Finding Joy in Our Calling

It is incredibly easy to fall into viewing our work as a chore. It’s so easy, in fact, that it may even feel more natural to complain than to delight in the work God has called us to. Fundraising is just one of the infinite realms into which this feeling can creep. We may find ourselves growing weary of repetition, feeling drained and tired, stretched thin and stressed, or simply burnt out. No matter what vocation God has called us to, these are feelings experienced by many.

Yet amidst this weariness, we are continually called to serve and glorify God in and through our vocations. Fundraising is a particular vocation, a calling, and can even be a mission field in and of itself.

This idea is alluded to numerous times throughout Scripture. In Matthew 5, Jesus calls us to be a light, reminding His disciples and Christians today that a lamp is not created to be hidden under a bowl but rather to sit on its stand and shine light to all those around it. The Bible reminds us multiple times that work is a gift and that we are to take joy in our work for the glory of God. Our vocations occupy much of our days and, whether working in a secular or religious setting, they are exceptional places to outwardly shine the light of the Holy Spirit within us, turning the mundane into our mission.

As we go about fundraising, it is crucial to remember that this work should be built on relationships, not a desire for financial or personal gain. The donors from whom we request money are people, created in the image of God, just as we are. They are not simply beings with dispensable funds, made only for donations, and it is key that we remember their image-bearingness as we build relationships with them and seek to get to know them for who God has intentionally designed them to be.

It is in this relationship building that we step into fundraising as a ministry, for this is a unique opportunity to love your donors with a genuine intentionality that reflects Christ. Healthy relationships flow from a desire to love the people around you so radically that they wonder what energizes you with this love.

It truly is possible to find joy in your vocation. God created us to work, after all. When we turn our eyes away from earthly gain or validation from man, and instead fix our gaze above and strive simply to glorify God with our gifts as best we can, we will experience a deeper enjoyment and appreciation for the work that we do.