Calling beyond Salary: Exploring the Relationship between Calling & Commitment - Essay Sample

Introduction

This paper focuses on highlighting the relationship between calling and commitment to one's work. The article also focuses on establishing the similarities between perceived calling and having an opportunity to live ones calling. In most cases, calling is associated with passion and self-fulfillment as individuals' effort to achieve their goals and succeed through work (Xie et al. 2016). Therefore, it goes beyond personal gains, such as salary in jobs. Apart from work the gospel call, there are several other callings. This paper will support both biblical and scientific concepts to establish a conclusion that calling must be associated with the fulfillment of one's life. Additionally, it is related to the focus on making sure one has an internal urge to be successful in achieving a specific objective.

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Philippians Historical Contest

The context of Philippians is dated back in the 49BCE. The book mainly contains the letter of Paul to the early church in Philippians. During the time, Paul was in prison, and there were many challenges to the church. For example, there were disparities among Christians as they argued about the direction they wanted to follow toward the spread of the gospel. Therefore, Paul's letters were focused on informing Christians about his life in prison and encouraging unity among them as they are obliged to a common faith in Jesus Crist. Paul wrote to the Philippines during the post-apostolic period when believers were still being killed and arrested for their faith in Crist (Schütz, 2007). However, despite the challenges, they had an inner conviction of the Holy Spirit. This helped them as they were committed to the success of their mission toward spreading the gospel. Generally, they had a calling in their work of ensuring that there is the development of the church. All these taches us about the power of calling toward a specific duty.

Philippians 1:1-11 Discussion

The passage shows God as one who is affectionate and full of grace. Paul tells the Christians that he yearns for them with the affection of Jesus Crist. Additionally, He says to them that God loves and gives grace to the people he has called for his mission. Hence, one should not despair as long as they do God's work. Moreover, God is shown as someone who listens when people pray to him. Paul argued that he always prays for the Christians. About humanity, the passage clarifies that one can have a call for a specific task and face all challenges to ensure that they are successful. Once Paul was called by God in his move toward gospel outreach, he did everything to ensure that the church stands. He writes the letter while in prison to assure Christians stand with their focus on the spread of the gospel. The passage also explains how unity is associated with living the gospel call. Paul united with other Christians to ensure the gospel reaches everyone; he could not do it alone. Additionally, it brings a sense of belonging in their quest toward success.

Thirdly about redemption, the passage teaches that recovery is associated with the love of God and the unity among Christianity. Those who are pure and love God are united through the Holy Spirit and the blood of Jesus Christ. Additionally, one gets a sense of belonging since they become part of the Cristian community. Finally, the major Thames in this passage include love, peace, and work. Paul says he who loves the gospel's good work will complete it during the day of the lord. Therefore, the love of gospel work fulfills one spirit and their life. Challenges are also among the themes in the passage as Paul is writing the letter from prison. Another item is prayer, Paul explains through playing he is joyful, and it brings partnership with Christianity.

Passage True Meaning

God's true meaning is that people should not despair from doing what they love despite the challenges that they face. For example, Paul was in prison, which did not make him stop ensuring that the gospel is spread to Christians. He had a calling of spreading the doctrine of the lord, and nothing could stop him from doing it. Moreover, when one has a calling, they hold their work in the heart. Paul says that Jesus began an excellent job in Cristian's, and it will end on the day of the lord. Therefore, Christians are living a calling, and the spread of the gospel is beyond their self-satisfaction. Thus, the work has a fulfillment more than the earning that they gain from it to such people. The eternal principle is that once a gospel work begins, it never completes, other people take the mental, and this moves on for generations as Christians wait for the second coming of Christ.

Conclusion

Paul writes to the church in the Philippines from prison, and he tells them that he is always praying for them, and he is happy for their partnership with him in the gospel. He elaborates that they have a calling for the work of the gospel, and it will end during the return of Crist. He tells them that he loves them and encourages them to remain pure. Writing from prison shows how one will always be urged to live there calling. Additionally, being happy to Paul shows how fulfilling one's work is to them if it is appealing. He clarifies that this work will never end until the day of the lord shows how a calling will always remain fulfilling to everyone who has it.

Duffy et al. 2018 interact with the topic though the fact that it has extrapolation of calling, especially in work. The paper goes beyond the gospel call, and it associates the calling on work and associates it with personal satisfaction. Hence the article develops the Work Calling Theory (WCT), which involves the theoretical and empirical testing of work. The paper points out the disparity in explanation of calling in action. It also summarizes the principle of calling in three aspects. First, people who get the calling approach there work in a way that brings meaning and purpose. Additionally, they focus on pro-social contributions that can make in their workplace. Thirdly, there exists either an internal force guiding them toward their career.

Moreover, the article argues that there exists a possibility of perceiving a calling and not living it. It explains that the two can only be achieved in the presence of an opportunity. For example, when one has the calling of being a teacher, they need a chance to attend the teachers' training and schools that they can teach. By doing this, they feel that what they are doing is fulfilling to them. Hence, in case they do not have an opportunity, then they are not likely to live there calling. The article agrees with Philippians 1-11 in such that it explains, calling involves a sense of pro-social motivation that encourages one toward a particular work. Finally, Duffy et al. 2018 also explain the different types of calls, including labor, children raising, and cleaning.

The Implication of Philippians 1:1-11.

One of the significant implications is the power of partnership, with partnership in the gospel there is an assured success. Additionally, Gospel calling knows no boundaries or temptations. Thirdly, a gospel calling is universal and will only end when Jesus comes again. Moreover, a calling has joy and fulfillment from it. Finally, those called in God's work are showered with grace and the love of God.

Application

Once people perceive a calling, they should always work toward it. Additionally, once they have a chance to live a calling, they should not let obstacles prevent them from making the change that they want to make. Paul's Imprisonment did not prevent him from spreading the gospel. People should also partner with others who have the same calling and work in a positive direction. For example, Paul had a calling, but he did not do this alone. He associated with other Christians to ensure the gospel reach as far as he can. Finally, living the calling should be fulfilling and bringing happiness to a person. Hence, if people are not satisfied with what they do, that is not there calls.

Conclusion

Calling has an internal urge, and it brings a more profound satisfaction to an individual. Many people have perceived a calling, but they have never had an opportunity to live their dreams. To live a calling, one is required to get a chance, and most of these opportunities are not available to a lot of people. Hence when one reaches this opportunity, they should appreciate and focus on making the changes they wanted to make through the calling. Moreover, there are many challenges, even in people leaving there calling, and one needs to be aggressive enough to deal with them.

References

Duffy, R. D., Dik, B. J., Douglass, R. P., England, J. W., & Velez, B. L. (2018). Work as a calling: A theoretical model. Journal of counseling psychology, 65(4), 423.

Schütz, J. H. (2007). Paul and the anatomy of apostolic authority. Presbyterian Publishing Corp.

Xie, B., Xia, M., Xin, X., & Zhou, W. (2016). Linking calling to work engagement and subjective career success: The perspective of career construction theory. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 94, 70-78.