Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches 1 Corinthians 7:17
Called and Assigned
In the face of this kind of opportunity, how is a committed Christian supposed to think objectively about his or her “calling”?
How, with my existing abilities and opportunities, can I be of greatest service to other people, knowing what I do of God’s will and of human need?
Because of God’s calling in my life, I have all the more reason to improve and employ my talents and ambitions in work to obey God’s commands.
What exactly is my calling? I am not sure. I feel like sometimes I’m not supposed to know. I recall Pastor Keith once telling us we don’t really know what we’re going to do with our lives until like we’re 40. And everything before then is exploring different things in order to determine where we are to focus in our lives.
Anyway, I’ve been trying to hear what God’s commands are for my life. To stay in the bay? Move on? But I think regardless, I should be charged with dutifully fulfilling my responsibilities and previous marching orders — to do well at Workday, to commit to spiritual community in Renewal, and seek God further in my secret life.
Vocation and the “Masks of God”
Secular labor was seen as akin to the demeaning necessity that the Greeks saw in manual labor.
Big oof.
So God cares for our civic needs through the work of others, whom he calls to that work
What else is all our work to God — whether in the fields, in the garden, in the city, in the house, in war, or in government — but just such a child’s performance, by which He wants to give His gifts in the fields, at home, and everywhere else? Martin Luther
Vocation and the Gospel
I began to understand that the righteousness of God is that by which the righteous live by a gift of God, namely by faith Martin Luther
This is where Martin Luther “discovered” justification by grace through faith! Pretty cool. 😎
The Gospel frees us from the relentless pressure of having to prove ourselves and secure our identity through work, for we are already proven and secure.
This means, ironically, that Christians who understand biblical doctrine ought to be the ones who appreciate the work of non-Christians the most
YAAASssss
But I definitely feel like I do not exercise that appreciation and respect of the work of others. Therefore, this is a consequence of my lack of understanding of biblical doctrine — namely the Gospel. oof.
Work as an Act of Love
The difference between [a wilderness] and culture is simply, work. Lester DeKoster
There may be no better way to love your neighbor… only skillful, competent work will do.
I really do think that work provides opportunities to serve others, but it is important not to be fooled that, by carrying out my basic responsibilities at work, that I am truly loving my neighbor. There is no love — no servitude — in doing exactly what I have been handsomely compensated to do.
Like, it’s great to effectively complete the tasks before me in a way that satisfied expectations. Keller agrees with this. And I’m not thinking I should over-deliver; rather, I should be sensitive to the ways the Spirit is calling me to serve my neighbor in ways I didn’t expect. These are things only God can do through me, and they are more than just writing good code.
Work as a Ministry of Competence
The very fist demand that his religion makes upon him is that he should make good tables. Dorothy Sayers
Your work is your prayer William Diehl
If the call of the Christian is to participate in God’s ongoing creative process, the bedrock of our ministry has to be competency. William Diehl
Seriously consider the job that pays less and helps more — particularly if you are great at it.
May He help and strengthen all men in every good endeavor. John Coltrane, A Love Supreme
There it is! The title of the book!
Definitely I feel the quality of my work has been diminishing, especially as I feel jaded with certain tasks. This is a strong reminder that if my aim is to see and portray the Gospel at work, I must first be competent and deliver excellent work. This is the foundation of my endeavor.