design – Called To Work

99. When to Speak Up – Slow Down If You Are Angry

August 17, 2026

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 21:23, James 1:19-25

Maybe it’s right to speak up, but you’re in the wrong frame of mind to do it. You’re burned up with anger and you’re ready to let loose. If this is true, then it’s probably wiser for you to hold your tongue for the moment. Take time to calm down and gather more information. Another moment will come when you can speak without anger, and in that moment your message will be better received.

James gives this advice in practical terms, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19). When your emotions are running high, it’s time to slow down and listen. Imagine pumping the breaks or pressing an internal pause button. Listening is a great way to do this. According to James, the practice of speaking up needs to be equally balanced with the practice of listening.

Listening to other people at work – trying to identify with their thoughts and motivations – can help you understand a problem more fully. Maybe you were wrong about laying blame. Or maybe you were right, and now you know the right person to talk to about it. Either way, if you take the time to listen and reflect before you speak, your words may have a greater impact.

Prayer: God, help me listen with humility. Help me reflect calmly. Help me speak up at the right time.

Further Exploration: Read The Wise Worker Guards the Tongue (Proverbs)

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

98. When to Speak Up – Speak Up If It Saves Others

August 12, 2026

Something’s wrong. When should you speak up? When should you hold your tongue? These biblical reflections help you decide whether it’s the right time to use your voice at work.

We would like to thank the Theology of Work Project for providing this plan. For more information, please visit https://www.theologyofwork.org/devotions/when-to-speak-up-devotional/

Scripture Reading: Esther 3:1-15, 4:1-17

There are many problems at work that leave you asking whether it’s right to speak up. Maybe a project isn’t going well and you don’t know if your boss has all the facts. Maybe your company is cutting corners in a way that will hurt it in the long run. Or maybe there’s even unethical behavior going on around you. Any of these situations might leave you asking yourself: Should I speak up?

It’s a question worth considering carefully. Speaking up at work can be risky business. You might jeopardize your job by pointing out unpleasant truths. On the other hand, speaking up might make life better for the people around you, deepen your relationships with others, and positively impact the problem. How do you know if it’s your time to speak up? Do what Esther did. Start by thinking about the people affected and your responsibility to them.

Are you uniquely positioned to help someone else by speaking up on this issue? In other words: Do you have a responsibility to speak up on behalf of someone who can’t speak up for himself or herself? This was what Esther conceded in the end.

Initially, Esther was hesitant to speak to the king about Haaman’s plans to revenge himself on the Jews. Getting involved could have jeopardized Esther’s position in the palace, and even her life. But Mordecai convinced Esther to use her voice by saying that Esther had the opportunity to speak for those who couldn’t speak up themselves. Maybe this was Esther’s destiny – the very reason she had risen to a position of power in the first place.

Esther’s dilemma was an extreme case – life, death, and royal intrigue. But you can use the same criteria when deciding whether or not to speak up yourself. Do you have a responsibility to other people? Are there coworkers, customers, or stakeholders who would be harmed if you don’t speak up? If so, then you may have a holy responsibility to use your voice.

Prayer: God, help me know if it’s my responsibility to speak up. Show me where I have been placed in a position of power to speak on someone else’s behalf.

Further Exploration: Read more about God’s Hidden Hand in the book of Esther

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

97. What Does the Bible Say About Calling – Plugging in with God

August 7, 2026

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 50:5, Hebrews 10:24-25

Seeking God’s will for our lives, including our callings, involves cultivating a lifestyle that helps us draw close to Him. This can take time. As you continue your journey, we suggest plugging in with God individually and in community.

1) Reflect on the practices that help you connect with God. This may include disciplines such as rest, prayer, bible study, reflection, physical activity, service, being in nature, or expressing yourself through creative outlets. Consider devoting time to those activities.

2) In addition, consider how you can include community in the process of discerning God’s leading. The body of Christ on earth is the community of believers. Therefore, calling is best discovered in dialogue with community, not in isolation.

You might want to invest in one of the following resources to help you on your journey. You can read any of these on your own, with a friend, or with a small group.

● Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God by Dallas Willard

● Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation by Ruth Haley Barton

● Practicing God’s Presence by Brother Lawrence

People connect with God in a wide variety of ways; so don’t be discouraged if your primary mode isn’t listed here, or if you haven’t yet discovered how you best connect with God.

Prayer: Jesus, prepare my heart to hear from you and follow your leading. I invite you to speak to me. Please help me connect with fellow sojourners so we can build each other up in you. Amen.

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

96. What Does the Bible Say About Calling – Your Work is Not in Vain

July 27, 2026

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:58

The Holy Spirit is active and alive in every Christian. From that point of view, Christians are called to embody that intersection of heaven and earth. But we often think of heaven in such grandiose terms that we have trouble imagining this. Remember then, that God put heaven and earth together in the first place in Genesis 1 in the garden.

