What do you call what you do today? If you use words like “work”, “job”, “career” or “profession” you may miss the element of God’s call on your daily activity. But the word “vocation” conveys the idea of a calling and better reflects the biblical perspective. Whether you are a farmer, a plumber, a graphic designer, a computer engineer, a manufacturer, or an office worker, your work today matters because it reflects God’s calling for you. It is a sacred vocation, just as it was for two men called to build the tabernacle during the time of Moses. 

³⁰ Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel…., ³¹ and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— ³² to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, ³³ to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. ³⁴ And he has given both him and Oholiab…, the ability to teach others. ³⁵ He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers (Exodus 35:30-35, NIV).

These two men were called to do the work of building and furnishing the tabernacle.

Our vocation is a response to His call.

God called these two men for the special task of building the tabernacle. “See, The Lord has chosen Bezalel…and has filled him with the Spirit of God…” This calling to work in wood, metal and stones was just as genuine as God’s calling to Moses to lead the people. There are eight distinct skills mentioned in these verses, each reflecting God’s creativity through human work. We could add a long list of the many ways God calls people to fulfill His commission to “fill the earth” introduced in the previous issue.

Some leaders see their daily work as a reflection of the choices they have made about their careers. But serving leaders see their work as a response to God’s call on their lives. 

Our vocation is a reflection of His excellence.

God “filled them with skill” to do the work He called them to do. The tabernacle was to be a beautiful expression of God’s glory and He expected them to complete the work with excellence. When we view our daily work as a calling from God, we will want to do the best we can to reflect His excellence. Paul echoes this when he urges us to “work with your hands…so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders…” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).

Some leaders view their work as simply a way to earn an income and are not concerned about the quality of their efforts. But serving leaders seek to work with excellence because they see their work as a calling from God.

Our vocation is a response of worship to His glory

These craftsmen were “filled with the Spirit” to build a place of worship for God. Their skill and excellent work was also an act of worship! They were not just cutting wood and shaping stones, they were worshipping God through their work. When God calls us to a specific work and we do it for His glory, the work itself is an act of worship. The most mundane tasks become meaningful when they are offered as worship. Paul affirms this when he says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Some leaders work for themselves and focus on what they will gain from their efforts. But serving leaders see their work as an act of worship to God. 

For further reflection and discussion:

How clearly do I see my work as a calling from God?  Do I sense that God called me to my profession? How would it impact me to refer to my work as my “vocation”?

Is there any way that I see church leadership as more spiritual than other professions? In what way is my own work a “full time ministry” for God?

Do I consistently do the best work I can to bring honor to God? What would I change if He showed up tomorrow where I am working?

In what way is my daily work an act of worship? What could I do to be more aware of how my work is an offering of worship to God?

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

In the next issue, we’ll examine how your work reveals God’s Kingdom.

Servant leadership is an inside job, but it will show on the outside in the way we do our work in the marketplace. Daniel already demonstrated his character and ability to wisely appeal to authority, but he also demonstrates compentence in his service to the king. When it was time for the final exam, the king found ‘none equal’ to Daniel and his three Hebrew friends. They were rated “ten times better” than their conterparts (Daniel 1:19-20). At other points in Daniel’s story it is equally clear that he did outstanding work. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent (Daniel 6:3-4). Daniel was not a pastor or church leader; he was a government official and served in this ‘marketplace’ in a way that demonstrates how servant leaders influence in and through their vocations.

Servant leaders influence the marketplace with their comprehension.

Daniel and his friends stood out from the rest because they had “wisdom and understanding” that was “ten times better” than the rest (Daniel 1:20). This knowledge was a gift from God (see 1:7), but they had also studied hard in three years of training and were now able to influence the nation because of their exceptional understanding. They knew their job well! Servant leaders recognize “the earth is the LORD’s” (Psalms 24:1) and their vocation is simply a place where God has called them to influence others for His purposes. They make an effort to be knowledge leaders in their field, learning all they can in an effort to better reflect God’s presence.They ask God for greater knowledge in their area of influence; not to impress others or advance their own cause, but to honor God in what they do. Farmers learn all they can about agriculture; business leaders seek to better understand leadership and the area of service in which God has placed them. Teachers continualy seek more effective methods of learning. When servant leaders excel, others are impacted and God is exalted. How well does your vocational knowledge glorify God?

