Scripture: Numbers 28:18
On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall not work at your occupations.
Thought for the Day: What is your occupation and what is your vocation? For some people, their occupation is also their vocation. Others need to earn money at their occupation so they can participate in their vocation. As I understand the term, vocation is your passion that has a positive ramification beyond yourself. My concern is that people in today’s culture are so consumed with their occupation that they do not make room for their vocation. I can still remember sitting at the bedside of a man in his early 60’s as he was dying. Though a regular attender in Sunday morning worship, he shared a great disappointment as we sat together in the hospital room. He had always felt called to volunteer at a local school, yet he had continued to put it off…put it off until some imagined day when things would slow down. As there never seemed to be time, he focused more and more on retirement as his opportunity to volunteer. The sad part of it was that he never made it to retirement, and that day in the hospital room, he visibly grieved his over commitment to making money at the sacrifice of his personal passion. The scriptures invite us to make time every week for God, and though I think worship is an essential component in the Christian life, I believe the teaching of sabbath was to emphasize the importance of having a balanced life. How balanced are you?
Prayer: Help me, Gracious God, to find ways of expressing my gifts while fulfilling my passion. Amen.
