Why did you choose your current job?
Hello all,
It has been a blessing to be a part of this online fellowship. Though I haven't contributed till now, I will assure you that the comments and discussion posted has intrigued many, reaching far past those visible on this blog.
Last week, Matt asked the question of how we can use creatively use business to do God's work. The story of Muhammad Yunus caught my eye that week as well. What a great living witness to our efforts here. To understand where he came from and what he has established for impoverished people throughout Bangladesh brings hope in my eyes to our efforts here.
The past few weeks we have discussed where we think we should be as Christian businessmen, as well as where we believe we can go (by Yunus' example). This week, I think it's important to discuss how we got here. As Christians, what inspired us to be where we are in the business world? Did we go directly into ministry in the traditional sense of the word? Or were we directed by what we can't seem to get a grasp on; the modern business/socio-economic culture that we were raised?
Last week, Matt brought up several points in which God seemed to directly appoint people to positions of servitude. Whether it be Adam tending the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15) or Paul as a tentmaker (Acts 18:2-4), we get the sense that these men were commissioned by God to perform these duties to glorify Him.
How do we translate that to today? Surely, I wasn't commissioned by God to be an accountant. Somewhere along the way, I felt purpose to provide for my future and put God on the back burner for the time being. Surely if I could only get into a position of influence, I could then instill God's will through as a witness to His glory. But is that really His will? At what point did each of you "decide" where and what would you do? Did you take the ultimate glorification of God into consideration when doing so? Did it concern you at all that your job might not serve God's will? I know for myself, I created a very bifurcated world in which how I made my living, would greatly differ from how I lived. What makes us do this?
Paul sheds a little light on this topic in Romans 12:1-8. He first and foremost urges the Roman people to offer themselves as spiritual sacrifices to God in view of His mercy. I know I've discussed this with Matt and KC at great length. To fully submit to God's will, you must offer your body as a holy sacrifice to Him to prepare your mind for what His will would be. For instance, if you are an accountant but feel God is pulling you elsewhere, you must first offer yourself to Him COMPLETELY before you can, in sound mind, accept what His will is for you. If it was God's will for you to remain in a job that you didn't particularly like but was where God's will is fulfilled, would you be willing to stay there?
I apologize for the length of this post. It's quite easy to get carried away. Hopefully this will be a good point to discern where we've come from to more clearly see where we can go. It is my hope that each of us would take an honest look at our own life and ask ourselves if we are living sacrifices for God.
It has been a blessing to be a part of this online fellowship. Though I haven't contributed till now, I will assure you that the comments and discussion posted has intrigued many, reaching far past those visible on this blog.
Last week, Matt asked the question of how we can use creatively use business to do God's work. The story of Muhammad Yunus caught my eye that week as well. What a great living witness to our efforts here. To understand where he came from and what he has established for impoverished people throughout Bangladesh brings hope in my eyes to our efforts here.
The past few weeks we have discussed where we think we should be as Christian businessmen, as well as where we believe we can go (by Yunus' example). This week, I think it's important to discuss how we got here. As Christians, what inspired us to be where we are in the business world? Did we go directly into ministry in the traditional sense of the word? Or were we directed by what we can't seem to get a grasp on; the modern business/socio-economic culture that we were raised?
Last week, Matt brought up several points in which God seemed to directly appoint people to positions of servitude. Whether it be Adam tending the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15) or Paul as a tentmaker (Acts 18:2-4), we get the sense that these men were commissioned by God to perform these duties to glorify Him.
How do we translate that to today? Surely, I wasn't commissioned by God to be an accountant. Somewhere along the way, I felt purpose to provide for my future and put God on the back burner for the time being. Surely if I could only get into a position of influence, I could then instill God's will through as a witness to His glory. But is that really His will? At what point did each of you "decide" where and what would you do? Did you take the ultimate glorification of God into consideration when doing so? Did it concern you at all that your job might not serve God's will? I know for myself, I created a very bifurcated world in which how I made my living, would greatly differ from how I lived. What makes us do this?
Paul sheds a little light on this topic in Romans 12:1-8. He first and foremost urges the Roman people to offer themselves as spiritual sacrifices to God in view of His mercy. I know I've discussed this with Matt and KC at great length. To fully submit to God's will, you must offer your body as a holy sacrifice to Him to prepare your mind for what His will would be. For instance, if you are an accountant but feel God is pulling you elsewhere, you must first offer yourself to Him COMPLETELY before you can, in sound mind, accept what His will is for you. If it was God's will for you to remain in a job that you didn't particularly like but was where God's will is fulfilled, would you be willing to stay there?