Let’s be absolutely clear what we’re talking about here.

What you do in the present matters. Christians are called to be active, working to change the way the world is, confronting injustice, and building communities of peace and hope instead of violence and hatred.

Consider 1 Corinthians 15. Paul writes a whole chapter on resurrection. How does he conclude? He doesn’t say, “Since there is a resurrection, look up and wait for this glorious future.” No, he says, “Therefore my beloved ones be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Your work is “not in vain.” Why not? Because everything you do in the present, in the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ, everything that flows out of love and hope and grace and goodness somehow will be part of God’s eventual Kingdom. This is your calling.

Video: Watch the short video “Can Day-to-Day Work Be Holy?” with cargo pilot Norm Goodyear. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SghdyS8WyyQ

Prayer: God, I desperately want affirmation about the significance of my work and my choices in life. Thank you for reminding me that my choices have significance because you have called me to a life of significance. Your Spirit brings your kingdom and your will into every part of my life. Help me be open and receptive to your Spirit, overflowing with love, hope, grace, and goodness. Amen.

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

95. What Does the Bible Say About Calling – The Call to Work-Life Rhythm

July 20, 2026

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

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

94. What Does the Bible Say About Calling – Did You Miss Your Vocation?

July 13, 2026

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:15-17

Christians want advice on how to hear God’s call for their lives. Young professionals worry that God may not have called them to the work they are doing every day. Middle-aged workers worry that they have missed their calling. All of us long for a sense of purpose in our day-to-day lives, but many of us are expecting too much of that purpose to come from work that we do. People confuse calling and career, wanting to reduce a deep theological truth to a simple strengths finder tool.

Our work has meaning, yes. God cares about our work. Our work can benefit the community around us. It can function as a tool to refine us in God’s image. Through our work, we can even use specific skills and talents to serve others. But our work is first of all an opportunity to follow Jesus—to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Mark Labberton, President of Fuller Seminary” says it like this in his book Called:

“The vocation of every Christian is to live as a follower of Jesus today. In every aspect of life, in small and large acts, with family, neighbors and enemies, we are to seek to live out the grace and truth of Jesus. This is our vocation, our calling. Today.”

Video: Watch this short video on Calling with Mark Labberton, President of Fuller Seminary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIZpEXtgt3g

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for inviting us to serve you in the ordinary places of our lives. Your grace and truth and love sometimes seem like higher callings than the regular work I face everyday, but it is in my regular work that I live out your gospel and share it with others. Guide me today. Let me be salt and light for you.

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

93. What Does the Bible Say About Calling – Is There a Difference Between Calling and Work?

July 6, 2026

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:9-10

Our calling is primarily about our identity. And that is not usually the answer people are looking for when they ask, “What is my calling?” Usually, people want to know, “What job should I do? What career should I take? What skill, what capacity, what gift might be distinctly mine?”

Our calling is not merely a job description or even principally a set of skills or gifts. Our calling is an identity. Who are we?

As creatures made in God’s image, we are known by Jesus and called to be faithful followers. I might not have a job. I might not have a clear picture of whether my work is meaningful or satisfying. I may have very meaningful work that doesn’t satisfy. Whatever the combination of circumstances might be, the questions of identity are still the same:

Who am I to be today? How do I live as an earnest follower of Jesus who displays the righteousness and justice and mercy of God?

Video: Watch the short video, “Is there a difference between calling and work?” with Mark Labberton, President of Fuller Seminary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u9n2zA7Quw

Prayer: Dear God, remind me of my identity in you. I am your follower, your servant, your disciple. Thank you for calling me to this service. No matter what task I am facing, let me always remember my identity as a child of God by your mercy and grace. Amen.

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

92. What Does the Bible Say About Calling – Are Some Jobs More Sacred Than Others?

June 29, 2026

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:23

Many Christians have the impression that church workers — especially evangelists, missionaries, pastors, priests, ministers and the like — have a higher calling than other workers. While there is little in the Bible to support this impression, by the Middle Ages, “religious” life—as a monk or nun—was widely considered holier than ordinary life. Regrettably, this distortion remains influential in churches of all traditions, even though the doctrine of virtually every church today affirms the equal value of the work of lay people. In the Bible, God calls individuals both to church-related and non-church-related work.

God’s guidance can occur just as strongly in non-church-related jobs and professions. Non-church work is as much “full-time Christian service” as church work. All Christians are called (that is, commanded) to conduct everything they do, round the clock, as full-time service to Christ.

