How Do You Know What Aligns With Your Calling?

This question seems to have bounced around, particularly in Christian circles, since the 1980’s. I’ve heard it myself during coaching and mentoring people, seen it asked and discussed amongst others and witnessed the huge amounts of books written on the subject.

But I admit, as a student of the scriptures, I find it a bit baffling.

The subject is very self-focused. It’s about ‘my’ calling. And yet, when you read the bible cover to cover, follow the historical events, get to know God in how He is interacting with people and the nations, there is no hint that somehow there is a ‘my calling’.

And I’ll tell you why.

The eternal nature of this life that we are all part of is not about you. It’s ALL about God and His purpose.

Let’s look at Moses as an example. We could all focus our attention on Moses, the man. Or we could focus on God, who orchestrated historically for Moses to be in the right time and place, who hardened Pharaoh’s heart so He could reveal Himself as God far superior to anything of this earth, who had plans for His nation that would bring the Messiah to the earth. So, you tell me, where should our focus be? God or Moses?

This guy Moses that is born during a blood bath, brought up in an adoptive home by his undercover mother, develops a certain way of thinking and standing amongst the people where he lives and then, he becomes involved in the military (if you read Josephus account), marries a Priests daughter, has a really strange encounter with a talking fiery bush and then proceeds to go head-to-head with his countries ruler and adoptive family and of course, leads an ‘army’ into the desert to celebrate their God.

What shall we say about his ‘calling’? Do we analyse it and try to figure it out?

Or can we go by the scriptures?

“By faith Moses when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;…esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:..By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible”
Hebrews 11:23-27

So that first show of faith was more about his parents than Moses himself.  Then we see the man’s faith, who endured as one seeing him who was invisible. But then we see that his wife, Zipporah, also became part of this history because she saved Moses from being killed.

“And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him (Moses) and sought to kill him. Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son….” Exodus 5:24-26.

If she had not acted quickly, understanding the importance of obedience to the circumcision and the alignment of faith that God had laid out with Abram in Genesis 17, we would have had a completely different history.

“And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoke after” Hebrews 3:5

Moses served God as a servant. He did what he was told to do. He obeyed the next thing God said. He caught God’s vision that was being accomplished, he understood that by his obedience to what God was telling him, he would be part of making that vision take place.

God prepared him for the role he would play in the historical movement of God’s kingdom. Nothing in his life was wasted. Moses, with all his elements of a normal man, was used by God in the right time, the right place for the right purpose. It is really as complex and as simple as that.

Queen Esther did not go around saying ‘what is my calling’. In fact, at first, she didn’t even want to submit to what she was being asked to do. But we love to go around quoting the phrase ‘for such a time as this’, without understanding the historical environment, the predicament of God’s nation and the complexity of the trap that the devil had set. Her obedience as a servant meant she answered the call to do what she needed to do in that time and space.

Phebe served God by being a ‘succourer’ of many including Paul himself. A ‘succourer’ being a patroness, as an assistant. Patroness meaning ‘a woman who protects, supports or sponsors someone or something’. She made herself a participant in what God was doing in the city of Cenchrea. Priscilla and Aquila, named as helpers (co-laborer or coadjutor – companion in labour) in Christ Jesus, were named by Paul as ‘for my life laid down their own necks’. They obviously put their whole lives into serving the Gospel by helping Paul.

Somehow in the modern era we have made our life and relationship with God all about ‘me’. Our songs have become about ‘me’, the devotionals are about things that relate to me and my life, our prayers are about ‘me and what I need’, our lives and hearts are tied into the personal, everything we learn is tied back to how it helps you and your life.

We try to make deals with God for our favour. We want God working for ‘me’, helping ‘me’ in my business, my family, my life. But when He invites us to participate in his purpose, ‘Go into all the nations and preach the gospel’ we respond, ‘oh I don’t feel that calling, that’s for someone else’.

In truth, I’m not sure the modern Christian has learnt what it is to ‘die to oneself’ as we learn from Christ. Life is not rooted in the revealed thinking in scripture, in the revealed nature and purpose of God. Because even when we ask the question about ‘my calling’, we are asking about our value, our contribution and what we can add to God.