All careers are a calling: becoming a doctor, a painter, a lawyer, a construction worker, a peace officer, a soldier, a mother, etc. God provides everyone with opportunities and possible career paths.
What does the Bible say about vocations?
Colossians 3:23 states, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
From this passage we learn that we are to work for men as if we are working for God. This means we are to do are best at whatever job we have.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 reads, “And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”
Not being dependent on others means being responsible and providing for your own needs.
We also know that God created work and sees it as good. Genesis 2:15 reads, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”
God desired for man to work in the garden before the fall. At the fall, work became toilsome.
Finally, know that all vocations are a calling from God. 1 Corinthians 7:17 states, “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.”
Paul expected the believers to lead the life assigned to them. This means that he expected them to do their jobs. He then states that those are the jobs that God has called them to.
A few principles about vocation:
- God expects everyone to work.
- Work is a calling.
- We are to gloriy God in our work.
- We are to work with integrity.
- Work involves toil because our world is fallen and in need of repair.
- We should use our work to share the goodness of God’s Kingdom and his love with others.
- We are to be the best we can be in our respective careers.
