Choosing a Vocation: Glorifying God and Pursuing Holiness
Devotional
Sermon Summary
Bible Study Guide
Sermon Clips
"Most of the world does not have access to the kind of education assumed in the question about choosing a major. Most of the world moves from family to a rudimentary basic education of reading and writing in math, if that, and then into some kind of apprenticeship or simply continues on in the family occupation. Higher education as we know it in America is simply not an option most places in the world." [00:02:18]
"Even in the developed countries like America where higher education exists, only about 62% of high school graduates go to college. That's a lot of millions who don't. There are all kinds of paths into useful vocational life through trade schools, technical schools, on-the-job learning. So I don't assume in answering this question that everyone should go to college." [00:02:57]
"We should always remember that a decision at age 17 about college or major or vocation does not mean you will have the same job for a lifetime. The average American changes careers 3 to seven times in a lifetime. Many people in midlife decide to go back to school. This is one reason we put such an emphasis at Bethlehem College on the kind of habits of mind and heart that will bear fruit in all vocations." [00:04:30]
"Far more influential in general in a person's success and income are character traits: initiative, discipline, self-control, ambition, creativity, relational wisdom, vision, analytical skills, problem-solving, insight, integrity, faithfulness, steadfastness. Give me a person like that, they will do something with their lives, and they'll probably be well paid for it too." [00:05:39]
"Besides thinking about income, Jesus says seek the kingdom first and all these things will be added to you, the practical necessities of life. So I would say don't think income, don't make it ever a deciding factor in choosing a major or a vocation. Make it way down the list of your priorities when making those choices." [00:06:23]
"The Bible says whatever you do—choosing a school, choosing a major, choosing a vocation—do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31. Or do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. Colossians 3:17. One way to turn this guideline into a question would be: when you consider a major or a possible vocation, do you get excited about the ways you could glorify God or make much of Jesus in this major or in this vocation?" [00:07:11]
"Since the Bible is clear in 1 Thessalonians 4:3 that this is the will of God for you—your sanctification, your holiness, your godliness, your moral rectitude—do you have hesitations that this major or this vocation might compromise or hinder your sanctification, or do you get excited about how this path might advance your own holiness, your pursuit of godliness?" [00:08:19]
"Do your intellectual, emotional, and physical abilities—call them God's gifts that define much of who we are—do they fit this major or vocation? The biblical analogy here is the body, right, with many members or parts. One person is a hand, another is an ear, another is a nose. We are all so different by God's design, and we should not try to be what we aren't." [00:09:19]
"Very closely connected with those gifts is the question of your recurrent desires. Now, I don't mean flash-in-a-pan desires right after a conference or something, but ever-returning desires. They just crop up over the years. They seem to be circling back because there's something in me that makes me this way. I am assuming that these desires are growing in the heart that has a passion for holiness and for the glory of God." [00:09:43]
"Let the needs of the world have their proper effect on shaping your education and vocation. Of course, the needs of the world are spiritually and materially immeasurable. You can't be led by all of them. So here are two ways to put the question to make it livable, I think. Number one, what needs of the world are you moved by over and over again?" [00:11:02]
"Be saturated continually with the Bible, be embedded in a healthy church that counsels you, surrounds you, helps you recognize who you are and know what your gifts are, and finally, be continually in prayer. God won't let you waste your life if you seek him like this." [00:12:00]
"Some specialized majors do open doors to higher income professions, but far, far more influential in a person's success and income are character traits: initiative, discipline, self-control, ambition, creativity, relational wisdom, vision, analytical skills, problem-solving, insights, integrity, faithfulness, steadfastness. Give me a person like that, they will do something with their lives, and they'll probably be well paid for it too." [00:12:32]
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"Even in the developed countries like America where higher education exists, only about 62% of high school graduates go to college. That's a lot of millions who don't. There are all kinds of paths into useful vocational life through trade schools, technical schools, on-the-job learning. So I don't assume in answering this question that everyone should go to college." [00:02:57]
"We should always remember that a decision at age 17 about college or major or vocation does not mean you will have the same job for a lifetime. The average American changes careers 3 to seven times in a lifetime. Many people in midlife decide to go back to school. This is one reason we put such an emphasis at Bethlehem College on the kind of habits of mind and heart that will bear fruit in all vocations." [00:04:30]
"Far more influential in general in a person's success and income are character traits: initiative, discipline, self-control, ambition, creativity, relational wisdom, vision, analytical skills, problem-solving, insight, integrity, faithfulness, steadfastness. Give me a person like that, they will do something with their lives, and they'll probably be well paid for it too." [00:05:39]
"Besides thinking about income, Jesus says seek the kingdom first and all these things will be added to you, the practical necessities of life. So I would say don't think income, don't make it ever a deciding factor in choosing a major or a vocation. Make it way down the list of your priorities when making those choices." [00:06:23]
"The Bible says whatever you do—choosing a school, choosing a major, choosing a vocation—do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31. Or do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. Colossians 3:17. One way to turn this guideline into a question would be: when you consider a major or a possible vocation, do you get excited about the ways you could glorify God or make much of Jesus in this major or in this vocation?" [00:07:11]
"Since the Bible is clear in 1 Thessalonians 4:3 that this is the will of God for you—your sanctification, your holiness, your godliness, your moral rectitude—do you have hesitations that this major or this vocation might compromise or hinder your sanctification, or do you get excited about how this path might advance your own holiness, your pursuit of godliness?" [00:08:19]
"Do your intellectual, emotional, and physical abilities—call them God's gifts that define much of who we are—do they fit this major or vocation? The biblical analogy here is the body, right, with many members or parts. One person is a hand, another is an ear, another is a nose. We are all so different by God's design, and we should not try to be what we aren't." [00:09:19]
"Very closely connected with those gifts is the question of your recurrent desires. Now, I don't mean flash-in-a-pan desires right after a conference or something, but ever-returning desires. They just crop up over the years. They seem to be circling back because there's something in me that makes me this way. I am assuming that these desires are growing in the heart that has a passion for holiness and for the glory of God." [00:09:43]
"Let the needs of the world have their proper effect on shaping your education and vocation. Of course, the needs of the world are spiritually and materially immeasurable. You can't be led by all of them. So here are two ways to put the question to make it livable, I think. Number one, what needs of the world are you moved by over and over again?" [00:11:02]
"Be saturated continually with the Bible, be embedded in a healthy church that counsels you, surrounds you, helps you recognize who you are and know what your gifts are, and finally, be continually in prayer. God won't let you waste your life if you seek him like this." [00:12:00]
"Some specialized majors do open doors to higher income professions, but far, far more influential in a person's success and income are character traits: initiative, discipline, self-control, ambition, creativity, relational wisdom, vision, analytical skills, problem-solving, insights, integrity, faithfulness, steadfastness. Give me a person like that, they will do something with their lives, and they'll probably be well paid for it too." [00:12:32]
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