How Do I Find My Calling?Sample

A Crisis in Calling

“My greatest fear is that my life will not make a difference.”

Have you ever felt this way?

Rest assured:

• You have been created by God in his image.
• You have great worth.
• You have been given gifts, gifts meant to contribute something to your family, your community, and the world.

In spite of these truths, we still fear living lives of insignificance. Why?

Many people don’t see themselves as significant. They do not have a vision for how God wants them to make a difference in the world through their unique gifts. We have a crisis in calling.

The Bible teaches that you are called out of your own selfishness to love and serve God and others in specific ways, responsible to an audience of One. In 1 Corinthians 10:31, God calls us to glorify him in all that we do – which includes work. However, many believers miss this concept. We see this in a few ways.

1. The evangelical church tends to focus on salvation, evangelism, or basic discipleship – all of which are important. But there is little or no specific teaching on the work most people do forty, sixty, or eighty hours a week.

   While many excellent evangelical churches exist, most do not address:

   • Ethical issues at work;
   • Public affirmation of ministry in and through a career;
   • Discernment of the gifts of all church members and how to use those gifts wisely in the church and on the job.

   People are being equipped for personal faith, but not public life.

2. Further, work is often seen as a necessary evil. When was the last time you heard someone say “Thank God it’s Monday!” or “Happy Monday!”? On the contrary, like Jeremiah’s response to the Babylonian exile, God has called his people to seek the flourishing of the city so that it may prosper, and to do so with humility, patience, love, and grace (Jeremiah 29:11, Ephesians 4:1-3).

3. Many idealistic young people set about work with unrealistic expectations about work and success in a future career. Now the “mid-life crisis” is coming earlier. People are starting to discuss the “quarter-life crisis.”

   Students who have been the best and brightest all their lives are feeling bogged down and unfulfilled in their careers. Their high expectations are dashed. Success has not come as quickly as they had hoped.

   The central reason for these various problems is a failure to develop a thorough biblical theology of work. Over the next few days, we will explore how to discern God’s call in your life.

Do you fear living an insignificant life? Why or why not?

Additional Elements

Read more about calling in this ebook Monday Morning Success: How Biblical Stewardship Transforms Your Work from the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics.