Every Calling Matters

Cast off the Self-Limiting Beliefs That Prevent Us From Walking in Purpose

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I’ve been doing research for a very important list, compiling all the excuses reasons I hear from friends, clients, mentees, and others, as to why they are living outside of their God-given purpose.

I want to people to see how long the list is. How many stories we tell ourselves to justify our misalignment—and I’m going deep. I’m really trying to uncover all of the psychographic and demographic insights. Leaving no stone unturned.

Of course, the top of the list is already well-established. You all could take a wild guess and probably land in the ball park. Some of the top heavyweight contenders for ‘knocking out’ the purpose-driven lives are, in no particular order:

• SELF-DOUBT—”I could never be successful at that, I’m not [smart, rich, talented, etc.] enough.”

• FEAR—”I could never be successful at that, it’s too hard.”

• DISILLUSIONMENT—”What’s the point? Nothing really matters. We’re all gonna die anyway.”

• DISAPPOINTMENT—”I tried, but nothing ever worked.”

Somewhere down further on the list—perhaps amongst the lightweight contenders—is the feeling that the calling on our lives isn’t quite {blank} enough.

Righteous enough? Important enough? Prestigious enough?

Many of us equate calling with traditional ministry, and so the assumption follows that if God hasn’t called us to one of the five-fold ministries (apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors, and teachers), then He hasn’t really called us at all.

I empathize with this thinking. It had me bound up for a time as well, until I realized that the very first calling given to man wasn’t spiritual, it was practical.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

— Genesis 1:26

Do you see that? The first job ever created was to care for animals.

Our Heavenly Father created us to share in His Love, and in the work of managing His natural creation. We are His stewards—and the role of stewardship isn’t solely based on our command of scripture, or our ability to lead Bible study. There many other gifts and talents that are useful as well.

The LORD said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.

— Exodus 31:1-5

God called Bezalel and endowed him with artistic and engineering prowess so that he could build the tabernacle, and so that he could train others as well. Well guess what? Our churches today (plus, homes, office buildings etc.) still need these skills, as well as plumbers, electricians, and painters, just to name a few.

Think of how many other skilled laborers have helped to sustain our communities throughout the generations. People with divinely-appointed expertise in:

• Gardening & farming

• Building & repairing homes

• Fabrics & textiles

• Homeopathic remedies

• Writing & storytelling

The kingdom of God still needs all of these skills, and more. It needs artisans, craftsman, and professionals across many areas to meet the needs of the body of Christ—in our homes, schools, hospitals, markets, workplaces, and communities.

How well would society function without barbers and hair stylists, chefs and caterers, tailors and seamstresses, mechanics and technicians, and many other vocations that we might deem as not prestigious enough?

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

— Colossians 3:23-24

At some point, we’ll have to get into a fun exploration of what these “rewards” might be. I have some ideas. For now, let’s just say that we can indeed serve the Lord Christ when we do what He’s called us to do

—no matter how insignificant it might seem.

Whether we are behind the pulpit or in the back of the house, every gift is a blessing, and will bring glory to God—if we’ll let it.

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Saints, I’m serious about this research, and would love to hear from you.

What belief has kept you from walking in your calling?

Drop it in the comments, or hit me up in the DMs!