Complaints about a good salary

So here I am at work. I have what most people in the world would consider a great job. I don't have to really lift anything heavy or put myself at physical risk. I get to walk around my office fairly often and talk to people. All I really do is make sure that computer systems keep working and, when possible, see what I can do to make them work better. Great job, right?

The problem is that I don't particularly care about what I can do. I'm always amazed at comments like, "But you're good at it, why would you want to leave it?" Yes, I'm pretty good at what I do when I do it and don't spend my time reading or writing blogs. I just have a longing for more.

If you're reading this you likely know that I serve at a ministry called Setting Captives Free. We exist to provide Christ-centered hope and freedom to people in bondage to habitual sins such as pornography and masturbation, gluttony and laziness, gambling, drunkenness, and greed. We do this knowing that God is glorified when He sets people free. I've served in this ministry for three years and find that I really have a passion for it. I feel like I'm gifted to do it effectively and those in leadership saw fit to put me in a position of leadership as well.

So am I the only one in America complaining about making as much money as I do? I look for other doors to open and they just don't. I have a sense that God has me here for a reason. And as I think about it I have some ideas why.

First of all, it's obvious that God meets our needs. I have a wife and daughter that appreciate a warm house in the winter and food on the table. We also have the honor to support a couple of people in college ministry monthly. If I made less money we couldn't do that. We also were able to give to our new church's building fund and that certainly is a blessing.

I suppose that there are plenty of missionaries out there that would like to have our problems. But I also would not mind having a much simpler life and focusing exclusively on ministry and doing what it takes to win souls for Christ.

However, in the end, I see how pastors and missionaries burn out. And I see how people in the corporate world burn out. What I realize is that I can't expect to find fulfillment in my work. I can't expect to find it in my ministry. I can't expect to find it in my family. I can only find it at the cross. So what it really boils down to is that I must obey the command to:

Colossians 3:22-24 ESV
(22) Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
(23) Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
(24) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

This must be my focus.