Benjamin Honeycutt, a historian who specializes in the history of work at the University of Iowa, notes that work has become our new religion, where we worship and give our time. As people’s commitment to family, community and faith are shrinking, they begin to look to their careers to provide them with meaning, connectedness, identity and self-esteem.
A calling, which is something I do for God, is replaced by a career, which threatens to become my god. A career is something I choose for myself; a calling is something I receive.
A career is something I do for myself; a calling is something I do for God.
A career promises status, money or power; a calling generally promises difficulty and even some suffering and the opportunity to be used by God.
A career is about upward mobility; a calling may lead to downward mobility whenever God wants to strip us of the unnecessary baggage in our lives. He is always looking for a life of sacrificial availability for His Kingdom purposes.
Have you found your calling?
John Ortberg
Pastor/Teacher
© John Ortberg
Changi Chapel 
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