Let every man abide in the same calling in which he was called.”
1 Corinthians 7:20
Praise God everyone is called, for our substance was not hid from thee, O Lord, when we were made in secret they were written down in your book [see Psalms 139:16]. We are all born with natural gifts and callings, and these are without repentance [Romans 11:29]. Without repentance is before we even knew about God or who He is. We were given gifts and callings. Calling in Hebrew is the word “qārā’ and its basic meaning is destiny, mission, vocation, trade, or occupation. It can also be the calling of the given name one is born with. This represents the individuals calling into service for God like the many prophets in the Old Testament in the Bible. Some callings are divine, and some are not. God’s calling is the means by which He directs human beings, who often times are entirely unqualified in a particular position, yet those beings are used as instruments of His will and plan. We either see or not see His hand in our destiny.
Like the prophet Jeremiah who was called by God before he was born. God spoke to Jeremiah as a young child. We do not know the age of Jeremiah, but God told him, “Do not say to me you are a child, for I shall send thee and whatever I tell thee, you shall speak,” [see Jeremiah 1:5-7]. God put His words into Jeremiah’s mouth, and He put Jeremiah over the Kingdom of Judah. Take a look at verse 10 of chapter one of Jeremiah. “See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to throw down, to build and to plant.” Jeremiah was called, installed, and given instruction as to what He should do. Not everyone agreed to Jeremiah’s calling. His family turned against him, and the people also turned against him. Yet, he continued within the calling of God despite all the troubles he had endured. It was Jeremiah’s letter of hope to those in captivity in Babylon that was so encouraging for the promise of an expected end [see Jeremiah 29:11]. That joy would replace the sorrow in the remnant of Israel. God will sow both in the house of Israel and in the house of Judah [see Jeremiah 31:27]. We should give diligence to the calling that we have been given by God.
“Brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.”
2 Peter 1:10
Like Jeremiah, He made his calling and election sure by following God in his calling. This is Christian virtue at its finest that brings godliness, kindness, and love. No one should be jealous of another’s calling. Has not God given you a gift, vocation, trade that you can work in? Ask God what your calling is and take heed what He has called you to do. Whatever you put your hands to do the Lord shall bless. This blessing is to those who walk in His ways.
For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.”
Psalms 128:2
It is the Lord who will give the blessing of the reward for you labor. God will give the increase and this increase is to be a blessing to you, your family, and to share with others. Use it for the glory of God. Remember the warning of Proverbs 13:11, “wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.” Let the Lord establish the work of thy hands [see Psalms 90:7]. We are all called to be servants of the Lord to be free, but we remember that we were bought with a price. The apostle Paul stated to “let every man in whatever state he is called, there abide with God,” [ 1 Corinthians 7:24]. In whatever state you are in, whether married or not, we are to remain and abide with God. Know that God has chosen certain people for distinctive service for Him. Like Jeremiah, the apostle Paul was chosen, for It is written in Acts 9:15, “he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” Some did fear Paul because of what he did before he was called.
The apostle Paul told the church of Corinth that they were called to be saints through the sanctification in Christ Jesus and makes this statement, “for you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things with are mighty, and the base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nothing things that are that no flesh should glory in his presence. ” [1 Corinthians 1:26-29]. Later the apostle Paul states that whatever you do, do all to the glory of God [see 1 Corinthians 10:31]. The calling of a Christian is important to God in how he lives out that calling to the glory of God. That is why Paul exclaims that as Christians, we are laborers together with God [ 1 Corinthians 3:9]. But as Christians we must also come to the same knowledge of Christ Jesus. We must understand that it is God who does the calling among the people and to those who are called to a specific service.
Whatever state we are in, all glory goes to God, for His will well go forth whether we follow it or not. We must remember that there are many vessels in the house. Vessels of gold, silver, clay, and wood. Some vessels are for honor and some or not.
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
2 Timothy 2:21
The Lord knows them that belong to him, and the apostle Paul states that we should purge ourselves from all iniquity through the blood of Christ. That we should be a vessel of honor sanctified through Christ for the master’s use. In whatever state you are in right now, are you a vessel of honor? Let us not defraud a brother in any matter but with a clear conscience abide in Christ. Stay in the place where he has called you to be until such a time comes when he tells you to go somewhere else. Cast all your cares upon Him whom you believe and seek out His wisdom and not the wisdom in this world. Even Peter conveys how that if you lack faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, kindness and love, then are you blind and cannot see ahead [see 2nd Peter 1:1-10].
Peter states, to give diligence to make your calling and election sure in order that you do not fail. This is how we walk as His vessel of honor in whatever calling or vocation, we are in. We need not worry about what we lack because He goes with us by His Spirit and as we pray and commune with our Lord, He will direct our paths. Your calling is a sure thing and like Jeremiah, Paul, and Peter, no one can take away from what God has given these men. We have obtained His mercy and grace, so walk in it knowing that you are in Christ, and He has placed you in a specific place for His glory. Continue to abide in His Calling and be a vessel of Honor for God. This wonderful song titled, “A Vessel of Honor for God,” was once sang in churches in the late 70’s as a worship song. We do not hear it anymore, so as you listen to the song, make it your prayer to be that vessel of honor.