CAREER?

I want to preface before I continue writing this blog.

Preface: In preparation to write this blog, I have read Working For God by Andrew Murray and the scriptures extensively.

This post has come out of several conversations with friends and even for myself I want to biblical go through this topic. Also, I remember listening to a chapel services from Dallas Theological Seminary on this very topic.

I want to pose a theme question. Can you work a career(job) and fulfill a calling at the same time?

You may read this and automatically say "yes!" I think the question is simplistic in nature but very complex because we need a proper definition of career and calling.

Career connotes objects of authority. When I think of a career, I think of one's occupation as defined by the dictionary. Another definition would be "a general progression of your working or professional life." When I think of career think of choice. You choose to receive training in this area and now you need "dadada (drumroll please)" experience. You work on experience to enable yourself to manage those with no experience some designated time in the future.

Is that it? Is there no more to working in a career than that? Not trying to demean the process but doesn't a follower of Christ live for more than that. Now, I do want to state that the work itself can be done to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:23 - "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,"

A career has objects, A calling has an object.

In the 27th chapter of Working for God he says, "The gospel never takes away anything from us without giving us something better in its stead. It meets the desire for riches by the command to be rich in good works. Good works are the coin that is current in God's kingdom: according to these will be the reward in the world to come. By abounding in good works we lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven. Even here on earth they constitute a treasure, in the testimony of a good conscience, in the consciousness of being well pleasing to God (1 John 3) in the power of blessing others."

Titus 2:14 - who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Calling.

John 1:12 - But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

When I think of calling, I think of life and the "Christian" answer Jesus giving His life for me. I think of the everyday of life, though. Calling does not have words like retirement. Your calling is a lifelong endeavor for the glory of God.

Andrew Murray spoke extensively about good works and the first passage of scripture that comes to mind is James 2:14-26 for me.

James 2:26 - For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

I do not like sharing stories of myself but I am qualify because that is what I am about to do. My very first job out of college that I took with a temporary mindset and the job was only temporary to me. Before I continue, when I say temporary I mean ready to leave and go do something else. I will perfect every task but I know this job has a definite end date. Initial it was in hopes to go overseas with the Peace Corps which requires a hard-earned Bachelor's degree. This job, however, does not need a degree. By definition, I would be over-qualified to work. I began to question statements or phrases like over-qualified, thank God it is Friday t.g.i.f, the weekend is almost here, or my favorite phrase when things are slow is to not say that it is slow. Who is over-qualified to work? Why thank God only for Friday? What happens when the weekend comes? What happens when you say it is slow or fast and how does that change the pace of work that is already taken place and will continue? Maybe, I have too much time on my hands to think about those kind of questions. Are those questions not valid, though?

If I can work, I work with all of my heart. Colossians 3:23,24 - Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
If I can give thanks, I thank God in unceasing reverence. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 - Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
If I can have weekends, I want to look for the opportunity to rest. I want to look for the opportunity to find solitude in Him. All the instances of Jesus withdrawing from the crowds and even the apostles. Here is one instance, Matthew 26:36-39 - Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray." And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."

A career can only fill. A calling fulfills.

Do what you are called to do not what you are supposed to do.

I hope that answers the theme question.