Discovering God’s Purpose in Your Career Part 1
This week, we’ll dive into how to build a meaningful career while discovering God’s purpose for your life. Proverbs 19:21 reminds us, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 3:5-6 adds: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Understanding God’s Calling Beyond Traditional Ministry
When we hear about God’s calling, we often think of clergy—priests, pastors, or ministers. But did you notice that in the Garden of Eden, there was no need for priests because God communicated directly with man, male and female alike? Interestingly, the first command God gave the man was to work: to till the ground, multiply, replenish, subdue, and have dominion over the earth. Genesis 2 highlights that nothing grew until God made man to work the land. This illustrates the divine partnership between God and humanity, where our work fulfils God’s purpose.
Careers as Expressions of God’s Purpose
Even though some are called to ministry, God’s calling isn’t limited to that. In fact, when we enter heaven’s fullness, there will be no need for apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers. God’s desire is to express Himself through the unique gifts He’s placed in each of us—and these gifts often find their expression in our careers.
Yes, the clergy can be a calling, but it can also be a chosen career path. As a calling into clergy, God gives one a special ability to act in a given office, while as a career path, it might come through an anointing or appointment by spiritual authority (like Paul speaks of in 1 Timothy 4:14 – by laying hands of the elders). As Paul also points out in 1 Timothy 3:1, “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.” This shows that even spiritual leadership can be a career choice. Jesus also explains this in Matthew 19:12 about being a eunuch.
Career decisions can come from different sources: God’s direct calling, choices made by others, or personal desires. Regardless of how it comes about, our careers are an avenue to fulfil the holy calling of God for our lives.
Examples of Biblical Figures Called in Different Careers
The Bible gives us numerous examples of people called to serve God in various fields of influence, outside traditional ministry roles: Abraham (a livestock farmer), Joseph (Prime Minister of Egypt), Bezalel (an artist), Daniel (a political advisor), Luke (a doctor and writer), Joseph (a carpenter), Paul (a tentmaker), Lydia (a businesswoman in luxury clothing). These individuals thrived in their careers, using their work as platforms to glorify God without needing to leave their professions. We too are called to let our light shine through the work of our hands, so that others may see God’s excellence in us and glorify Him.
Three Categories of Career Paths
Jesus stated in Matthew 19:12 : “Some are born Eunuchs, some were made Eunuchs by men and some made themselves Eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom.” This implies that career choices may result from different methods in line with our passions and we don’t necessarily need to wait for a spectacular spiritual event to happen for it to be tagged our calling. We have all been called unto a Holy vocation. Our various careers give expression to this calling. As we build our careers, we find ourselves in one of three categories:
1. Those born into a career path: Like Jeremiah, John the Baptist, and Samson, some people are destined for a particular role from birth, following a natural path set before them.
2. Those whose careers were chosen for them by others: Some find themselves in careers chosen by parents, authority figures, or life circumstances. They may be thriving, or they may struggle with discontent.
3. Those who choose their career based on a personal passion or for the Kingdom of God: This could be purely for selfish goals or a higher purpose like missionaries, nuns, monks, priests, or others who intentionally pursue careers to serve a higher purpose.
Often, these categories overlap, but it’s more common for people in the second group to feel unfulfilled.
What Is A Career?
A career is more than just a job. It’s a long-term journey that includes your work experiences, skills, and accomplishments. It involves growth, development, and opportunities for advancement.
What Is A Calling?
A calling is a deep sense of purpose and meaning in what you do. It’s an inner drive to fulfil a higher purpose that sustains you, even when challenges arise.
Can A Career Also Be A Calling?
Ideally, yes. A fulfilling career is one that aligns with your calling—a vocation that isn’t just a job, but a meaningful expression of your purpose in life.
Common Misconceptions About Career Building
There are many misconceptions about careers that we need to explore albeit, briefly before delving deeper into the art of career planning.
Building a career can be a complex journey, and several misconceptions can mislead people along the way. Here are some of the most common ones:
1. There’s Only One Perfect Career for You
Reality: Many people believe there’s a single “perfect” career that will bring them ultimate happiness. In reality, there are often multiple career paths that can be fulfilling and align with your skills and interests.
2. You Must Follow a Linear Path
Reality: Careers are rarely linear. Many successful professionals have taken winding paths, switching industries or roles multiple times. Flexibility and adaptability are key to navigating your career.
3. Higher Education Guarantees Success
Reality: While education is important, it doesn’t guarantee career success. Practical experience, networking, and soft skills often play a crucial role in career advancement.
4. Self-Employment Equals Freedom
Reality: Many believe that being self-employed means having more freedom. However, self-employment often involves long hours, multiple responsibilities, and financial uncertainty. Some might thrive better in an organised employed environment while some will do better working independently.
5. Networking is Only for Extroverts
Reality: Networking is essential for career growth, and it’s not just for extroverts. Introverts can also build strong professional relationships through one-on-one interactions and online networking. I will be writing deeper on this subject of building relational equity in the workplace.
6. Changing Careers is a Sign of Failure
Reality: Changing careers is often seen as a failure or a sign of indecision. In truth, it can be a sign of growth and self-awareness, leading to greater fulfillment and success.
7. You Need to Have Everything Figured Out Early
Reality: Many people feel pressured to have their entire career mapped out from a young age. However, career paths can evolve over time, and it’s okay to explore different options and make changes as you grow.
8. Promotions are Solely Based on Merit
Reality: While merit is important, promotions often depend on a combination of factors, including networking, visibility, and timing. Building relationships and advocating for yourself are also crucial. The people of the world tend to be smarter here than believers. We should be wise as serpents but remain innocent as doves in the marketplace.
9. You Should Stick to One Industry
Reality: Sticking to one industry is not always necessary. Skills and experiences can be transferable across different fields, and exploring various industries can lead to new opportunities and growth. I have doctor colleagues who are IT and accounting consultants as well.
10. You Need to Know the Right People to Succeed
Reality: While networking is important, success is not solely dependent on knowing the right people. Hard work, persistence, and continuous learning also play significant roles. Our edge as believers is our access to the wisdom of the Holy Spirit like Joseph and Daniel had and were able to deliver nations.
Let us break away from the mindset of treating our career as unimportant and seeing ministry as only preaching with words. Our career is where we spend most of our lives and God desires to use it as the vehicle to express Himself through us everywhere we go.
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