Friends tell me they’re in a certain field of work in obedience to God’s calling.

In secular vocations, this was commonly heard for careers that required specific skills or fields of study, such as teaching or medicine. In Christian circles, friends shared that God had “called them” to the mission field overseas.

I was happy for them, but it left me discouraged. If God had “called” my friends to their careers, why did I not know His calling for my life? I was confused too – were there really Scripture passages saying that people are called to a specific field of work?

In the New Testament, the main mentions of God’s “calling” does not discuss work. It relates to becoming a Christian – Romans 1:6-7, 1 Peter 5:10, 2 Peter 1:3, among others – while other examples refer to living a holy and peaceful life (1 Peter 1:15).

The Bible mentions once the status to which God appoints us, referring to the states of remaining single, as opposed to getting married. Paul makes this point to call the Corinthians to live holy lives, regardless of whether it’s in marriage or in singlehood (1 Corinthians 7:20-23) – not in relation to a specific job fit.

So, really, what are we as Christians called to?

WHAT’S MY CALLING?

I AM CALLED TO CHRISTLIKENESS

As a Christian, God calls me to reflect His image into His world. As someone freed from sin, God calls me to stand firm in the freedom I now have (Galatians 5:1, Romans 6:1-2, 15), and not misappropriate this freedom as a chance to sin (Galatians 5:13).

Instead, I am to use my freedom to care for the world God has given us, by loving and serving God (Romans 6:22, 1 Peter 2:16) and His people.

I AM CALLED TO HOLINESS

Ephesians 4:22-24 tells me that as someone reconciled to God, I put off my old self, which is corrupt through deceitful desires and which refuses to trust and serve Christ. Instead, I put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

In being reconciled to God, He gives me a new identity in Christ, and calls me to live out the evidence of my new identity by being an imitator of God (Ephesians 5:1), shown through kindness and compassion to those around me, forgiving them as Christ first forgave me (Ephesians 4:32).

I AM CALLED TO THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE

God calls me to bear His image by displaying personal holiness, knowing that I have reason to persevere in this – in anticipation of the hope of eternal life with God when Christ returns (Ephesians 4:4).  As part of God’s family, I know I am part of His people who are called to eternal life (1 Timothy 6:12), through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the Truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14).

In response, I live out my sanctification as He enables me.

Stuart Townend’s modern hymn, There is a Hope, sums up God’s calling best: My highest calling and my deepest call, to make His will my home.

I believe that the Bible tells me that as a Christian, God’s main calling in my life is for me to bear His image and participate in His redemptive work in the world to bring people to Christ in all aspects of my life.

This doesn’t mean that God cannot or will not call me to a particular career – He may, if He chooses. But it suggests that God’s calling in my life goes deeper than a workplace calling.
Instead, the call to a specific career is secondary to His primary calling. Any marketplace mission I’m sent on is His means to redeem the world. This could happen in any workplace, as we display Christ-like behaviours such as compassion, kindness, humility and patience (Colossians 3:12).

My role in my workplace – and yours – is to represent Christ fully in my career. This calling is for everyone, regardless of the field we find ourselves in.