Leadership Thought: Making This Change May Be More Important Than Your Calling Dear Friends, One of my favorite resources and one which I look forward to receiving
two times a week is Biblical Leadership. Containing leadership articles by
writers from all over the country, I always find something of value as I did
this morning when I opened up the article below by Tom Harper who oversees
this wonderful leadership resource Sometime ago I jotted down the following quote and while I don’t
remember its source, its message has always stuck with me: “Humble
work becomes holy work when it is done for the Lord.” In the article below from Biblical Leadership, Tom Harper shares a
perspective on our work that I found thought provoking. Tom writes: |
Sometimes we put too much emphasis on "calling." "I've been called to a new role," you might say, thinking the
new job is more in line with God's will than your old one was. "I still haven't figured out my calling in life," someone
adds, meaning they just haven't been satisfied with any job yet. Brother Lawrence, in his 17th-century book, The Practice of the
Presence of God, said that "our sanctification [does] not depend on
changing our works, but doing that for God's sake which we commonly do for
our own." He adds that it's "lamentable to see how many people mistook the
means for the end, addicting themselves to certain works, which they
performed very imperfectly, by reason of their human or selfish regards"
(p. 26). Brother Lawrence had no regard for the opinion of others or whether he
was talented at his job, or even whether it was seen as some kind of special
calling. He simply did the job in front of him as well as he could, as an
offering of love to God. He washed dishes not because he had special training
or because he was "wired" for it. He served the Lord through his hard work, and he used it to draw nearer
to the Lord in conversation. Does that humble you as much as it does me? Calling is important, but I'm starting to believe our sanctification
doesn't rely on it.” As I reflect upon Tom’s words, I recalled a verse I
sometimes add below my name on letters I send: Colossians 3:23-24 reminds us
that “Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord
and not for men, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance
from the Lord- you serve the Lord Christ.: I think our good friend Brother Lawrence had this verse inscribed upon
his heart, and it might be worth inscribing on our hearts as well. Yours in faith and friendship, Tom |
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
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