Called.

"...the Lord enjoins every one of us, in all the actions of life, to have respect to our own calling. He knows the boiling restlessness of the human mind, the fickleness with which it is borne hither and thither, it's eagerness to hold opposites at one time in it's grasp, its ambition. Therefore, lest all things should be thrown into confusion by our folly and rashness, he has assigned distinct duties to each in the different modes of life. And that no one may presume to overstep his proper limits, he has distinguished the different modes of life by the name of callings. Every man's mode of life, therefore, is a kind of station assigned him by the Lord, that he may not be always driven about at random." - John Calvin's Institutes - Book 3 Chapter 10 Section 6

The Lord calls us from a mode of life to that same mode of life in godliness. We have such a tendency to always strive for things that don't matter, to 'make something of ourselves'. Or it's easy for us to sit and stress about what God's plan for our lives is and whether or not we are following it. The Bible's view of this kind of thinking seems to be that we should strive for holiness, love our neighbours, and put to death the deeds of the flesh in the condition or station in which we are called. Live as a Christian where you work now, where you live now, among the people you know now. We don't need to go chasing fame or status so that God may be glorified. God is glorified in us when we seek to honor Him in the every day stuff. It's easy to think of the pastors and missionaries around us as serving God 'better' or doing more for God. The Christian who seeks to honor God in his life now - where he works and lives - honor's God just as much. We are not all called to be a Piper or MacArthur. We are not all called to be a Carey or Müller. We are called out of our sin into a life filled with gratitude to the One who saves us from the judgement and punishment that we so deserve.

"So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God." (1 Corinthians 7:24 ESV)

Calvin's view of the benefits of having an understanding of this:

"The magistrate will more willingly perform his office, and the father of a family confine himself to his proper sphere. Every one in his particular mode of life will, without repining, suffer its inconveniences, cares, uneasiness, and anxiety, persuaded that God has laid on the burden. This, too, will afford admirable consolation, that in following your proper calling, no work will be so mean and sordid as not to have a splendor and value in the eye of God."

Amen to that.