Only one spot left next to an outlet in the cafe and I collapsed into a chair with an armful of hopeful reads. Before I could draw the phone charger from my purse, a guy next to me asks ‘You want to switch places?’ And a conversation about God’s work in our lives ensued. This actor/fitness trainer/sales rep made a comment that caught my attention in his effort to explain an approaching move to California. “I’m just better than ‘this’,” he said, alluding to his 8-5 job. He talked about the gifts God gave him was above where he’s at.

Two concepts crossed my mind. There are certain commands throughout scripture God outlines for His people. Working to eat is one. It doesn’t matter if you’re out in the field or pushing pencils, we’re required to have a job. If your job doesn’t allow for you to share the gifts God has blessed you with, there are 12 other hours in a day to seek out opportunities to serve with these. I think about the parable of the bags of gold in the book of Matthew. The servant who invests what the master gives Him will be rewarded ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Here’s the second thing I thought about. Outside of tithing ten percent of your wages to the corporate church, there’s ‘giving’ to the fellowship church, a concept that goes the extra mile. Giving is out of generosity, giving is out of gratitude… giving gives us meaning in ‘life’. The gentleman in the cafe was right you know? He was created for more than just defining his life by an 8-5 paycheck.

I remember during the summer months as a child, my parents would leave a list of chores each day. I’d race through the list and scurry off to the pool. Mom and Dad would come home, compliment the tasks done and remark ‘you know, it wouldn’t hurt if you did more than you’re told’?

In the echo of my earthly dad’s voice, I hear my heavenly Father gently reminding me ‘you know, it wouldn’t hurt if you did more than you’re told’. If you have found yourself searching for something ‘bigger than this’, before you move thousands of miles away only to find your life is still not satisfied, try going the extra mile where you’re at. If we feel we’re ‘bigger’ than where God has us, there’s a great possibility we’re probably not doing enough with what has been given.

God is always on time and gives us just what we need. Where are you investing your time and your talent… not for a paycheck (that’s when you receive the benefit), but for the greater call of Christ? Because you were made for more than ‘this’.