I apologize for the length of this post. It's quite easy to get carried away. Hopefully this will be a good point to discern where we've come from to more clearly see where we can go. It is my hope that each of us would take an honest look at our own life and ask ourselves if we are living sacrifices for God.
posted by JB at 11:32 PM
11 Comments:
This is Jason Terry. I agree with Michael Chao. It's been very eye opening to see how the rest of the world lives and acts. Dell has been both a blessing and a burden. I've learned alot while working here that have opened my eyes but it's also tough to deal with sometimes. In some ways I wish it would make me a stronger Christian but somehow it hasn't and I believe that's my fault. It's a learning process and I'm definitely learning.
Well I added this post but never really told my story. I was a public accountant for the last two years, up until recently, when I switched jobs to be a financial analyst at a public steel company. I chose my current job because it was nothing like my accounting job in relation to stress, hours, etc.
I think my decision process as to what area of business I would choose, ultimately was derived through fear. My dad was laid off from his job my senior year of high school and that was a big turning point for me. I vowed that I never wanted my kids to have to go through that. So what was my answer? Become an accountant, which had a shear guarantee that I would always have a job. I really never thought about it until today, but that's why I did it. It wasn't out of passion for accounting, a calling, or even ambition. It was out of fear.
Now I'm at the point in my life where I really don't know what I want to do (or should do). But I find it hard to distinguish between changing my career for selfish, immature reasons, or for the glory of God. I think this blog is a good place to start.
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i currently work for my dad as a field engineer or something like that at a construction site. it's a short-term, probably about six months, job. i took the job for two main reasons:
1) a chance to learn a lot about engineering in a short amount of time. figured it wasn't a bad idea to give the field i studied a legitimate shot before looking more intently into other things.
2) a chance to work closely with my dad. without going into a ton of detail, i considered it a chance to get to know my dad in his world, to learn to "speak his language." (maybe i've been involved with young life for too long... couldn't i have just asked him to lunch?)
anyway, not a lot of career aspirations with this comment. but to say i never think about it would be a flat lie. i waste more brain energy on no other subject. more and more though, i discover that my life is not about me (what i want, what i think that i need, the kind of life i want to live). so instead, i will go where i feel god has led me and spend my time working, learning what it means to be in relationship with god, and seeking meaningful friendships with the people around me.
sounds real simple. but honestly i wonder every day what the heck i'm doing with myself. i PRAY that i'd find my significance in the simple things of knowing god and loving people.
I am one of those history majors who didn't see a clear career path out of undergrad, so I chose to apply to law school in search of perspective. I will graduate in May 07 from law school and my added perspective is that I have determined that I do not want to work at a law firm... at least I've added an additional skill set.
In essence, I have merely delayed for 3 years, what now is purely a leap of faith. I've let God in on my current plan to move to a new city knowing almost no one where I'll apply for about any position imaginable and will gladly allow Him to redirect and/or toss something in my lap like He did for Michael.
I'm very goal oriented, at least on a small scale, so without a set goal, it's been difficult to approach school/work as worship (Col 3:23) when there's no alternate selfish motivation. Nonetheless, I will continue to seek Him while taking a firm hold on Jer. 29:11. It should be a very interesting 2007.
When I was about to graduate from UT, I was struck with the dilemma of wanting to be a committed follower of Christ and the lack of opportunity to do so in business. Everyone told me to be a preacher. That just made me want to be in business even more.
So I called a friend's dad who explained the difference between Peter and Paul. Peter was the rock on which Jesus built the church (Matthew 16:18) and to fulfill that role, he depended upon others to provide his physical needs. Paul was a tentmaker (Acts 18:2-4) who worked night and day so he wouldn't have to ask for anything as he traveled and preached (1 Thessalonians 2:9). Peters need Pauls and Pauls need Peters, he told me. They were both full-time ministers just exhibited in different ways. So I set out to find my tentmaking.
I interviewed with Procter & Gamble and really struggled with the idea that I would be marketing Tide with Bleach. I know people need to wash their clothes, but I couldn't reconcile charging them more because our detergent smells "Mountain Fresh" (whatever that is).
So I decided on consulting. I figured it would be an opportunity to get something like a graduate education while getting paid. I am confident that God led me here, but I am similarly confident that I have gradually lost the zeal I had for making Him known when I arrived for my first day on the job. No one looks back at Paul and says "what a great businessman"...we know him only as a man of God who happened to conduct business. I'm afraid people at Deloitte, if they even know I am in love with Jesus, know that only as a sidenote to my role there as a businessman.
I came to Deloitte to be a full-time minister and that hasn't exactly worked out...due I'm sure to both my disobedience and to the incompatibility of my goal with a profit-focused enterprise (Matthew 6:24, 2 Corinthians 6:14, Ecclesiastes 8:2-6).
I work for an inner city church, whose mission is to 'the left out and the right brained.'