Servant leaders influence the marketplace with their character.

Even Daniel’s enemies could not identify a character flaw in his life. He was “trustworthy” and without “corruption.” This was all the more remarkable because he lived and served in Babylon, a city known for its corruption. The darker the place in which servant leaders work, the brighter their light of integrity shines. Daniel impacted his peers because of his character. How well does your character at work reflect God’s nature?

Servant leaders influence the marketplace with their care.

Daniel was not “negligent” in any aspect of his work. He was careful about his role and responsibilities. He paid attention to the details, fulfilling his role with excellence. Servant leaders are not careless; they focus on doing their very best to reflect God’s nature. How well does your attention to excellence in the marketplace influence others?

Lead like Daniel today in the place you are called to serve, your marketplace!

For further reflection and discussion:

Reflect on the three questions from the issue above. For each question, rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 and then indicate what steps you could take to increase your influence in that area.

• How well does your vocational knowledge glorify God?
• How well does your character at work reflect God’s nature?
• How well does your attention to excellence in the marketplace influence others?
• What Christian leader do you admire in your vocation and why? Take a minute to write a note or email of thanks to that person for their impact in your life.

Paul’s view of vocation has challenged us to see our work as a call to stewardship and a call to worship. Seeing vocation in this way leads to action and Paul is clear that servant leaders are called to work and to work well! “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24). Paul calls all servant leaders to work with all your heart. This is a call to put our best effort and energy into the work we do. Servant leaders are called to work with excellence. Our thinking about work will impact the quality of our work.

Excellent work is focused.

Paul reminds servant leaders that we are to work with all our hearts as working for the Lord. Our focus is on the Lord, not on men. If our focus is on the people we work for or with, we will be disappointed sometimes when they don’t perform or reward us as we expected. If our focus is on our career, we might be disappointed when we don’t make the progress we desire. But when our focus is on God, we will be able to remember that we are called to this work and we are doing it for God’s glory. What a difference this will make in how we do what we do! Since we are working for Him we naturally want to do our work with excellence. Think about how you would work today if you knew the president of your nation was coming to visit tomorrow. You would naturally focus on doing your best for that occasion. Servant leaders work daily with the awareness that Jesus is the one looking at their work. They focus on doing their best because they are working for the creator of the universe!

Excellent work is fulfilling.

When we work with our whole hearts and do an excellent job we find deep fulfillment and satisfaction because we were created to work. Many leaders see work as a necessary evil but God called Adam and Eve to work before sin entered the world. From the beginning God intended for each of us to be co-workers with Him in the world He created. We are supposed to work hard to feed our families and to have to share with others. Work is good, and we all know the satisfaction of working hard and doing a good job! Servant leaders see their work as a calling and an act of worship so when they complete a task with excellence they recognize that they have brought glory to God. They are eager to sharpen their skills so that they become more and more excellent at what they do thereby bringing more glory to God.

Excellent work is fruitful.

Paul says that we will receive a reward from our efforts as we work with all our hearts. There are both natural and eternal rewards for servant leaders who work with excellence. When we work, we naturally expect to receive some form of payment for our labor. Farmers may actually see the ‘fruit’ of their labor but most leaders receive their fruit in the form of a salary or profit. We expect that excellent work will receive a greater reward than poor work. In addition to natural rewards, Paul makes it clear that our work will have an eternal reward. This implies that we will be rewarded in heaven for the work we have done for His glory and with excellence. It also implies that the work of servant leaders impacts the lives of those around them in ways that can change eternal destinies. Servant leaders are conscious that what they do with their hands is a reflection of the God they serve. They work with excellence to make God look good to those who are watching. Servant leaders bring people to Jesus as they work because of the way they work

Have a day filled with excellent work for the glory of God!

For further reflection and discussion:

• Read Genesis 1:26-28 and think about the origin of work. What was God’s original instruction to mankind? What does this passage teach about the value of our work? What impact did sin have on God’s plan?
• Read 1 Corinthians 4:12. How did Paul work and what does this imply for your vocation?
• How would you rate the quality of the work you do in light of Paul’s call to work with your whole heart? Are there changes you need to make in how you work as a result?
• Reflect on what the following scriptures teach about our work. Proverbs 14:23, 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Proverbs 22:29, Deuteronomy 8:18 Write down what you learn from these verses.
• Does the way I work encourage people around me to follow Jesus? If not, what needs to change?

