Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:1
Although we are focusing on God’s call to work, work is only one element of life. God calls us to belong to Christ in every area of our lives. Our jobs are not necessarily the most important aspect of our calling.
First, we must remember that work is not limited to paid work. The work God leads us to may be unpaid work, such as raising children or caring for a disabled family member or tutoring students after school.
Even if you have a paid job, the most important work God calls you to may be outside your job. Your job may meet your need for money—which in itself fulfills part of God’s command to work —but it may not fulfill all the other purposes God has for your work. For example, caring for children, aged or incapacitated people is a kind of work. On the other hand, a so-called hobby could be the most important work God is leading you to. You might work at writing, painting, music, acting, astronomy, leading a youth group, volunteering at a historical society, maintaining a nature reserve or a thousand other kinds of work. Any given activity could be work for one person, and leisure for another.
Second, we must take care to not let work dominate the other elements of life. Even if God leads you to a particular job or profession, you will need to set limits to that work to make room for the other elements of God’s call or guidance in your life. If God leads you to be married and to be a small business owner, for example, then you will have to balance the time and responsibilities of both callings. Work should not crowd out leisure, rest and relationships. There is no formula for balancing work and the other elements of life. But take care not to let a sense of calling to a job blind you to God’s calling in the other areas of life.
Video: Watch the short video Balancing Act with Howard Butt, Jr. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZHbRNH79oo
Prayer: Dear God, Give me your eyes to see all of the ways in which I am living out my calling. Please show me how to wisely invest my time, energy and talent in each of the places you’re calling me to. If my focus is out of balance or needs correction, I invite you to guide me. Amen.
Author: Theology of Work Project
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