The only jobs that do not have equal status in God’s eyes are those that require work forbidden by the Bible or are incompatible with its values. For example, jobs requiring stealing, false witness or greed, usury, damage to health, or harm to the environment are incongruent with God’s heart for the world. This is not to say that people who do these jobs have lesser status in God’s eyes. Jobs of this sort might be the lesser of two evils in some situations. If your job is inconsistent with God’s values, you can seek to determine if it is necessary (and possible) to change jobs, do your job differently, or take action to correct injustice in your current workplace.

Video: Watch the short video “Are We Called by God to Our Jobs?” with James B. Wood. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-HxvtY9wDk

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you that everyone who follows you is called to “full-time Christian service.” Please help us, the body of believers, hear your call. Teach us how to partner with you as we work. Amen.

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

91. What Does the Bible Say About Calling – Freedom in Chris

June 22, 2026

Scripture Reading: John 8:36, 2 Corinthians 3:17

The three considerations we’ve studied— the needs of the world, your skills and gifts, and your truest desires — are guides for discerning your calling, but they are not absolutes. For one thing, in a fallen world, you may have very little ability to choose your job.

In some cases, it may be better to find ways to participate in Christ’s work in your current job than to try to find a job you think you’ll like better. Discerning your calling includes making choices about your profession, as well as learning how to follow God’s leading in the work you find yourself doing, even if you don’t like it.

God is with you wherever you work. Whatever your job, God’s gifts enable you to work for the common good, to find more contentment in your work, and/or to overcome or endure the negative aspects of your situation. It is also possible that God’s guidance could lead you away from a detrimental work situation.

In Christ, believers have perfect freedom: That means you have the freedom to take risks, to fail, and to make mistakes. Take heart, at the end, you will not be judged on getting the right job or even fulfilling your God-given potential. You will be judged on the merits of Jesus Christ, applied to you only by God’s grace. The calling to belong to Christ is God’s only indispensable calling.

Video: Watch the short video “Why is it hard to connect spiritual value to our work?” with author Dwaine Massey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVcjQfl2PGc

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for the freedom I have in you. I pray that I would continue to grow in the knowledge of your grace. Help me be a witness to your goodness in every area of my life, especially work. I pray that you would bless my co-workers and everyone who is served by our work. May they experience something of you today. Amen.

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

90. What Does the Bible Say About Calling – Consider Your Truest Desires

June 15, 2026

Scripture Reading: Psalms37:4, Romans 7:21-25, Philippians 2:13

The third consideration: the Bible says your truest or deepest desires are important to God.

Christians sometimes expect that if God calls them to some job, it will be something they hate. Otherwise, why would God have to call them to it? One morbid Christian fantasy is to think of one country you would hate living in, and then suppose that God is calling you to be a missionary there. But the best missionaries have a great desire for the place and people they serve. If God is guiding you towards some kind of job or profession, it’s more likely that you may find a deep desire for it in your heart. And in some cases, your truest desires may be met through other areas of life, not necessarily in work.

It can be difficult to get in touch with your truest or deepest desires. Our motivations become so confused by sin and the brokenness of the world that our apparent desires are often far from the true desires that God has implanted in the depths of our hearts. For this reason, we cannot just say, “Do what makes you happy.” What makes you happy—or seems to make you happy—might be far from using your skills and gifts for the common good. It may also be possible that the work that would fulfill your true desire at first appears undesirable; it may require great sacrifice and difficult labor.

Knowing what you truly desire requires spiritual maturity.

Reflection Questions: Ask yourself what you truly desire. What is the first thing that comes to mind? Write it down. What are you afraid to admit that you desire? How do you spend your time? What can’t you imagine living without? Who do you hang out with, and why? Think of 3 to 5 moments in your life when you were engaged in activities that made you feel alive—what were you doing, and why? Do you see any patterns?

Prayer: Jesus, I bring all of who I am before you. I pray that as I seek you, you would mold and reveal the desires of my heart. If there is any fear or sin in my life that would prevent me from pursuing the desires you’ve given me, I ask that you would set me free. Amen.

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

Called To Work

Author: design

99. When to Speak Up – Slow Down If You Are Angry

98. When to Speak Up – Speak Up If It Saves Others

97. What Does the Bible Say About Calling – Plugging in with God

96. What Does the Bible Say About Calling – Your Work is Not in Vain

95. What Does the Bible Say About Calling – The Call to Work-Life Rhythm

94. What Does the Bible Say About Calling – Did You Miss Your Vocation?

93. What Does the Bible Say About Calling – Is There a Difference Between Calling and Work?

92. What Does the Bible Say About Calling – Are Some Jobs More Sacred Than Others?

91. What Does the Bible Say About Calling – Freedom in Chris

90. What Does the Bible Say About Calling – Consider Your Truest Desires

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