Calling Work

Calling

Work

You and I have been called to an abundant life

Jesus said

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Work is a part of life

You have to see the big picture and how to balance life

Jesus came that you might have life abundantly

Your call, your job, your vocation whether paid or unpaid

Must include all the elements of life

It should not crowd out family, worship, leisure and rest  

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

God has called us to a whole life, not just a job

Work

You and I have been called to an abundant life.

Jesus said…

I have come that they may have life,

and have it to the full.

John 10:10

Work is a part of life.

Work is not just your job where you receive

an income to support your life and calling.

Work is not limited to paid work.

 The work God leads us to may be unpaid work.

Caring for children or the elderly

Helping clean or set up for an event where

people will have the opportunity to hear the Gospel

Working in a kitchen for the poor

God’s call in our lives will

not be limited to paid work.

Your job may fulfill your need for money

which fulfills part of God’s command to work…

 But it cannot fulfill all the other

purposes God has for your work.

Many people who help children after school

or care for an elderly neighbor or

friend, do it after their paid work.

When our family went to Hocking Hills, we went

for leisure and we did whatever we wanted to do.

 

But the Park Rangers go to the park to work.

Your job may be a hobby to you,

but meets a need of others.

I know women who use their skills to make

blankets and donate them to newborns.

And women who make quilts

to raise money for injured vets.

What you enjoy doing may be God’s way of

fulfilling the purpose God has for you.

  Many business owners will determine to set

a percentage of sales to meet mission needs.

I know a man who heard his church was

planning hurricane relief in the Bahamas,

so he dedicated a percentage of

his sales to give to that need.

The abundant life is more than paid work.

The abundant life is a balance.

Colossians 3 15 through the end of the chapter tells us…

  

Let peace rule in your heart…

because you were called to peace.

We are called to be thankful.

The Word of God is to dwell in us with all wisdom,

as we sing songs of gratitude to God.

Wives and husbands, parents, and

children are to fulfill their roles.

Slaves and free, or paid or unpaid

are to work with all their heart.

In the midst of these verses is verse 17…

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed,

do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Everything you do in life you

should see is part of your calling.

We should not look at secular work

and spiritual work differently.

 It should all be done as unto the Lord.

We should also make sure we do not get

so involved in any work that we do not

fulfill the other calls of God in our lives.

As a pastor I found many times the pressure of

ministry and the sacrifice it meant to my family.

I had to learn how to balance.

When the church was young,

the church office was in my house.

I remember celebrating Christmas with

my family and the church phone rang.

I let the answering machine pick it up,

I could hear the person asking for help

as they left the message.

    

My heart was torn, Sandy said to me don’t answer it.

She was right, that time with my family was the

most important thing I could do at that time.

That was a hard night for me because I CARE…

 I care about my family and I care about others

and no matter what I did that night

there would be an unrest in my spirit.

You have to see the big picture and how to balance life.

Jesus came that you might have life abundantly.

Your call, your job, your vocation whether paid

or unpaid must include all the elements of life.

It should not crowd out family, worship, leisure and rest.

  

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed,

do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

God has called us to a whole life, not just a job.

Scripture Reading

 Colossians 3:15-25 NIV

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.