We often see worship as an activity for Sunday that is very different from what we do when we wake up on Monday morning. But Paul saw our vocation as an act of worship. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24). Paul understood that worship is to honor God and express to Him our love. This can be done in a public meeting but can also be done through our vocations when we learn to see what Paul recognized.

We worship by seeing our vocation as sacred.

Paul served God as a missionary and church planter. He taught, preached, and evangelized. But he also served God as a tent maker. He saw no distinction between the two and calls all servant leaders to recognize that whatever you do is working for the Lord! Many modern leaders have accepted the Greek world view that divides the world into two different levels with work on the lower level. This is not Biblical! Yet I often hear people talk about being called to “full-time ministry” to describe their call to work in the church. Paul makes it clear that every believer is called to “full-time ministry!” Some are called to full-time ministry as pastors or church leaders. But many are called to full-time ministry in the world of business or as teachers, doctors, engineers, farmers, etc. Servant leaders see that their vocation is a sacred calling from God and therefore an act of worship to Him.

We worship by seeing our vocation as service.

Paul clearly states that in our vocations it is the Lord Christ you are serving. Worship involves bringing gifts to the one we worship. Paul says that our work is an act of service to God. In his letter to the Corinthians he made it even more clear, So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). On Sundays we might glorify God with singing, fellowship, giving, and other acts of worship. But on Monday our work becomes our offering to Him and is offered an act of worship. Servant leaders serve in many of the same ways that other leaders do. They teach, build homes, manufacture products, offer services, manage groups, etc. But they do this as an act of service to the Lord, not simply as a job or occupation. Servant leaders worship as they serve! They see with Paul that their vocation is an act of service to God and they offer it daily to Him in worship. Brother Lawrence, a monk who lived in the 1600’s, had this perspective and learned to see washing dishes as an act of worship. He saw what Paul taught.

We worship by seeing our vocation as significant.

Paul clearly sees our vocation as very significant. It is working for the Lord and he notes that we will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. We often think that the ‘religious’ acts we perform like prayer, evangelism, giving money to the poor, or supporting a missionary, will be rewarded by God. But Paul wants us to see that God will also reward what we do with our hands. Servant leaders see that their work is significant enough to be rewarded by God. An inheritance from the Lord sounds better than business profit or a weekly check! Our work will not last forever, but will be rewarded forever! That should change the way we wake up on Wednesday morning!

Enjoy your day as you worship God through your vocation!

For further reflection and discussion:

• Reflect on how much your own thinking has been influenced by the Greek view of the world as divided into a higher and lower realm with work and physical activity of less importance than spiritual realities. How has this influenced the way you see your vocation and the vocations of others?
• Reflect on Psalm 24:1: The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. What does this verse have to do with your vocation?
• Think about your particular vocation. List below all the ways that you serve God through your work. How does this change your perspective towards your work?
• Think about the concept of your work being rewarded by God. How does this change your view of work? How does this change your perspective on what you receive materially here and now?

One of the first questions we ask when meeting someone for the first time is “So, what do you do?” We quickly identify ourselves and others with our work, job, or profession. How do servant leaders answer this question? In this series we’ll look at what Scripture says about what we do and how servant leaders express this in their day to day work. Paul’s instructions give us plenty to think about, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24). Paul sees our work, or vocation, as a call to steward what God has given to us.

Vocation is a call from God.

Paul says that “whatever you do” is working for the Lord. So your work is a calling from God. The word “vocation” simply means “calling.” Vocation is not used frequently but is a great word to describe what you do since our work is a call from God. Paul says that “whatever you do” should be done as working for the Lord. The “whatever” includes a lot of things! Some work in a bank; others in a classroom. Some go to a field on Monday morning to plant, some sit at a desk behind a computer or easel. Others go to a hospital or factory while others pick up a hammer and build homes. We easily make the mistake of believing that God is only interested in what we do on our day of worship and that the rest of the week is not important to Him. But Paul challenges servant leaders to see their work as a call from God. They answer the question of what they do by saying, “I’m called to ….”

Vocation is a call for God.

