In a recent interview, “Is the Missionary Greater Than the Artist?” John Piper answers this question: “You state in your book Let the Nations Be Glad! that missions is the second greatest human activity. Does this not [put] ordinary work lower on the rung of human activity?”

Piper’s thoughtful response is worth reading, but if you wonder what it means for you, you are not alone. Should you quit your job, go to seminary, and serve overseas as a missionary? 

Maybe. There’s no question that there’s something special about the missionaries who have served for decades to make disciples in areas where few know Jesus. Who wouldn’t want to honor that kind of ministry?

But the real question for you is, “How can I maximize the talents God has given me for His glory?” In light of your wiring and gifting, what is the most strategic way for you to make Christ known?

Maybe you will be a missionary. Maybe you will be an algebra teacher. Or maybe you will be an algebra teacher who will intentionally move to a part of the world with very little access to the gospel.

As Piper writes in his book, Don’t Waste Your Life:

For many of you, the move towards missions and deeds of mercy will not be a move away from your work but with your work to another, more needy, least-reached part of the world. Christians should seriously ask not only what their vocation is, but where it should be lived out. We should not assume that teachers and carpenters and computer programmers and managers and CPAs and doctors and pilots should do their work in America. 

Should you celebrate the engineer who does excellent work and intentionally befriends colleagues to make disciples? You bet. 

But, at the end of the day, as Piper recognizes, you should celebrate Jesus. It’s not about where you fit in the ranking of honor or recognition. It’s about Him. And the choices you make about work and where to live should be about Him. He is the One who is worthy.

Lacy is an adult MK who uses her wiring and gifting to make Christ known in North America.