Discover The Word

Tuesday, March 9, 2010, Part 4

IDEA: There are questions Christians must consider when they think about their employment.

PURPOSE: To help Christians give serious thought to the way they invest their lives.

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and with sincerity of heart just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one of you for whatever good you do, whether you are slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him” (Ephesians 6:5-9).

Do you think it was simpler for a slave in the first century than for people today to know the right career choices? Why?

Thoughtful Christians will ask some hard questions about career choices when they have freedom to make a decision. There are several questions we ought to wrestle with:

I. Is what I am doing the most productive thing I can do with my life in the present circumstances?

II. Does my vocation take the best I have to offer in the talents and skills God has given me?

If we believe that God gives talents and skills, then we’re wise to look at the places where those could be best used.

III. Does my work allow me to treat all persons as being important to God?

IV. Is my work the kind of occupation that I can pray about on the job?

Is it the kind of work that I feel has God’s smile upon it?

V. Is this the only position open to me at this time?

Sometimes the choice of job is very limited. It’s perfectly legitimate to work to put bread on the table. There may be no other options open to you.