This week the blog is sponsored by Reformed Free Publishing Association. Today’s post is written by William Boekestein, author of the new book, Finding My Vocation: A Guide for Young People Seeking a Calling. William is a pastor and husband. He and his wife have four children: a college student, two high schoolers, and a middle schooler. He previously worked in residential construction and also taught in a Christian school. William has written numerous other books including Glorifying and Enjoying God: 52 Devotions through the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
What should I do with the rest of my life?
That’s a huge question, especially if you are young. You might have half a century or more of life in front of you. And the choices you make now can powerfully shape how those years are spent. A big chunk of those years will involve work, whether in the home or out in the world. You want your work to mean something. You don’t have to be rich or famous. But you were made to be productive, to impact God’s world for good (Gen. 1:28).
At the same time, you can’t pin all your hopes on success in the workforce. Like all of life after the fall, work is “subjected to futility” (Rom. 8:20). It is vital that you understand what work can do for you, and others, and recognize its limitations. This is complicated! And if you consider all the options available to you, and the changing job market and uncertain economic future, trying to follow God’s plan for your work life can be intimidating, even scary.
Is there anything I can do to prepare for my future?
There is! And the biblical doctrine of vocation can help. Vocation is another word for “calling.” Each of us must learn to “lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him” (1 Cor. 7:17). God has called you to do something special. And, while you don’t have to know exactly what that is, there is much you can do, right now, to get ready to flourish in that calling.
Scripture has a lot to say about working well. And those who do these things position themselves to succeed in the world, under God’s blessing.
William Boekestein
I wrote Finding My Vocation: A Guide for Young People Seeking a Calling, to help you do three things.
Ponder vocation: this biblical doctrine can liberate you from the false fear that only certain people have special occupations. Vocation teaches us that all work is good when done with hearty faith in God, in a moral occupation, and pursued to the glory of God and with an eye to the good of your neighbor. Work is not just how you get by in life but how you truly change the world, one faithful step at a time.
Prepare for your vocation: you don’t have to know what your career will be; I certainly didn’t when I was young. You just need to gain wisdom, cultivate character, and develop necessary skills that will, with God’s blessing, give you something truly valuable to offer to the world. Along with developing your “career capital,” you need to learn how to choose wisely from the myriad of career choices you face. And the Bible gives practical guidance for doing this.
Practice the principles of vocation: whether you are a student, entry-level worker, or in the early days of what might be your lifetime career, you need to practice the principles of vocation. Scripture has a lot to say about working well. And those who do these things position themselves to succeed in the world, under God’s blessing.
As you consider your calling, be encouraged: you are living in an amazing time and place. You have opportunities that many people throughout history and around the world today never dreamed about. And trusting in Christ, armed with a proper vocational outlook, and encouraged by wisdom from a host of believers who have pondered this subject, you have every reason to anticipate a great future!
You can purchase your copy of Finding My Vocation: A Guide for Young People Seeking a Calling here. Subscribe to the Reformed Free Publishing Association email list on their website homepage to be notified of sales, news, and upcoming children’s book releases.
