Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God. (Ecclesiastes 5:7, NIV)
“I’m going to follow my dream.”
“I’ve got to be true to myself.”
“I can’t let others tell me what to do. I’ve got to find my own way.”
I know, you’ve heard these lines before. Maybe you’ve even said them yourself. They are the mottos of world class athletes and performers of all kinds—even those who just want to be the big fish in their small pond.
We log on as who we are today and surf the wave to wherever it may take us. And that, with increasing frequency in the prevailing culture, is what we deem one’s calling. It is their “path,” their “journey,” their great “fixation.” And no matter what it is, as long as they claim it for themselves, we give it our stamp of approval—especially when it hurts no one else.
But what if the truth you’re being true to is no truth at all? After all, when the leader you’re following is only yourself, then the leader you’re following is no better than yourself. That’s rarely a good sign!
The writer of Ecclesiastes, most likely the once-wise Solomon now grappling with the realities his old eyes had seen, gave no credence to “dreams” and “words.” These, he implied, are only as good as the one who gives them. And since the one who gives them is not God but us, we follow a second-rate leader to chase them down.
Right calling must begin with the greatest Caller. Solomon ended his insight this way: “Therefore stand in awe of God” (other translations use the familiar “fear God”). The great Caller subjugates all our dreams and designs, all our theories and suggestions, all our words and predictions, to his. If he is the one who orders the world, we do best to ask of him: “Lord, what would you have me do? Shape my life to serve you just as you would call me to. And let me know the joy of being released into your calling for me.”
Only when our identity is found in Christ—and not our own assessments of who we are—will our calling make sense now and into eternity.
—
Jeff Hopper
January 21, 2013
Copyright 2013 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
OTHER DEVOTIONS IN THE CALLING SERIES
Calling, Part 2: Response and Readiness
Calling, Part 3: Is It God?
Calling, Part 4: Lacking a Caller
Calling, Part 5: Your Specific Destiny
Calling, Part 6: Sovereignty and Calling
Calling, Part 7: Looking Forward, Looking Back
Calling, Part 8: God’s Confirmation, Our Confidence
Calling, Part 9: Aliens and Ambassadors
Calling, Part 10: Excellence in Our Calling
Calling, Part 11: Balance in Our Calling