I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship (Rom 12:1).
Some people struggle with finding meaning in their work. If that’s you, have you heard of the difference between a vocation and an avocation?
A vocation is “a person’s employment or main occupation, especially regarded as particularly worthy and requiring great dedication.” And an avocation is “a subordinate occupation pursued in addition to one’s vocation especially for enjoyment.” Usually, people think about their job as their vocation and their ministry as something they do on the side, in their spare time, as a hobby or avocation.
But what if that’s the wrong perspective to take on your life?
Watchman Nee put it this way:
“We should therefore tell the younger brothers and sisters that whatever they shall do in the coming days—whether that be as physicians, teachers or other professionals—they must undertake them as avocations. This is because each one of us lives to serve God” (Nee, Revive Thy Work, p. 173).
However you pay the bills, you are in full-time Christian service. You work for the Lord, and the Lord works through you. As a member of His Body, presenting your body as a living sacrifice to God is your vocation and your secular job is secondary to that.
Send your questions or comments to Shawn.
My husband, George, usually replies to someone who asks what he does something like, "I am a servant of the Most High God and I administrate a family-owned law practice to support our ministry."