CALLED OR DRIVEN TO YOUR JOB - Called or Driven

"With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith." 11 Thessalonians 1: 11

My first real job came when I was 14 years old. My Dad, being a homebuilder, put me to work during the summer sweeping out houses. I returned each summer until I graduated from college. The second summer I was promoted to digging footings for the foundation. On my third summer, I received a nail apron and my own hammer. That was big time stuff, I was now one of the guys doing the framing. 

Those summer jobs instilled in me a love for something I knew I wanted to do the rest of my life. My blood ran with dirt, sawdust and mortar. I enjoyed everything about it, and as the years went by, I began to realize I had some natural gifts necessary to be a homebuilder.  My love for the homebuilding business eventually grew into other related areas as well. It has been my passion, my dream job, and I believe, my calling. There are others like me who have found their dream job, while still others live a life time searching and dreaming of finding it. 

Every person is given certain desires and gifts. Do we use these to be driven to our work or called to our work?  A recent survey provided the following information: 84% believe there is a calling in their life, 64 % say they are not following that calling, 80% say they could be called to their job, and 34 % say they have experienced that call. Another survey indicated that an overwhelming majority of college graduates choose their career because it was where they could receive the most money.

When we think of a calling, we generally think of being called into the ministry. But God also calls people into the marketplace. His whole purpose for mankind is to have a loving relationship with all His creation. Some people can be reached by a called minister, while others are reached by a business person. God needs people in the medical field, banking, attorneys, department store clerks, insurance, real estate, and every other business field we can think of.  It is His marketplace, created by Him, and to bring people to Him.

Every called person can be driven, but nor every driven person can be called. Called people have a special meaning and purpose in life. Contentment comes from being obedient and obedience produces the greatest efficiency in our work and our relationship with God. It is of utmost importance that we understand while God calls people to the marketplace, that call also includes the use of our particular gifts and desires for a specific job.  Once we do, then we should pursue it with passion. 

David(not his real name) was a very gifted person. He had it all, people skills, excellent work habits, intelligence, and great leadership skills. He worked long and hard and had achieved a good measure of success by the world's standards. It was very clear to those who knew him that he was indeed driven. His purpose in life was to achieve as much success as he possibly could, and with that, all that success could offer. His drive to reach the pinnacle in his profession and his passion to succeed, eventually placed him in a position where his ethics were challenged. David chose the wrong path and was later convicted of crimes that cost him his business and his family. 

The work place provides an excellent platform to use our gifts and realize our greatest desires. We can divest these gifts and desires into a self seeking world of self gratification, or, we can use them to achieve our calling. If you have special gifts and desires in certain areas, be aware that God could be calling you to be His special person in that field in the marketplace.