"The abnegation of reason is not the evidence of faith, but the confession of despair."
- J.B. Lightfoot
Thursday, November 20, 2008
I read a literary blog recently where the topic of conversation was whether or not one was truly called (presumably by God) to be a writer, or whether or not the supposed calling was simply a delusion of grandeur.
The conversation got me thinking about what exactly is the nature of a calling, and why we never hear anything about people being "called" to be garbage collectors, ditch diggers, or used car salesmen.
As everyone around here knows, a job is something that eats up a lot of your time, and if you work a typical 8 to 5 type job then the very best hours of your day are consumed by your profession. Surely, as believers, God has a calling for the average worker, whether that worker is the President of the free world or an immigrant working for peanuts. God has a calling, even if that calling is to merely live a peaceful and quiet life (1 Timothy 2:2).
Make no mistake, God uses people with incredible gifts to glorify His name, but He also uses people with gifts that are perhaps not recognized by the world at large: maids, waitresses, street sweepers, manual laborers, stay-at-home parents.
I remember hearing a missionary say that he was painting a house one day, praying to God and asking Him what mission field He wanted him to labor in next. "I'll go anywhere, and do anything for You," he told God. He said he felt like God responded: "Would you paint houses for me for the rest of your life?"
JESUS was a carpenter, but you never hear anyone claiming they are "called to be a carpenter." Maybe that should change.
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
-- Colossians 3:23 & 24
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Comments on "What's In A Calling?":
2. Les
- 11/20/2008 9:54 pm CST
I was going nowhere in my job 20+ years ago when I decided to quit and follow my wife's example into teaching. All our friends were amazed saying, "Les is going into teaching? But... he HATES kids!"
True. But I did have a "gift" for teaching. So I took the tests and enrolled in the program at UCR. Eventually it came time to get into a real classroom and begin the student teaching segment of the program.
It was a fourth grade class and all I did was observe on the first day. Everything changed. It was like a light went on. I fell in love with the kids. I remember walking out to the parking lot at the end of the day, looking up at the sky, and saying out loud, "Now I know why You made me." I wept all the way home.
It is humbling because, after 20 years, I still feel unworthy.
I don't know that it was necessarily a call to teach specifically. I think we're called to people, not to jobs or careers. Wherever we work, God calls us to the people there. He puts them in our charge. For me it's 34 fourth graders every year. For the painter it's whoever he/she comes in contact with.
It's the people, not the job.
3. Pigwotflies
- 11/21/2008 2:11 am CST
I've never really felt 'called' to anything, and sometimes that bothers me. Especially at the moment when I'm not doing much thanks to being ill. But I can do whatever I've got to do right now as best I can, for God's glory. Thanks for the reminder, Bird.
4. Bob Sacamento
- 11/21/2008 8:59 am CST
You know when a post is too good? It's when I can't argue, and can't add anything. When all I can say is "Amen." This post was too good. Try not to do that again.
5. Richard
- 11/21/2008 9:29 am CST
Recommend you read Gene Veith's book, "God at Work," on the subject of vocation. It is mind blowing--a real exposition of the Lutheran/Reformed view of all life as being filled with vocation (or calling) for the believer.
6. Mr. Grumpy Guy
- 11/21/2008 10:58 am CST
Is a calling the same as a job?
If I'm called to be a garbage collector and someday I face retirement (or an injury)... does that mean I am doomed to wander the earth aimlessly since I can not "be line" with my calling? ;)
I always thought a job was just my current assignment. A calling would be something that should cross occupation boundaries.
Great post!
7. Bird
- 11/21/2008 11:45 am CST
Grump,
I don't think it has to be the same thing as a job, though it's nice to know that the job you're doing is where God wants you to be.
I think, though, that a lot of people equate a calling with a vocation ... and often times the vocation is glamorous.
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Though I never heard him say he was "called" to the job he took, my dad (a lead miner) did his job "heartily, as to the Lord" and was most influential in his sphere. As a young boy it was so cool to hear people say how my dad had shown them the "goodness of the Lord". Thank you for posting this. It is always such a joy to be reminded of how wonderful a father I had.