by Dustin (bio)
I get it. I understand what people are saying. We aren't going to arrive at the pearly gates and have the Lord shaking his head with disappointment that we were a lawyer instead of a doctor or an investment banker instead of an educator. I believe most lines of work are equal in the eyes of God. And yes, he does want us to do whatever we do with integrity. But the moment this becomes an excuse to just "eeny-meeny-miny-mo" it and pick a career, I think we are selling ourselves short. Here's my logic.
If the Lord wants me to be happy, and "men are that they might have joy," then surely He didn't intend for that to only occur before work or after hours. Certainly he wants me to find joy in my day-to-day labors ... in the activity where I spend the most time each day. In addition, I can surely find some joy in any job, but that isn't the same as "loving what you do." For that love to occur, I would argue that I need to be enjoying more than 75% of my daily labors. I need to be utilizing my strengths the majority of the time and experience the rush of energy that comes with doing so. And, if the Lord will help me find my keys when they are lost then why wouldn't he help me find the best job that most aligns with the God-given abilities and talents I've been given from Him!? He will and he has! I've experienced it and can say that if you care to ask He cares to answer. This is the parable of the talents. To each of his servants he gave them talents. One did nothing with his and was chastised. His talents were removed and given away to others. To the others he rewarded them for multiplying the gifts they had been given. "Well done," he said, for not hiding what you had been given and reserving it for Sundays only or off-work hours.
Saying God doesn't care what we do as long as we do it well is true, just like me saying that I don't care what profession my kids choose as long as they do it with integrity. At the same time, if my kids ask me to help them find a career that I believe aligns best with what I know about their talents and abilities -- if they care to ask -- then I am going to help them find that because I know they will be happier, which will lead to greater success, which will lead to greater impact, and their light will so shine that others will see their good works and glorify God.
What I'm saying is this: Don't give up on your quest to figure out what to do with your life because you haven't found it. And especially don't settle for just working hard at something you hate. If you can't take what you're doing right now, ask the Lord for help and he will guide you. And if you need more practical solutions, hit me up. But don't leave the Lord out of the equation. He gave you talents to use them and even to profit with them, and all he asks in return is that you give him credit where it's due.
I'm off my soapbox.
