How do we determine our calling? Does God specifically guide us to particular jobs or professions? How do we as Christ followers glorify God through our work? What is the spiritual and eternal significance of our work?
I will share a little about the journey I have taken with these questions, and why I believe that whatever talents and godly passions God has given us, there is a divine purpose in His plans.
What is a vocational calling?
First, our calling is to belong to Christ and follow Him. This is central to what it means to be a disciple. Often, we first think of the Great Commission of Matthew 28 as the prominent task of our age but let us not forget the other two Great instructions given to the people of God.
1, The creation/cultural mandate (Genesis 1:26–30, 2:15) to steward the earth and its resources and to multiply and go throughout the earth: It is God’s design and intention that mankind, in submission to His authority and guidance, should use their God-given creativity, intellect and talents to explore the earth through the sciences and to manage and cultivate the environment through arts and technology.
2. The greatest commandment: Jesus summarises God’s commandments with the commands to love God with all your heart, soul and mind, and to love your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22:37–40).
Each of these instructions informs how my work should be shaped. As we await the return of Christ our saviour, we also look forward to the new creation. When we pray ‘Thy Kingdom come’, we recognise the brokenness of the individual, the society and the world at large, and with sure hope we long for holistic restoration. In our work, we also remember that we are all co-workers with Christ in unleashing the Kingdom.
God purposed us for good works
The apostle Paul is a great example of an evangelist who was wholeheartedly dedicated to following and glorifying Christ and to the spreading of the Gospel. But he also worked as a tentmaker. Paul knew the value of the body of Christ working together in community with a variety of skills and talents for the dual purpose of building up the Church as well as seeing the Gospel message spread.
Paul encouraged the Colossians: ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord.’ (Colossians 3:23) He encouraged the Ephesians by saying ‘For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’ (Ephesians 2:10)
But what are these good works? In the context, it is a life in Christ, filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. But how does this outwork in practice? The fruit is not an abstract concept but implemented with tangible effects in the believer’s sphere of influence.
God equipped us for good works
There are spiritual gifts, natural talents as well as developed skills. In practice, there is obviously an overlap when these are implemented by the believer. Ultimately, all these are given by God and for His glory. Peter says: ‘Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.’
There are many lists of spiritual gifts given in the Bible, and we do not need to think that any of the lists are necessarily exhaustive. Paul encourages us to ‘eagerly desire the greater gifts’ (1 Corinthians 12:31). Exactly which gifts Paul was referring to with ‘greater gifts’ is not known. His main emphasis is the purpose for which the gifts are given – to edify the Church in love. The building up of the Church includes both inward strengthening and outward growth.
Does this mean that we should all become full-time teachers, evangelists or prophets? Personally, I wrestled with this question at the end of my time at university. Should I follow my passion for helping the poor, evangelising and sharing Jesus? Or should I continue in the profession of engineering for which I was trained? At that time, the 9:38 ministry encouraged me to ask the question: ‘How can I, as the person I am and with the gifts that I’ve got, best serve the spreading of the Gospel and the growth of the church in my lifetime?’
Interestingly, I also had a number of dreams and interventions by God, which helped me realise that I could be both a disciple and an engineer and that I could glorify God through engineering work. For me, engineering can also be seen as a way of implementing the spiritual gift of ‘helps/service’, especially when used as a way to support Gospel ministry.
We are made in the image of the Creator God
In Genesis 4:16–22, we can see that since the beginning of humanity, God has given creative gifts: building cities, farming, music and metal working. At certain times, God has given through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, certain gifts for certain purposes: consider Bezalel and Oliabab who were given ‘all kinds of skills’ to ‘engage in all kinds of crafts’ for the building of the tabernacle (Exodus 35:30–35). Oliabab was also given the ability to pass on his skills through the gift of teaching skilled workers and designers.
Notice that the end goal of the work was the worship of the one true God. Yet, God was not just concerned with the end result; notice that all the community contributed as their hearts were moved, and God had concern for the details in the tabernacle. The commitment of the people as well as the physical/quality of work mattered to God.
May the Holy Spirit guide us all to do our work with all our heart, as working for the Lord. And like Bezalel, may the Holy Spirit equip us with skills of all kinds to serve God’s purposes in these days.
Contributed by David
David is an engineer from England. With God’s help, he is keen to make positive change through his work to impact individuals, society and the environment.