Another word for a job is a “vocation.” Why such a big word for work? It might help to think about where the word comes from. Does it sound like “vocal” to you? What do you do with your “vocal cords”? Talk, sing, yell? How about “call”? A vocation—or a job or a career—is sometimes also referred to as a “calling.”

What do you think you might be “called” by God to do? God equips different people in different ways. Then He puts desire in their hearts to do some work in His world. He also guides us so that we get the training or connections needed to start the job He has for us.

For some people, that may be selling shoes like Mr. Hsieh. It could be teaching, or preaching, or building things, or writing, or raising children. There are so many jobs to choose from! If your focus is on serving God well and serving others, then you will use your skills, strength, and will with His greatest commandments in mind: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)

God tells us that when people who trust in Him work honestly and well, other people’s lives are made better. Consider Proverbs 11:10. It says, “When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices” (NIV).

When righteous people are busy at work and it is going well for them, the community that they live in has reason to be joyful. Perhaps that is because others will be working too, so they can provide for their needs and their families. Perhaps it is because food, products, and services will be plentiful. Perhaps it is because God’s people serve others with honesty, generosity, justice, fair pricing, and fair pay. All of these good ways of working show us what God’s perfect kingdom will one day be like. Our vocations today—the work we are called by God to do—can be a part of bringing joy to our cities and glory to our Maker!