Wellbeing: An Invitation to a Flourishing LifeSample

More Than Just Church

God’s love for His creation is far more significant than just for His Church, which means our calling is far greater than just building His Church. We are to care for all His creation and everyone in it. Here are some other areas God calls us into.

Creation Care

Right at the beginning, God created humanity, blessed them and called them to be His stewards of the Earth, including every aspect of Earth, not just other people.

This isn’t just an Old Testament principle. Colossians tells us that God, in Jesus, reconciles all created things to Himself, not just people. This is part of God’s mission for the world and something we are all called to contribute to. This doesn’t mean we all have to give our whole lives to the cause, but we should live responsibly with what we have. In a world where consumerism has led to unsustainable and polluting practices, we should stand for minimalism and sustainability. For some of us, this might be something God calls us to give a big part of our lives to, it could be your occupation, but it’s part of our vocations.

Justice and Compassion

God also calls us to care for society. Throughout the Old Testament, God reminds Israel to have compassion for the widow, the orphan, and the foreigner; in other words, the people on the margins. Time and again, He reminds us to stand up for what is right and ensure that the powerful do not abuse their power.

Homebuilding

This aspect of our vocation is not confined to society. In Jeremiah 29, God encourages the exiled Israel to settle in as they strive for peace and prosperity for their city. They are encouraged to build homes, marry, and have families. All of this is part of what God calls us into. Not everyone should marry and have children but doing so doesn’t replace God’s call on your life. It’s all part of it. Some of us are to be Dads and Mums, but all are to build our homes and welcome people into them.

Thought Point: Do you see these areas as part of your calling? Which one is God particularly calling you into? Could this be something you step into in a significant way?

Prayer Point: As you reflect on these different aspects of your vocation, invite God to ignite something within you for one or more of these areas. Ask Him where He is calling you right now.