see this happen with Paul and his companions in Acts. Luke writes:
Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia (Acts 16:6 KJV).
So they tried another direction.
After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them (Acts 16:7 NKJV).
Now, what they wanted to do was good. They wanted to preach the Word. There was nothing sinful or misguided about wanting to evangelize Asia. But the Holy Ghost said, in effect, “Not there. Not now.”
They didn’t understand until later when God directed them to Macedonia. When they arrived at Philippi, a city in Macedonia, Lydia was converted, the Philippian jailer and his household were baptized, and the church at Philippi began.
You see, this is where God wanted them at this time. God even sent Paul to Asia later, and it says that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks (Acts 19:10 KJV).
This is just one example. David wanted to build the Temple but was told no, that Solomon would do it. The man that Jesus cast devils out of in Mark 5 wanted to go with Jesus, and he was told no. Instead, Jesus told him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee… (Mark 5:19 KJV).
Sometimes it’s not the right time, and sometimes it’s just not our ministry. Simply put, not all of us are called to be missionaries, but also not all of us are called to be Sunday school teachers, singers, preachers, or any number of other things. There may even be times when God tells you no when you start to get involved in a ministry.
When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he said, Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:27-28 KJV). Then he immediately says, Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? (1 Corinthians 12:29 KJV). The implied answer is no, but notice that there are different places for each.
Paul actually led up to these verses with maybe a simpler explanation:
For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? (1 Corinthians 12:14-16 KJV).
We understand that each body part has its own place and purpose. The eye isn’t supposed to take the place of the ear, and the ear isn’t supposed to take the place of the eye. Yet we, as the body of Christ, can find ourselves in a position that we were never intended to be in if we don’t follow the leading of the Spirit.
It’s kind of like those old children’s shape puzzles. You can try all you want to put the triangle into the square opening, but it simply doesn’t belong there. There’s nothing wrong with the triangle, and there’s nothing wrong with the square opening. The triangle just wasn’t made for that place.
In the same way, there may be absolutely nothing wrong with a particular ministry. It just may not be where God has placed you.
Verse 18 really brings this thought home:
But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it (1 Corinthians 12:18 NLT).
That’s where we want to be, isn’t it? Where He wants us.
We must be willing to do whatever God calls us to do. But being willing to do anything for God doesn’t mean God has called you to do everything for Him. So before you assume an assignment is yours, seek God and follow His direction.
Proverbs 3:6 (KJV)
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
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