Vocation: Talents & Work
- James Collazo
- Jan 31, 2022
- 8 min read
Updated: Nov 10
Introduction
In his parable of the talents, Jesus told of three men entrusted by their master with his money. In this context, the word "talent" (Greek: talanton, G5007) refers to a 75-pound (34-kilogram) weight used for currency, not a special ability or skill. Jesus narrates:
Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money. After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. "Master," he said, "you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more." His master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" The man with two bags of gold also came. "Master," he said, "you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more." His master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matt. 25:14–23).
We can apply the parable's lesson to both money and vocation. It is just as important to use the natural gifts and talents God gives us as it is to manage material resources responsibly. Our daily lives constantly involve the interaction of work, skills, and finances. We must exercise self-control when choosing careers that help us build property and secure resources, but failing to do so can lead to negative consequences, such as losing a good job or missing essential goals. God also warns against fraud, waste, and the misuse of the talents he entrusts to us. Consider the rest of Jesus' parable:
Now the one who had received one valuable coin came and said, "Master, I knew that you are a hard man. You harvest grain where you haven't sown. You gather crops where you haven't spread seed. So I was afraid. And I hid my valuable coin in the ground. Here, you have what's yours." His master replied, "You evil and lazy servant! You knew that I harvest grain where I haven't sown and that I gather crops where I haven't spread seed? In that case, you should have turned my money over to the bankers so that when I returned, you could give me what belonged to me with interest. Therefore, take from him the valuable coin and give it to the one who has ten coins. Those who have much will receive more, and they will have more than they need. But as for those who don't have much, even the little bit they have will be taken away from them. Now take the worthless servant and throw him out into the farthest darkness." People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth (Matt. 25:24–30).
Between Work & Vocation
Merriam-Webster defines vocation as "a summons or strong inclination to a particular state or course of action, especially a divine call to the religious life." The Bible refers to a vocation as a "calling," meaning that God invites someone to minister and serve in the church. The biblical Greek word for "calling" is klēsis (G2821), the noun form of kaleō (G2564, "to call" or "to summon"). This fact is significant because the Greek word for "church" in the New Testament is ekklēsia (G1577, "called out"), a compound derived from the same verb. A vocation is a life devoted to Christian ministry and service, sovereignly assigned by God. A vocation is not merely a job; some church leaders mistakenly teach that any employment qualifies as a calling. The apostle Paul writes:
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Eph. 4:1–3).
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time (2 Tim. 1:9).
In both of these passages, Paul uses the noun klēsis. The primary calling that all disciples of Jesus receive is salvation, which sets them on a path toward a holy personal life and leads them to help others learn about God. The Holy Spirit gives believers his fruit and gifts to support these kingdom efforts (John 14:26). Therefore, Paul warns:
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames (1 Cor. 3:10–15).
Here, Paul compared himself to a blue-collar construction worker whose careful attention to detail ensured a successful project. A vocation is a type of work directed toward a higher, divine purpose. While healthcare and service-industry jobs require dedication to helping others, we fulfill our vocation specifically in the name of Jesus. A believer can turn an ordinary job into a vocation by pursuing work that serves God's kingdom—for example, a medical professional working in a mission hospital or a psychiatrist opening a Christian counseling center. Ordinary employment is not inherently wrong, but a vocation represents a lifelong devotion to God. Accordingly, Paul testified that God would refine some work legacies in fire and destroy others.
Sabbath: Rest, Not Rules
Consider the Sabbath, when God commanded the Israelites to stop working each seventh day, every seventh year, and during the jubilee after forty-nine years (Exod. 23:10–12, 31:12–17; Lev. 25). Jesus taught that God never intended for us to toil in hardship, but to find rest in a meaningful vocation (cf. Mark 2:27). The Sabbath reminds us that life was easier in the Garden of Eden before humanity sinned. Hard labor became a consequence of the fall: "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return" (Gen. 3:19). However, Scripture does not justify laziness or irresponsibility. Paul warns, "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat'" (2 Thess. 3:10). He also warns us:
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving (Col. 3:22–24).
Conclusion
For some people, God calls them out of the workforce to serve in ministry full-time. For others, God calls them to minister and serve while maintaining a primary job to earn income—what we call bi-vocational ministry. Most rabbis and first-century church leaders were bi-vocational; for example, Paul was a tentmaker (Acts 18:3). Throughout his letters, Paul referred to his fellow ministers as "co-workers." A key point is that vocation is a form of work, but not all work qualifies as a vocation. Paul worked alongside Priscilla and Aquila, making tents. Yet, all three ensured they had time to teach Scripture (Acts 18:26). Spiritually, those whom God calls to ministry guide others toward the ultimate Sabbath rest in God's kingdom. While exiled on Patmos, the apostle John testified:
This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them" (Rev. 14:12–13).
Then, the Father will give every righteous person a vocation in his kingdom of heaven (Rev. 22:3). However, the work in heaven will be restful, not the fatigue-producing toil we experience right now. The prophet Isaiah foresaw this restful labor in the New Jerusalem:
They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them (Isa. 65:21–23).
Prayer
Blessed are you, LORD our God, King of heaven and earth. You lead and bless your people. May we honor you in work, be good stewards, and rest in your Sabbath. Help us live faithfully in our callings, careers, occupations, and vocations. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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