Tim Keller on Discerning Your Calling

The other day I linked to Michael Horton’s article on discerning your calling. Tim Keller also has a very helpful article on that as well (online as a pdf).

You’ll notice these articles are in agreement with the same basic three questions to consider, but they complement one another in a helpful way.

Here’s the summary from the end of Keller’s article:

Your vocation is a part of God’s work in the world, and God gives you resources for serving the human community. These factors can help you identify your calling.

Affinity—“Look out.”
Affinity is the normal, existential/priestly way to discern call. What people needs do I vibrate to?

Ability—“Look in.”
Ability is the normal, rational/prophetic way to discern call. What am I good at doing?

Opportunity—“Look up.”
Opportunity is the normal, organizational/kingly way to discern call. What do the leaders/my friends believe is the most strategic kingdom need?

Your life is not a series of random events. Your family background, education, and life experiences—even the most painful ones—all equip you to do some work that no one else can do. “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do“ (Eph. 2:10).

(HT: Resurgence)

August 23, 2011 | Filed Under Vocation | 5 Comments

Comments

5 Responses to “Tim Keller on Discerning Your Calling”

nate on August 23rd, 2011 6:35 am

I thought you determined God’s call on your life by listening for an audible voice…
Alex Chediak on August 24th, 2011 1:00 am

Matt,

Thanks for this. I’ve not yet read the Keller piece (but I did read the Horton one years ago when it first came out, and it’s influenced me strongly ever sense).

I’m not sure an assessment of ability is all about “look in” – and perhaps that’s not what you or Keller are saying. Sometimes we aren’t as good as what we think we’re good at (and the opposite can also be the case). The most proficient individuals in a field are often the best judges, because we can fool ourselves. A funny study once found that (on average) Koreans students think they’re bad at math and American students think they’re great at it. But the test scores showed the opposite to be true! Facts are stubborn things.

The high self-esteem of some is unfounded. Others think little of their skills, but their excellence is evident to those who know best. [On a related note, it seems to me that anyone who is excellent at anything is continuously seeking to get better at whatever it is they do -- throw a football, play the piano, whatever.]

Love your blog. Hope your book is going well.

Alex
Matt on August 24th, 2011 2:37 pm

Great thoughts, Alex. I like how you point out that people can undervalue their abilities as well. You don’t hear people make that point too often, but I think it’s very important.
adam on February 11th, 2013 5:34 am

Any chance of a link to the Horton article.

Can’t seem to find it through a search!

Many thanks,
Adam
Matt on April 23rd, 2013 2:27 pm

Adam: Added the link above. Sorry for the delay!