Is Calling Even a Thing?

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As a college student at Wheaton College in the early 2000’s, I heard this phrase ALL THE TIME.

“What do you think you’re called to?”

“I feel like I’m called to…” Etc.

18-21 year old college students were seemingly obsessed with this question. And to be clear, I’m not throwing stones; I was right there in the midst of those conversations.

As time went on, I heard the phrase “calling” so much that I became desensitized, if not overtly hostile to it. Is calling even a thing? Is it biblical? If so, what are we called to do? How do we know what we are called to do? How can we discern what we are called to do from our own personal desires?

As I have thought more and more about this, here are passages of Scripture that I think point to the idea that we do in fact have callings as followers of Jesus.

What the Bible has to Say

“Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.” - Hebrews 3:1

First and foremost, our calling as followers of Jesus is heavenly. We are called to do things of eternal significance.

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” - Romans 12:4-5

As the body of Christ, we are called to do different things. We have different functions that together, make up a beautifully functioning body of Christ.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” - Ephesians 2:10

Our calling is about doing good works that God has prepared in advance for us.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” - Matthew 6:33-34

In whatever we do, our first calling is to the Kingdom of God.

“ Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.” - 1 Corinthians 7:17

God has called us each to different situations and circumstances.

Calling of Specific People in the Bible

Paul was called to the gentiles (Acts 9:15).

Abraham was called to leave his homeland and travel to a new land (Genesis 12)

Samuel was called by God to be a priest and prophet (1 Samuel 3).

Isaiah and Jeremiah were called by God to be prophets to Israel and Judah.

God called Mary to be the mother of Jesus (Luke 1).

David was called by God to the King of Israel (1 Samuel 16).

Jonah was called by God to prophesy to the people in Nineveh (Jonah 1).

Moses was called by God to rescue his people from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 3)

Jesus’ disciples were called by Jesus to follow him.

There are divine calls, where God clearly called these people into these situations. It would not be a leap to say that in addition to these calls:

Nehemiah was called by God to rebuild the walls in Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 1-2)

Esther was called to help rescue her people from potential genocide.

Ruth was called to return to Bethlehem with her mother in law after her husband died (Ruth 1-2)

Etc.

What Does This Mean?

I think the Bible speaks to the fact that God has called us each to different things. He has given us different skills, abilities, passions, and interests, and has put each of us in different circumstances to live these things out. I think each of us, as followers of Jesus, are called to do certain things in the world as a way to live out our skills, abilities, passions, and interests.

I also think the Bible speaks to some of us being called to certain things and places. Moses wasn’t called to lead, he was called to lead his people out of slavery in Egypt. Mary wasn’t called to be a mother; she was called to be the mother of the Messiah. Abraham wasn’t just called to leave his home; he was called to a very specific place. Paul was not called simply to preach the Gospel; he was specifically called to preach the Gospel to the gentiles.

Is it possible that some of us might be called to the specific (people, places, and things), and some of us might be called to the generic (the combination of using our gifts with what we are passionate about)?

What do you think? Do you think some people are called to the specific, and some are called to the generic? Do you think God calls each of us in the same way? I’d love to hear your thoughts