For the sake of argument, let me assume that you have a career. There is something for which you see yourself best suited to make a living. You expect that career to make it possible for you to pay your bills, take care of your family responsibilities, and provide a certain standard of living. You probably also expect it to provide certain less-tangible rewards as titles and social standing.

    But do you also have a calling? Consistent with the way most people hear that term, a calling involves a clear sense of being commissioned by God for some task. It is your pursuit of the sovereignty of God over who you are and what you are doing with your life. It is the sense that God’s hand is on you and that he has a sense of genuine pleasure in what you are doing.

    The real secret to fulfillment in one’s life is to have career and calling merged into one. Don’t you suspect Billy Graham views his as one and the same? But what about you?

    I believe God has given you an opportunity to make a difference in the world. I am convinced he wants you to change the world. And I further believe that he wants you to see your job, business, or profession as an extension of the kingdom of heaven. Here’s what I mean by all this.

But what about you?

    The sense that one’s career is also a holy calling shouldn’t startle us. If slaves-become-Christians were counseled to “render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to men and women, knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord” (Ephesians 6:7-8), then surely you are supposed to be the best employee or employer the Acme Widget Company has ever seen. If not, why not?

    Above paycheck or promotion, do something that contributes to the good of your world. Let your routine tasks reflect the character and excellence heaven is building into your life. Understand that your work is inseparable from your spiritual life — and reflects its authenticity. When your faith cleanses and consecrates your workplace to God, you have found a calling larger than your career.

    Solomon put it this way: “There is nothing better for mortals than to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in their work. This, I saw, is from the hand of God; for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?” (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25)

    How will you change the world today? God is ready to be your partner.

© 2001, Rubel Shelly. Used by permission. From Rubel Shelly's "FAX of Life" printed each Tuesday. See Faith Matters for previous issues of the "FAX of Life."

Title: "My Calling to Change the World"
Author: Rubel Shelly
Publication Date: December 5, 2001

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