Vocation: Talents & Work
- James Collazo
- Jan 31, 2022
- 8 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
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:
Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. "Master," he said, "I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you."
His master replied, "You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
"So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 25:24–30).
Between Work and 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 speaks more directly in terms of a "calling," meaning God's summons to salvation, holiness, and service. In Ephesians 4:1, Paul uses the noun klēsis (G2821, "calling"), while in 2 Timothy 1:9, he uses a form of the related verb kaleō (G2564, "to call"). 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. Although many Christians today use the term "vocation" to refer to an occupation or career, Scripture typically uses the language of "calling" to describe God's summons to salvation, holiness, and service.
One significant development in the modern Christian understanding of vocation came in 1999, when the Lilly Endowment introduced its Programs for the Theological Exploration of Vocation (PTEV). The initiative encouraged students at church-related colleges and universities to examine the relationship between their faith and their choices about work, career, service, and Christian ministry. This initiative contributed to a broader Christian conversation about vocation as the discernment of how one's gifts, work, and responsibilities might be offered in service to God and others.
In this modern usage, vocation can include ordinary work without reducing Christian calling to a particular occupation. 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).
The primary calling that all disciples of Jesus receive is a calling to salvation, holiness, and service. The Holy Spirit gives believers his fruit and gifts to support these kingdom efforts (John 14:26). 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. His example illustrates that Christian calling is not separated from the ordinary responsibilities of life. Christians therefore need not abandon ordinary employment in order to live out their calling. A medical professional, teacher, tradesperson, business owner, or other worker can understand his or her daily labor as an opportunity to use God-given abilities in service to others and for the kingdom of God. The occupation itself does not constitute the calling; rather, the believer's calling to follow Christ gives purpose and direction to the work.
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).
Ultimate Rest
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, God's people will serve him in his kingdom (Rev. 22:3), fulfilling the purpose for which they were created. 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).
Bibliography
Monographs
Whelchel, Hugh. How Then Should We Work? Rediscovering the Biblical Doctrine of Work. McLean, VA: Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, 2012.
Wright, N. T. Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church. San Francisco: HarperOne, 2008.
Edited Works
Cunningham, David S., ed. At This Time and In This Place: Vocation and Higher Education. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.
Journal Articles
Sullivan, William M. "Exploring Vocation: Reframing Undergraduate Education as a Quest for Purpose."↗ Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning 46, no. 4 (2014): 6–13.
Online Resources
Alcorn, Randy. "9 Facts About Heaven That Will Surprise You."↗ Lifeway Christian Resources. February 29, 2016.
Darling, Daniel. "Work, Dignity & Our True Value."↗ Institute for Faith & Culture. February 4, 2022.
Gehrlein, Russell. "How Does Adam's Sin Impact Work?"↗ Institute for Faith & Culture. January 26, 2022.
Rose, Reagan. "Will We Work in Heaven?"↗ Redeeming Productivity. July 10, 2019.
Smith, Irene. "We Have Talents We Can Give as Gifts to Christ."↗ Institute for Faith & Culture. December 17, 2021.
Whelchel, Hugh. "The Gospel & Our Various Christian Callings."↗ Institute for Faith & Culture. February 7, 2022.
