Spiritual Careers

"But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised...Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant." (I Corinthians 7: 17-22)

Christ can and will make use of your earthly knowledge and gifts as you enter the kingdom of heaven. He will also greatly add to your knowledge and gifts. Certainly, if a man is involved in sinful work, when he is saved, he will repent of his sins and forsake such work.

"Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth." (Ephesians 4: 28)

The same hands that once stole can now be employed in nobler usages. Skills once used in sin and evildoing can now be used in doing good. But, assuming that most who are saved are involved in honest trades, the Lord will make use of the honest talents and skills, the saved sinner possesses, in the higher work of the kingdom of heaven.

"This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works (or 'profess honest trades'). These things are good and profitable unto men." (Titus 3: 8)

"...to "maintain" these (good works) according to the signification of the word used, is to excel in them; to outdo others; to go before others, by way of example, and so to provoke to love and to good works; and to make them the employment and business of men's lives; for which there should be a thoughtfulness, a carefulness, a studious concern..." (John Gill)

Many of the apostles were, by occupation, fishermen. They were harvesters. When Jesus called them, he said to them - "Come, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4; 19)

Christ adapted his invitation, to a large degree, to the individual, and to the individual's secular work and calling. So, he may well have said (and so may we too) these words to others who were in various occupations.

To Builders, Christ calls - "Come, follow me, and I will make you builders in the kingdom of heaven."

To Managers, Christ calls - "Come, follow me, and I will make you managers of heavenly things."

To News Broadcasters, Christ calls - "Come, follow me, and I will make you reporters of the best of news."

To Employees, Christ calls - "Come, follow me, and I will make you an employee in the greatest work."

To Merchants, Christ calls - "Come, follow me, and I will make you buy the truth and trade in spiritual things."

To Craftsmen, Christ calls - "Come, follow me, and I will make you sculpters of the souls of men."

Christ calls us to make use of what gifts and resources we have, before we are saved, in a higher calling, for superior aims and purposes. God sanctifies our earthly gifts and talents for his glorious use in the kingdom of heaven. That was what Paul exhorted to in the opening verses. Are you a slave or employee? Then, Paul says to you - "Make use of that experience" in the work of the Lord! Or, as he said elsewhere - "And they that use this world, as not abusing it." (I Corinthians 7: 31)

We have numerous examples, in the holy scriptures, of how God called men from various secular occupations, and then made use of those learned skills in the nobler work of God's kingdom.

"...say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel." (II Samuel 7: 8)

God made use of the skill of David as an earthly shepherd of sheep to make him a spiritual shepherd of the nation, being its king and spiritual leader and guide.

Amos the prophet had two main occupations before God called him to be a prophet. He was a shepherd and a tender of sycamore trees (Amos 7:14). He became, like David, a spiritual shepherd and a worker in spiritual plantings and harvester of spiritual fruit.

"And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers." (Acts 18: 3)

"I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20: 35)

Paul the apostle, before he was saved, was highly educated, and also had the skill of a tentmaker. God made use of these gifts and talents in Paul's kingdom work.

"Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you." (Colossians 4: 14)

No doubt, in many ways, the Lord made use of Luke's gifts and talents as an earthly physician. He certainly now was a physician who dealt directly with the cause of all sickness, disease, and death - with sin. By pointing people to Christ, Luke was, as a spiritual physician, providing remedy for the plague of sin.

Friend, all your secular work and earthly endeavors, done "without faith," will yeild you little profit. "Whatever is not of faith is sin." (Romans 14: 22) "Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11: 6) But, if you come to God in faith, looking only to Christ, then God will truly transform your life and give eternal meaning and significance to all your present honest endeavors and will sanctify all your gifts. Why would you delay?