The fruit of vocation

A series on 2 Thessalonians 1:11–12.

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Are you fulfilled? We’ve likely all asked ourselves some version of this question about our lives and vocation. Is my life meaningful? Am I doing the right things with my life? These are important questions.

Early in our time of service we were commonly asked by those we met, “Why did you come here?” Our answers often looked to the future—to what we were hoping to see happen, to activities and relationships we were pursuing. In later years, we began to be asked, “What keeps you here?” Sometimes we would answer by sharing what we had seen God do throughout our time of ministry.

But there was another answer which was even more significant for me, particularly as the years progressed. As I looked at my life and ministry, I realized that “I like who I am here.” Who I had become, what I now knew about the Lord and the way he works in and through me, my understanding of where I was best skilled and shaped to love others—all these things were at the heart of what kept me serving. I came to understand more fully Paul’s prayer in 2 Thessalonians 1: 11–12, that God would “fulfill” the vocational calling of the Thessalonian church. The concept of “fulfillment” is an essential aspect of Christian vocation. God’s calling on our lives is expressed through fulfillment of our vocational efforts. The works of faith in which we engage, which come out of the desire for good God has placed in our hearts and souls, are affirmed and approved by God in their fulfillment. This is the fruit of our vocation. Christian vocation is fruitful.

I have noticed two aspects in my life and ministry which I recognize as elements of God’s fulfillment. First, when I am engaging in my vocational calling, I grow closer to God. I ask myself often, “Are the activities of my life and ministry drawing me closer to God?” My relationship with God should be intricately tied to the shape of my vocation. I should depend fully on him in all that I do. And I should see my understanding of him and my love for him grow stronger, as I do the things I am uniquely called by him to do in the world.

The fruitfulness of our vocational efforts should be evident in how others are benefiting.

Second, I have come to appreciate the way the apostle Paul viewed his own vocational efforts. He understood that Christian vocation is always “for” someone. Our giftings have been specifically given to us to strengthen others and the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12:3–8). The fruitfulness of our vocational efforts should be evident in how others are benefiting. How are others growing because of our lives and ministries? Who is better off because of what we do? Through our vocation we should expect others to know Christ better and be better able to fulfill their own life calling. We should see the environments in which we live and work become more conducive to Christ-like speech and activity. And we should see relationships around us become healthier. Christian vocation is fruitful. When God fulfills Christian vocation we come closer to him, and we strengthen the presence of Christ in the spaces and relationships through which we move.

When we look at the fruitfulness of our lives and ministries it is my prayer that we will each be able to say, “I like who I am here.”