Which of the following are similar to the ways you've served Christ in your family? [check all that apply]
• Taught your kids to see God's glory in nature
• Washed the dishes without being asked
• Played a board game with your kids
• Encouraged your wife to finish her master's degree
• Attended a child's open house at school
• Worked fewer hours to be with your family
• Set an example of a godly prayer life for your children
• Held a crying child
• Swung on the tire swing with your daughter
• Told your wife why you're still in love with her
• Told your son he's got what it takes
• Coached soccer
• Let you child correct you now and then
• Fixed the vacuum cleaner
• Taught your sons to ride a bike
• Listened patiently to a complaint of your wife
• Taped your child's artwork to your office wall
• Admitted to your kids that you were wrong
• Told your children how Christ entered your life
• Cleaned up vomit
• Taught your children to love books
• Been romantic without expecting sex
• Told your daughter she's smart/beautiful
• Set standards for your kids and stuck to them
• Dealt graciously with a busybody neighbor
• Peeled carrots
• Watched movies together
Many Occupations, One Vocation Theme of the Week: Serving with a Passion Wednesday, March 17, 2004
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Men of IntegrityMarch/April 2004Many Occupations, One VocationTheme of the Week: Serving with a PassionWednesday, March 1772
Key Bible Verse: We keep on praying for you, that our God will make you worthy of the life to which he called you (2 Thessalonians 1:11). Bonus Reading:2 Thess. 1:3–12
John Wanamaker turned his Philadelphia men's clothing store into the world's first department store with innovations such as price tags, newspaper advertising, money-back guarantees, white sales, and an in-store restaurant.
He went on to become the U.S. postmaster general, but remained very involved in running the Sunday-school program of his church. "How do you get time to run the Post Office and the Sunday school too?" he was asked.
He answered, "Why, the Sunday school is my business! All other things are just things. I decided 45 years ago God's promise was sure: 'Seek first the kingdom of God … and all these things will be added unto you.'"
This is an example of what it means to place vocation before occupation. Contrary to the way the word is often used today, the word vocation should refer to our calling to be God's people, His servants and priests in the world. We need the additional word occupation to refer to our work. Therefore we Christians can have many different occupations, but just one vocation.
How are you doing with making the distinction between these parts of life?
—Ben Patterson in Serving God by What We Do
My Response: How could I show my Lord I place vocation ahead of occupation?
Thought to Apply: Service is the rent we each pay for living. It is not something to do in your spare time; it is the very purpose of life.
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