The Giving Spirit

Sometimes you can earn more by doing the jobs that pay nothing.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

I usually have the most fun at work when I’m not getting paid. (Now, I know there are a whole bunch of jokes out there about pastor’s only working one hour a week and every day is a vacation, but it’s not specifically work I’m talking about.) We get paid to do specific tasks. That’s called our vocation. It’s our job. Whether it be preaching on Sunday morning or working as a cashier at the grocery store. We get up in the mornings to go do a specific task that we’ll get money for. And unless you had a rich grandpappy, for most all of us it’s what we do every morning.

Then, there’s every once in a while something else that comes along. It’s called our calling.

For me, my calling is cutting trees in a disaster area.

Or wrapping Christmas presents for kids in need. Or volunteering at the Special Olympics. I enjoy doing things for other people. That’s what God has called me to do in life.

But too often I get bogged down in paperwork. I get stuck answering phone calls from people in California trying to sell me the newest, best thing to get people into church. I get pulled in one direction or another and never get the work I need to do done.

It happens to us all. And that’s the part of our jobs we don’t like. The grinding away of time that sees no real benefit in our work or our lives.

At the end of days like that I come away frustrated, sometimes angry at myself, and always tired.

But every now and then a day comes along when I get to answer God’s call.

Cutting down trees or wrapping Christmas presents is rewarding. You know you’re helping someone else. You come away exhausted and sore and so tired you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow. But instead of falling asleep frustrated, you fall asleep with a smile on your face.

It’s rare in life that we get the opportunities to work at our calling. And we need to do more to seek those times out. If you’re calling is to help those in need then seek out a local church and become a part of their ministries. Volunteer to help at the Veterans games or the Special Olympics or build a Habitat House.

Write letters of encouragement to those who are suffering or to our Service men and women.

There are all kinds of ways to fulfill God’s calling in your life. Just look around.

Let us pray. Dear God. We thank you this day for the jobs you have given to us. Because of our work we are able to have fruitful lives. And we thank you also for our callings. The jobs that we don’t get paid for but give to us life abundant. We ask for your guidance to help us fulfill your will in our lives. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.