Potential vs. Calling

A few months ago, someone sent me a link to a video excerpt from a message given by Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. I have watched it numerous times since, not merely to absorb its meaning (it is fairly straightforward), but rather, trying to absorb its meaning for me. I can see applications in several areas: as mid-level manager in a small business, as a parent, and as someone who was once (and will be again) involved in ministry.

First, watch this video ( ~ 8 minutes):


This idea of pursuing your calling and not your potential rings true to me. Around 2:20, Driscoll talks about the mistakes businesses make, when they pursue their potential as opposed to their calling. I believe I've seen that happen with every employer I've had. Each seems to lack that sense of corporate identity that says "This is who we were are, this is our mission, this is our purpose, and what we produce reflects that set of core values and capabilities." Instead, too often, it's: "We got some smart people, and we can do anything we put our minds to."

The substitution of potential and calling occurs in our churches too. Churches often spread their resources into a wide variety of ministries, and each has potential to bear fruit, representing a wonderful reflection of the heart of God for His people. Yet too often some ministries exist for the sake of themselves, and become the end rather than the means to an end. Churches all have a common mission, but each has a unique calling to the community they serve, and their ministries should reflect that calling. We should not let a number of "good things" distract us from the "first things." When our ministries are aligned to our calling, to a vision we can see and articulate, we find that what we are about is "unto something." That sense of purpose, of being unto something, is essential to maintaining passion in our service and our discipleship.

For an institution or organization of any kind to find long-lasting success, it must have that vision, that burning sense of purpose that burns more brightly than anything else that might serve to distract from its fundamental calling. It is the assurance and embrace of that calling that allows the organization to focus its efforts and resources on those activities that "best" aligns with its vision, avoiding those initiatives which may be "good," but not as well aligned.

To go even deeper, I discovered long ago that my individual efforts flounder when not aligned to a greater purpose. I have to be "unto something." Not just "doing something," but being "unto something." I'll explore this in a later post, as I have another video which I'd like to leverage. But fundamentally, it comes down to this: I'm called to bear fruit (John 15:16). Not for my sake, but for the sake of that which is greater and unto something.

I once thought I had all of this figured out, but I'm finding that much of it I'm having to relearn. But living life without the focus of purpose, well, it makes me feel empty. I'd rather be full, and aligned to a greater vision. Hm.