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Calling is a word that is bounced around in Christian circles a lot. But what does it actually mean? Normally it is equated with the calling of someone into so-called ‘full-time ministry’. To a lesser extent you may hear of people who say that they are called to hospital visiting or some kind of other non-paid, voluntary work.
But what about the Christian business person who worships and faithfully serves in their local church year after year. Can they be ‘called’ to business? Absolutely!
Many see business as ‘secular’ or ‘worldly’. Their pre-conceived notions hold no place for business in the workings of the local church. But the truth is that God created the whole idea of work (“The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it” – Genesis 2:15, NLT), and he promotes good, honest, profitable business practices throughout the scriptures.
Just as God can call one person to work as a pastor, using his/her gifts to shepherd a congregation, he can call another to work in the business world, using their gifts to finance Kingdom missions and ministries.
BIBLICAL CALLING
Before we go any further, we need to first understand that our contemporary word for ‘calling’ is not always true to the biblical meaning. The latter meaning is more about ‘who’ we are as opposed to ‘what’ we are. In short, calling is about God summoning people into a relationship with him.
In the New Testament, calling is linked to salvation – God calls us into a saving relationship.
God’s call can be broken down into three areas:
1. a call to belong: Our relationship gives us a new nature and label. We are grafted into to a new vine.
Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people.
(1 Peter 2:10, NLT)
2. a call to BE: God’s purpose is that we continually become like Christ.
You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you. (Matthew 5:48, MSG)
3. a call to DO: Every one of us is uniquely made and has unique tasks to undertake for God.
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)
So there is one call, but several facets to it. But for the sake of focus, the word ‘calling’ in this Step will be used in the sense of what God wants us to ‘do’ as a result of the relationship we have with him.
OUR TRUE IDENTITY IS FOUND IN OUR CALL
The search for the meaning of life will be found in a response to God’s call. That is, the universal call to enter into a relationship with him. It is within the confines of this partnership that we start to discover who we are in Christ, how we are supposed to live and what special works we have been assigned to do.
A lot of Christians struggle with the ‘will of God’ for their lives. Again, the Bible doesn’t give specifics, but generalities, like being joyful, being thankful and being prayerful (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). It’s in our ‘being’ that we find our ‘doing’.
For some, our ‘doing’ will be in the marketplace, running businesses and organisations, both large and small. If that’s you, then know that you are sent out to that place of ministry, just the same as a pastor is called to a church. Their calling is centred around shepherding, yours is centred around creating.
Don’t ever feel looked down upon because God has gifted you to operate in the world of business. Rather, integrate your faith wherever possible, use the talents God has entrusted you with and find the favour of God in your calling!
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