Has God Called Yet?
Have you ever been asked, "What is your calling?" Do you sometimes ask yourself the same question? This week David Scott gives us some ways to deal with the answer to that important question.
Ernie
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Has God Called Yet?
by Dr. David Scott
Are you trying to figure out your calling?
When I hear the word “calling,” I cannot help but think of a funeral wreath I once saw. The wreath was on a tripod stand next to the open casket. Mounted on the wreath was a telephone—the old rotary kind. Across this wreath was a ribbon that said, “God called.”
To be sure, none of us want that kind of “call” any time soon. Nonetheless, many times we find ourselves fixated on the question of our “call” for this side of glory. Are you sitting by the telephone waiting for God to call and tell you what you are supposed to do with your life? Hopefully what He tells you will be at least somewhat more enjoyable than a funeral. Is this what a “calling” is?
There are several problems with using the word “calling” to describe our God-given vocational mission.
First, it is not Biblical. In scripture “calling” almost always refers to a call to salvation, not vocation. Salvation is one telephone call you don’t want to miss. But after that, don’t wait around for a second ring to tell you what to do next. God has already spoken. He spoke through the precepts of His Word, the Bible. Follow His wisdom found there and you will not go wrong on whatever specific vocational option that you choose.
Second, although God definitely wants to guide us in our work lives, he rarely does so through direct special revelation. If you are waiting to hear an audible voice to get your answer, don’t hold your breath. God most clearly reveals His vocational plan for our lives through His built-in design. God also spoke through His creation. We are His craftsmanship, the creation of His hands. He gave you your gifts, talents, passions and desires. These were not accidents. They reveal His intention. Every design configuration has an optimal usage. Optimize your design. As one book title suggests, “Do what you are.” Be who He made you to be. That is all He wants us to do. If He gave you wings, then fly.
Third, the idea of “a calling” is singular. It implies that there is one and only one thing that God wants us to do for the rest of our life. This idea of a person having a singular preordained calling in life comes from the historical baggage of the word. A long time ago, society was viewed as a God-endorsed social hierarchy. Everyone had a station in life. One should be content with that whatever it was. Finding and being faithful to that station was a moral imperative. Changing vocations mid-stream was viewed as a sign of a character flaw or a lack of virtue.
Many people in the Bible, however, did a variety of things over the course of their lives. David started out as a shepherd before he was diverted to become a king. Paul was a religious ruler who later in life had to take up tent-making to get by. Jesus was a carpenter who in His thirties made a career change to become an itinerant messiah. God may have a number of things for us to do at different stages of our life. God never said his path would be a straight line.
When Steve Jobs built the first Apple computer, he had the signatures of all its designers inscribed on the inside of the computer’s cover. You have a design written on you as well. What do you do well? Do you teach, sell, create, manage, or build? Whatever it is, it was God’s idea. These are God’s gifts to you. The question, “What should I do when I grow up?” is, therefore, more a challenge of stewardship than of mystical discernment. Apple computers do not work by accident and neither do you. Get busy because you have a lot to do before you get that final “call.”
A WORK PRAYER
Lord, it sounds as if you would like me to stop holding onto the spiritual job ladder. You called the original disciples to "Follow Me" when they didn't know what you had ahead for them. They learned their work for you by keeping company with You. Please clarify my thinking about this important area of life, and help me think and act like your steward when I am at work. Amen.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What do you do well?
- Have you ever looked at what you do well as a gift from God?
- When you consider that God has you in your current occupation for a purpose, what things come to mind that you could be doing for Him but are not?
This WorkLife SwitchTOOL was written by Dr. David Scott. David is a speaker, writer and consultant regarding faith and work. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Content edited and distributed by WorkLife.org for non-profit educational purposes.
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