What is the difference between purpose and calling?
Earlier, I defined calling as an invitation to a loving relationship with God that leads to participation in his work in a way that requires that all we are, have, and do be completely devoted to glorifying God. Calling has to do with “doing”: Living (acting) in a relationship and doing work that happens within the relationship.
Our purpose is why God calls us in the first place. Our purpose is to glorify God. The Westminster Shorter Catechism says, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.” We all share the same purpose (to bring God glory) but have different callings that align with how God has designed us.
God created us for a purpose. He gives each of us a calling as a means to achieve his purpose. Again, the purpose is to Glorify God, and the means is our calling. Your purpose is more important than your calling, but you cannot achieve it without your calling. Calling is the road you take to get to the purpose, while purpose is why you take that road in the first place. In Christ, we all have the same purpose, but we have uniquely different callings to achieve it.
We are one team with one owner, one coach, and one goal. That goal is to win the game and make the coach and owner proud and bring him glory. But the team has different players who play different positions on the field and so have different roles or callings on the field.
In soccer, one is a goalkeeper; others are defenders, midfielders, attackers, and right and left-wingers. The purpose is to win and bring glory to the coach, owner, and the nation. But the roles are different. We are all different pieces of a puzzle. We are shaped differently and fit in different places as God has designed us. However, we have the same purpose. When God puts us together and solves the puzzle, it brings him glory.
Take, for example, the Honda Motor Company. It may make motorcycles, cars (many different models and categories), aircraft or other flying vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, and so forth. The products have the same purpose, which is to provide easy, affordable, and fun transportation. And, of course, to make a profit doing so. However, they are designed to achieve this goal differently. That is, they have different callings.
Picture the following scenario with me in your mind’s eye. On judgment day, Mr. Honda, the creator of these products, sits in judgment over them. First, he goes by category. He starts with the motorcycles. He designed different types of motorcycle models differently. He gave them different horsepower and capabilities. He asks each motorcycle, “Did you do your job as I designed you to do?” He doesn’t expect all motorcycle models to perform the same. Each one has unique features he included and so different performance expectations. A product is judged based on what it was designed to do. Each one comes with a product manual that details how it is supposed to function and what should be expected of it. If a particular product is not doing its job well, it is often discontinued, and a new product is made.
There are different callings (roles) but the same purpose (the reason for starting the company). The purpose is general (everyone has the same purpose), and the calling is specific (everyone’s calling is unique).
A person’s calling is as unique as their fingerprint. Each person is designed according to his or her calling. Reflecting on the fantastic truth that we each have a design, King David of Israel praised his God, saying, “You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Psalms 139:13-16).
We each have unique gifts, passions, talents, personalities, and experiences that shape us and make us uniquely suited for our calling in life. I codify these endowments in my acrostic DESIGN. DESIGN stands for Dreams and visions; Experiences and circumstances; Spirit’s leading; Interests, desires, and passions; gifts and strengths; and nature (or personality).
The events of the Bible can be viewed as a four-part sequence: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. The fall has marred the perfect expression of each person’s DESIGN. However, when we surrender our wills to God and die to ourselves, the work of redemption makes its impact on us, and restoration happens.
When it comes to purpose and calling, remember this: We are “called according to His purpose.” “In him we were also chosen [or called], having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” Eph. 1:11 NIV
Every single one of us was created for one purpose and only one purpose. We were created to glorify God. How do you glorify God? By living out your purpose. Rick Warren breaks down this purpose into five areas: Worship, Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry, and Mission.[i] Other pastors like A.W. Tozer have presented the same message without breaking it into five key areas. No matter how we slice this apple, the key is that God created us to glorify him. Jesus said, “I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to do” John 17:4 NLT. Jesus glorified God by fulfilling his calling on earth. We also glorify God by doing what God created us to do. A product brings glory to the maker by performing as designed. A messenger brings glory to the sender by doing what he is told to do. All creation brings glory to God when it functions as God designed it to function. St. Irenaeus said, “The glory of God is a human being fully alive.” The glory of God is the only reason we are here on earth.
[i]Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009), 58.
