What Is Vocation?

by Dr. Stephen J. Nichols

Publisher:

P&R

, 2010

Overview

For some people work is tedious and boring—something to endure until the weekend arrives. For others, work is everything—it consumes them and their time. The former find no meaning or satisfaction in their jobs, the latter find too much. Both lack an eternal perspective. This booklet offers that framework. Work, as ordained by God, has meaning and purpose. And by understanding your own vocation, you too can say with the psalmist, “Yes, establish the work of our hands!”

Contents

Top Highlights

“Playing off this idea, Martin Luther gave new life, extensive and broad life, to the word vocation. He applied the word to being a spouse, a parent, or a child. He applied the word to the various professions.” (Page 8)

“A few generations later, another German Lutheran, Johann Sebastian Bach, illustrated Luther’s teaching perfectly. Whether Bach was writing music commissioned by and for the church or whether it was for other purposes, he signed all his music with two sets of initials: one for his name, and the other, ‘SDG,’ for Soli Deo Gloria. All work—all types of work, not just the work done in the service of the church—was a calling.” (Page 9)

“‘No task,’ Calvin tells us, ‘will be so sordid and base, provided you obey your calling in it, that it will not shine and be reckoned very precious in God’s sight.’⁹ The standard for evaluating our work and our worth is to see our work as a calling in the service of God, for his glory.” (Pages 30–31)

“‘Everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man’ (Eccl. 3:13” (Page 24)

“For a time, leading up to Luther, people had applied this Latin word nearly exclusively to church work” (Page 7)

Product Details

• Title: What Is Vocation?
• Author: Dr. Stephen J. Nichols
• Series: Basics of the Faith
• Publisher: P&R
• Print Publication Date: 2010
• Logos Release Date: 2014
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Vocation › Christianity; Work › Religious aspects--Christianity
• ISBNs: 9781596381773, 1596381779
• Resource ID: LLS:WHATISVOCATION
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2023-09-27T17:15:20Z

About Dr. Stephen J. Nichols

Stephen J. Nichols is research professor of Christianity and culture at Lancaster Bible College. He has written several books, including The Reformation, For Us and for Our Salvation, and Welcome to the Story.