Lord, what do you want me to do?
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Our calling is not always clear. Consider one of God's beloved leaders:
After 40 years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush.
—Acts 7:30
What do you think was on Moses' mind those 40 years? I bet he doubted God at times. Maybe he was even bitter. But his day finally came in a most dramatic way.
Even after Moses had his burning-bush experience and accepted his assignment, the leadership challenges never ceased:
Moses thought his own people would realize God was using him to rescue them, but they didn't.
—Acts 7:25
Jesus led despite being misunderstood and without knowing exactly what the future held. "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Mt. 24:36).
When I hear people talk about receiving a life calling, I have a mixed response. On one hand, I understand what it feels like to be doing what God intended for you to do, what he designed you to do. But I also have to wonder if the person is simply justifying their current direction—maybe even rationalizing that what they want to do must be their calling.
Either way, there is a daily calling that holds true for all believers:
Always give yourselves fully to the Lord's work, because you know your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
—1 Cor 15:58
Regardless of the changing "callings" on our lives, if we put our hearts into them, our work is not in vain.
Remember me with favor, O God, for all I have done for these people.
—Neh. 5:19
In practical terms, calling is subjective, changing, sometimes thankless, always involving faith. It's that unknown aspect that requires our trust and reliance.
Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?
—Esther 4:14
Why might you reallybe in leadership?
It's impossible to know God's purposes in every situation we'll encounter in leadership. Sometimes he chooses not to reveal his plan in its entirety, until more of it unfolds. So what to do? I believe it's simple: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).
Whatever we do, we must glorify him as we do it.
And yet many of us are still left yearning for specific direction. I hate making mistakes, wasting time and resources, and not moving forward on the right path. I bet you do too. I want to glorify the Lord, but I want to do I do it right.
Heed the Law of Effective Work
"Lord, what do you want me to do?"
The question regularly rings through the mind of every Christian leader on a regular basis. How to handle the problem employee? What overall strategy to employ? When to launch the new product? Who to hire? How much to spend?
Why do direction and guidance seem so elusive at times?
While I don't have space here to flesh out the entire biblical prescription for seeking the Lord in every issue, there is a simple way to know what we're supposed to be doing in a general sense.
The big questions of calling, ministry, vocation, mission, planning and the like fall under the purview of what I call the Law of Effective Work.
When faced with a question of where to go or what to do next, we should look at all the doors in front of us. Some are barred, closed, cracked, ajar or wide open. Which one should you walk through?
The one where you can do the most effective work.
The Apostle Paul originated this concept:
…a great door for effective work has opened to me….
—1 Cor. 16:9
He went where he was led, where he was needed, where he was invited. Once he surrendered to the Lord, God used his skills in exciting new ways. He took Paul on life-threatening adventures. He gave him power and wisdom, and launched his leadership on an international scale.
Who is approaching you for help? What new business idea won't let you sleep at night? How has God gifted you? What opportunity has fallen into your lap? What exciting challenge is beckoning?
Ultimately where do you sense the Holy Spirit leading you? Is there an obvious way to glorify God right in front of you?
Look for the open doors. Look for opportunities to do effective work. Roll up your sleeves.
Then step through in faith.
Excerpted from Servant Leader Strong: Uniting Biblical Wisdom and High-Performance Leadership, by Tom Harper (DeepWater Books, 2019).
 | Tom Harper is publisher of BiblicalLeadership.com and executive chairman of Networld Media Group, a business-to-business publisher and event producer. He has written five books, including Servant Leader Strong: Uniting Biblical Wisdom and High-Performance Leadership (DeepWater Books, 2019) as well as the Christian business fable Through Colored Glasses and its sequel Inner Threat (DeepWater, 2022). Learn More » |
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