A friend of mine ministers to college students at a state university. Much of his work is meeting with people one-on-one, leading small group discussions, teaching bible studies, and preaching in local churches. But, a couple of years ago, he believed the Lord was leading him to start writing.
So, he did. Soon, he had written a short book about what it means to encounter God and live life on a higher level.
No agent or publisher wanted the book, but that was OK, because he didn’t write with the hope of “being published.” He wrote out of obedience to the Lord, and that was enough. He self-published the little book and made it available via Print-on-Demand and as an ebook.
About four months later, he got a call from a missionary/evangelist overseas. The guy on the phone had met several men who converted to Christ because of an ebook they found on the internet, and he wanted to let the writer know of the impact he was making on behalf of the Kingdom of God.
There may be any number of reasons why people write. Some do it as a form of personal therapy; it’s one way they work through their own issues. Some people write to entertain their audience; they have a gift for storytelling, and people respond to them. Still others write because it’s their job, and they have to make a living. This man writes simply because God told him to.
In Colossians 3:17 the apostle says, “And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (HCSB).
Whatever your reason for writing, do it faithfully and joyfully as unto the Lord. The issue isn’t whether you get a big contract from a major publisher, or post your work on a blog, or make it available as an ebook. If the Lord called you to write, then write, and trust Him for the outcomes.
Paul Linzey 