Multiplying Your LifeSample

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We often speak of the higher calling of a pastor or missionary. But, the Bible does not support the idea that God’s call is only on the lives of those with these professions. God calls every believer to a place in life and in His Kingdom. Every believer has a “higher calling”. Unfortunately, because we live in a fallen world, we often view our place in life as completely disconnected from that place in His Kingdom. To connect God’s call to our careers, we need to understand what the Bible says about our purpose and the meaning of work. 

Leading at Work

Have you ever thought that pastors and missionaries have a higher calling? Why or why not? 

As we saw in the last lesson, obviously God values relationships. It may surprise you that God also values work. 

God first established a relationship with Adam but it wasn’t long before God invited Adam to participate in the work He had planned. God was interested in all the things that would touch Adam as well as all the things Adam could contribute to the garden. God wasn’t just going to be involved with the spiritual dimension of Adam’s life. He created man to be multi-dimensional and desires to be involved in all of those dimensions. Consider again the Spiritual Center we looked at in lesson one. God not only wants to be at the center of all the dimensions of your life, He is actually interested in all of them. 

Work came before the fall and is part of the created order. In Genesis 1:31, just two verses after God gives the mandate to subdue and rule, it says, “And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.” What does be fruitful, multiply, subdue, and rule mean in today’s culture? How might this apply to your profession? Think about the work you do and the different parts of your job. Ask God to give you insight in the days to come as you consider how your work contributes to His purposes on earth. Sin distorted work, so not all work is pleasant or satisfying. Sin also destroys the context in which we work. As a result there is a great deal that goes on in the name of work that does not point to God or promote human flourishing. Still, our basic job description has not changed and God’s desire to be involved with that hasn’t diminished.

God primarily calls us to Himself, not to a task. But God also has a specific calling that relates to the use of our gifts and unique circumstances. He provides us with purpose in which work plays an important part. Our calling makes it possible for us to cooperate with God to accomplish His purposes.