How to embrace the calling that comes to you as a follower of Christ
By Dean Collins
What is your career or life aspiration? Sometime in childhood we start thinking and imagining all the things we might one day become. Having eight grandchildren, I hear a lot of these rotating aspirations: baseball player, artist, botanist, fisherman, scientist, beekeeper, builder, farmer, etc. I remember decades ago one of my children claiming they wanted to be a Dalmatian when they grew up! Disney movies, books, and watching family and friends—all this brings a wealth of possibilities for career and life choices. From the eyes and minds of a child, anything is possible!
And then there are the economics of our life choices. Eventually, everyone must face the reality of income to live on and the need to support oneself and possibly a family. Eventually and maybe sadly for some, our dream jobs get pushed to the background as we embrace the need to settle in and settle down in order to eat and put a roof over our heads.
My calling
I have done different kinds of work in my career in ministry, business, mental health, executive development, and now education. I never imagined any of them as a child or teenager. Late in my undergraduate studies, I figured out my calling to the first 10-year job as a campus minister at Auburn, but even as I burned through those years I didn’t have aspirations for any of the other things I have done in the last 30-plus years. I believe each one of my jobs was a calling or an appointment of sorts. My goal was just to be where I thought God wanted me. I don’t say that to sound super spiritual. Some might even say I never took the time to figure out my career.
I have tried to live in a way that I remained open to what God nudged me toward. Sometimes it was more of a two-by-four to the side of the head that was necessary for me to accept the assignment. More than once it took me a few years to accept what I was supposed to do next. I served three years as an interim president before finally realizing that this was where God wanted me. Some days I wonder why and other days it seems obvious. God works in mysterious ways.
Timothy’s calling
I suspect that when Timothy received his letter from Paul he was shocked at some of Paul’s comments about the way Paul saw Timothy. Chapter 6:11 is one of those. Paul said this: “But as for you, O man of God…”. To be referred to as a man of God was the equivalent of being compared to Moses, Samuel, or Elijah. As a young 20-something who had lived with his grandmother most of his life, he would never have dared to think of himself in those terms. But Timothy had a calling from God, and his mentor Paul was training him in the ways of godliness.
As disciples of Jesus, we are called to live according to the purposes of God. We have a calling in the royal family. Our lives are more than the things we do to earn a paycheck. Paul warned us not to get caught in the trap of thinking and living life simply to accumulate wealth. Some are gifted in wealth generation, and if that is your skill, Paul would say use it for God’s glory. But do not get attached to the wealth or, worse, allow it to become an idol.
Our calling
For all of us Paul’s instructions will help us fulfill God’s purposes when we do the following:
1) Flee the things that tempt to hold our focus. Paul’s example was the accumulation of money over people.
2) Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. Note these are opposite of what nearly every message we receive daily tells us we should pursue. When we set our hearts and minds on Jesus and daily receive his Word and walk in his Spirit, then these characteristics will grow in us.
3) Fight the good fight of faith. We are not here to fight each other. We are not here simply to fight for causes we like. We are not here to fight for fame and fortune. We are not here to fight so that our preferred party is elected. The fight we have is a fight to develop godliness in our lives so that God can use us to extend his kingdom for his glory.
4) Take hold of the eternal life to which you are called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. At some point, each of us made a confession of faith that claimed that Jesus is the Christ of the living God. He became our sole King. We serve him as Lord. And his kingdom is not of this world. We are placed here to share his message of love with others and to be about his kingdom renewal and restoration as we anticipate eternity.
5) Keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until Jesus comes again. The new commandment from Jesus was that we love one another as he has loved us. Keeping this commandment will transform our life, extend God’s kingdom, and change every community we participate in.
Like me, you probably had no idea of this greater calling and purpose for your life when you imagined your career from the eyes of a child. Yet Jesus was clear that we are to live with childlike faith, believing that whatever he wants to accomplish is possible. According to scripture, all things are possible with God, even the transformation of our lives and purpose. Embrace your calling for God’s glory as you walk out of your home today!
Your time with God’s Word
1 Timothy 6:11-16 ESV
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio at pexels.com
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