Love for Your Vocation

Bible Study 3: Love for Your Vocation


10 David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,

“Praise be to you, Lord,
    the God of our father Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting.
11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
    and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
    for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
    you are exalted as head over all.
12 Wealth and honor come from you;
    you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
    to exalt and give strength to all.
13 Now, our God, we give you thanks,
    and praise your glorious name.

14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 15 We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16 Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. 18 Lord, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. 19 And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.”

— 1 Chronicles 29:10-19

Introduction

Observing transitions between leaders and the reflections they have and the counsel they give to their replacements is often quite instructive.  One of these transitions is from King David to his son King Solomon.  Let’s consider David’s prayer at the end of his reign and the beginning of Solomon’s and reflect on how this prayer may shape our own love for our particular areas of work within the university.

What mentor have you valued in your own role that has helped to grow your love for your work? How are you mentoring someone in your field to love the scope and challenges of it?

Discussion Questions

King David Praises God (verses 10-13):

  1. For what does King David express his gratitude to God?
  2. How might acknowledging God as Creator and ruler help to grow our love for your particular role on campus? Can you give a concrete example of that?
  3. How do we communicate this spiritual dimension of our love for our field to our students and colleagues?

King David's Confession (verses 14-17):

  1. How would you describe David’s attitude in this part of his prayer?
  2. In what ways might these attitudes be difficult to nurture in the context of our work?
  3. What positive steps can we take with each other to nurture these attitudes?

King David's Prayer for His Son Solomon (verses 18-19):

  1. What does David long for and ask God to give his son?
  2. How do these requests capture even more deeply our love for what we do?
  3. What would you want your colleagues to pray for you as you devote yourself to your particular role on campus?

 

Learn more about the Four Loves of the Student Affairs Christian Network here.

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