A call to serve: God’s guidance on work
Beyond a question of identity (“Who am I?”), one of the biggest questions or dilemmas we have is around mission. “What should I do?” Most often we ask this question in relation to our jobs or careers. That makes sense considering most of us have to pursue paid work in order to live. Still, even if we had all the money we could ever need, we would still need something to do. Why? Because work, God’s idea of work, gives us purpose, meaning, and direction. Yes, work is God’s idea. Throughout scripture, we see that God uses work to bless us, help others, and ultimately to glorify him.
God calls us to work because he calls us to serve. Working is serving. God called Noah to build an ark and save humanity. He called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He called Deborah to be a judge, David to be a king, and Esther to be a queen. He called John to be a disciple and Paul to be an apostle. Each was called to do something necessary, aided by their particular nature and disposition, gifts, and experiences. Even if our work is never recorded in the pages of history, God intends for us to make a unique contribution to the world.
A great deal of study and attention has been devoted to helping people discover their calling or life’s work. But knowing the work apart from knowing God misses the key ingredient. It is God who brings the pieces into alignment better than we ever could. He provides the wisdom, insight, and direction to connect our work with his greater purposes. This purpose might be fulfilled through your job or career, but paid work is just one of the ways God calls us to work. There is plenty of need that is unpaid yet essential, including raising children, caring for family members, and volunteering in the community.
The truth is, we don’t have to have the “perfect” job to make an impact and fulfill God’s purposes. Consider that most people on the planet don’t have the privilege of choosing the “right” job or career. Wherever God places us, we can be sure there is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference.
Perhaps you’re sensing a call to explore something new or different professionally or vocationally. While the Bible doesn’t give us a particular formula or theory to uncover the work God has planned for us, we can draw from scripture certain principles.
What are the needs around you?
Yes, it can be that simple. No burning bush, signs, or wonders. If you’re wondering what kind of work God may be calling you to do, just look around. Making the world a better place is not just about addressing big, societal problems like hunger, homelessness, clean water, or quality education. There are opportunities right in front of us, where we find ourselves day in and day out, that need our attention. Hebrews 13:16 says, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Look around you now and see, based on where you are in life, what might be work to do.
What are your passions and interests?
What are you passionate about? Is there an interest or hobby you find yourself talking about all the time, or something you get lost in or lose track of time while doing? Passion is what you love. It gets you excited, devoted, and willing to make sacrifices to pursue it. God wants our hearts in the right posture while pursuing the work he’s called us to do. He has also placed in our hearts unique desires. These desires are not simply for our own benefit but are also to serve others and glorify him. For the musician, it is to inspire and encourage others through music. For the athlete, it is her perseverance, diligence, and ability that draws others to him. For the teacher, it is giving students the tools to lead a full life. All roads lead back to God. So whether it’s fashion or food, singing or social justice, writing or wellbeing, our passions can serve as God’s guidance on our individual callings.
What are your gifts and abilities?
One of the best ways to discover what makes you you is recognizing your gifts: the abilities God has graced you with to take part in his plans. First Peter tells us, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10). God has provided us certain abilities to do our work, and those abilities can indicate how he wants us to make a difference. The really cool thing about utilizing your gifts and abilities is that it benefits others and it brings you joy. I bet you’ve experienced it before. When you hit that homerun, metaphorically speaking, it’s a feeling of satisfaction that is out of this world. It is the feeling that comes from exercising a God-given ability.
The call to work is about us but ultimately it is about God. Whatever we’re called to do in whatever season we’re in, we are to work heartily, not for people but in service to God (Colossians 3:23). The work we are called to do, whether for a season or a lifetime, presents us an opportunity to love and serve God, and love and serve people.
If we can do that, my guess is that joy and fulfillment await!
