Accepting Our Calling

"He chose our inheritance for us," said the psalmist (Psalm 47:4). This means He decided in advance where He wanted us to be in a given time. First of all, He chose the time and place of our birth - the place, parents, and circumstances (Acts 17:26). We had no control over our birth. We did not choose our parents; God did. We did not choose the time and place of our birth; God did.

Secondly, He gave us our bodies - even while we were in our mother's womb. "I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body" (Psalm 139:14-16). This means our brains were formed by Him. Our intelligence was determined by Him. We no doubt can improve on how well and clearly we think, but our basic ability is already set - like it or not. Wow. I love this. It takes the pressure off to perform! Why be jealous of the person who is cleverer than I when it is God who gave them their superior brain?

Third, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven" (John 3:27). Those were John the Baptist's words. It was his reply to the observation that Jesus was gaining more disciples, getting bigger crowds, and upstaging John's popularity. How did John cope? His answer was that God in heaven is the one who bestows success, blessing, favour, and grace. It was easy, therefore, for John to say, "He must become greater; I must become less" (v30). Was John tempted to jealousy? Almost certainly. And this is how he coped.

So with our calling. The same God who gives and withholds mercy is the one who determines our calling. And talent. And promotion. He opens and closes doors. Either way it is in our interest. Be thankful for the closed door as much as you rejoice in the open door. He calls some to be doctors, some to be nurses, some to be preachers, some to be computer experts, some to be astronauts, some to be secretaries, some to be scientists, some to be lawyers, some to be firemen, some to be policemen, some to be politicians, some to be executives, and some to have little or no profile whatsoever.

- R. T. Kendall, Jealousy - The Sin No One Talks About