Paul goes on to say that we are “working for the Lord.” Servant leaders recognize that their work they do is not for themselves or simply to provide income for their family. The work they do is for God’s purposes. God’s mission is expressed in our vocation. When God wants to grow food, He uses a farmer. When He sees a need for a home, He calls a builder. When He wants something produced, He calls a manufacturer. When He wants something taught, He calls a teacher. When He wants people fed, He calls a cook. He uses workers in every occupation to accomplish His will for our world. Think about your vocation. What is it that you accomplish through your work that achieves God’s mission in the world?

Vocation is a gift to God.

What we do in our vocation is therefore a response to God’s call on our lives and our gift to Him. He has clearly given us gifts and abilities. In the Old Testament God poured out His Spirit on craftsmen to build the tabernacle. (See Exodus 31:1-5). As they constructed the tabernacle, they used these gifts for God’s glory. In Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus tells the parable of the servants who were given gifts by the master. When he returned, he expected the servants to give an account of how they had used their gifts. The good stewards had multiplied their gifts. In a similar manner we are called to shape and strengthen the gifts God has given us as we live our lives. Our weekly work is a gift back to God for the gifts He has given to us. This may be in the world of business, education, arts, agriculture, or in the church. But as servant leaders offer these gifts back to Him, they reveal that their vocation is a gift to God and a call to stewardship.

This week take a new look at your vocation. See it as a call to steward the gifts God has entrusted to you. See your work as an extension of His hands in whatever place you serve Him.

For further reflection and discussion:

• Think about the words you may use to describe what you do. Consider common words like “job,” “career,” “profession,” and “occupation.” What is the difference between using these words and using the word “vocation”? How does this change the way you see your work?
• Do you really believe that God has called you to do what you are doing in your workplace? If so, what difference does this make in how you see what you do? If not, why not?
• In what way is your work a calling from God? What do you accomplish for Him through your work? In what way does your work fulfill God’s mission in the world?

What do servant leaders do on Thursday morning? They work at their calling! A few open the church door and enter their office. But many report to an office, others show up at a bank, many of them step into a classroom full of students, others sign in for a factory shift while others make a busy hospital corridor their daily realm of influence.

Servant leaders are called to serve through their vocations. They understand Paul’s instruction: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24) What characterizes their leadership in their vocation?

Servant leaders work as stewards.

They recognize that God has given them gifts and abilities to do what they are doing. Paul made it clear that this calling includes all vocations when he said “Whatever you do…” We often allow ourselves to falsely assume that some professions are ‘spiritual’ while others are ‘secular’ but scripture teaches that all work is a sacred trust given to us by God. Carpenters, plumbers, business owners, lawyers, pastors, farmers, and teachers are all working on behalf of God. He has given you the level of influence and responsibility which you enjoy. He has given you people around you that He wants to touch through your work. Do you see your work as a sacred trust from God?

Servant leaders work hard.

Paul calls you to work with “all your heart.” Servant leaders should be the best workers in any location because of the value God places on their work. They can put their hearts into their work because they see it as a calling from God. Are you doing the very best that you can do in your work? In what way might God be calling you to improve?

Servant leaders work for the Lord.

Paul reminds us “It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Servant leaders recognize that their work is not for another person or organization but for the Lord. This gives meaning to the most menial task or lowly job. Servant leaders who teach students recognize that they are sharing God’s knowledge with the next generation. Leaders who build homes understand that they are constructing places for God’s children to be safe and secure. This also reminds those who are at the ‘top’ levels of organizational leadership that they are still under the authority of the Lord and will answer to Him for how they use their influence. Do you see what you are doing as furthering God’s plan on earth?

Servant leaders work towards the future reward.

Paul reminds us that “you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” Servant leaders are not motivated only by current compensation levels or by the balance sheet at the end of the accounting period; they take the long range view and are able to patiently invest in God’s work even if they don’t see immediate results. Is your focus on the immediate return, or the future?

Whatever vocation God has called you to serve in, lead in that place with the heart of Jesus. Serve today where you are called!

For further reflection and discussion:

• What evidence is there in my work that I see it as a calling from God?
• If my work is full time ‘church’ work; in what way do I recognize and affirm the gifts and calling of the rest of those I lead? Am I avoiding the trap of seeing my work as more ‘spiritual’ than theirs?
• Do you feel under compensated for what you do? What difference does this verse make in how you see your compensation level?