I never would have thought this would be what I would be doing after I finished school at UT. In fact, it's nothing that I thought I would have been doing when I moved to CO 5 years ago.
After I finished school I got a job doing real estate management. I did that for 1.5 years before I was hired on at a wilderness ministry in CO. I was at that job for 2 weeks, after which time I realized that the company was not who they had presented themselves to be. I ended up in Denver, where I got a job doing real estate development for 1.5 years.
About 6 months into my time at my RE development job, I started classes part time at Denver Seminary. I met a friend there who invited me to the church where I now work. I attended the church and loved it, but never thought that I would work there. I took a part time at a suburban church, and found myself constantly talking about the inner-city, etc.
Well, I give all that background to note that I, by no means, went looking for this job. It was a development over the 6 years after I graduated from college that God, I believe, led me to work at the church where I currently am.
And I say that because this is a job that has involved heartache and pain. I have had to watch people destroy their lives, and watch a growing disparity among those who have and those who have not. And, as one who raises my own salary, I have watched friends refuse to take phone calls, even if they have nothing to do with support.
And all of that makes one success that much more worthy of praise. When one addict comes clean, or one homeless kid gets an apartment, or one unemployable artist gets a job...it all makes sense. When one person comes to know that Christ's power saves both at the eschaton and now, it is incredibly amazing and awe-inspiring.
Will I stay here forever? I don't know. I am finishing my MDiv in May, but don't think that I could go to work in the suburbs again. There's nothing wrong with suburban churches AT ALL, but I wouldn't be able to forget what I've seen, both good AND bad. But, I know what I am doing now and am grateful for the opportunity for it
I choose my job at Deloitte because I thought playing with computers was something I was going to enjoy. I am in the IT dept here and realize that I came here more because I like to help people. It has become more of a job than an enjoyment.
A few years ago I started a business. It was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. I got involved in a teaching/ mentoring system that has made all the difference in my life. Have I made it to financial freedom, no. Am I on my way, YES. This was an answer to a prayer for me. To help in my marriage, my parenting and most importantly, my relationship to GOD. I remember the day that I was crying in my room because of more financial problems that were going on and my son, 5 years old at the time, walking into my room. having no idea what was going on he said, You should pray about it. I did, my brother brought a business idea into my life and that has made all the difference. I feel this is going in the right direction. It will provide more time and money. Who could not use that to volunteer more, give to our churches and charities, spend time with our family, touch other people's lives. Overall make a difference for God. I pray daily that or success continues and I will also pray for everyone on this blog to make a difference as well.
This is Thomas Means and I try not to be my own life but His. I am now a CPA working for Ernst & Young. Why did I choose my current job? I don't think I had the option of choosing my current job, it just came to me. Let me explain my background: I was born deaf and had many challenges growing up, but I was very determined to break the Deaf stereotype (uneducated, nonreligious/nonspiritual because of clear barriers of communication at church, always settling for mediocrity, seclusion to the hearing world, etc.) However, my grandfather was president of a bank, my other grandfather is the owner of an insurance co., my father started a home health business; I thought I would continue the bloody business blood so I enrolled in business school in college. I worked hard in grade school, God opened the door for me to get in the University and the Business School. From there, Accounting just stood out for me. Call me weird but I never viewed it as boring, I just got excited over boring stuff. I also realized I had the opportunity of obtaining a wealth of knowledge of how a business operates. While a student in the "#1 public accounting school in the nation", I never had to look for a job, the job wanted/needed me. I thought I had it made. So, here I am at E&Y in my second year. Now, I feel JB.
I want to go on a mission trip to serve Him. I had many opportunities to go, but I have been held back because of my job or the timing hasn't been right. So, I've just been supporting my friends financially on their mission trips. I also want to reach out to the broken deaf brothers/sisters who has lost all hope. However, God tells me (or so it seems) that I am not ready to leave just yet. I second Chao about "There seems to be something that has been put on my heart to be a light to this company and the people in it." The one thing I'm trying to figure out, as I'm sure some of you are as well, is whether I should be "letting go and letting God" or actively pursuing what "God has planned for me". Read 1 Cor 7:23 "You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men." We are not our life.
I just started graduate school this fall. Hopefully in 3-4 years I will have a degree, either an MDiv or an MCS. Still uncertain about that.
I left the business world about 3 years ago because I wanted to explore in more depth the Christian vision of the world, the Kingdom of God, and the connection between our beliefs and our behavior. I couldn't have articulated it like that when I left, but that is how it has turned out. God called me out of the business world. That I know for certain.
Many of the questions I have come from the struggle to reconcile what I believed about the world (the Christian Worldview) and how I actually behaved in the world. Systematic injustice, destruction of the earth, sustainable communities, and the unnecessary sacred/secular divide drive much of what I am studying here at school, and much of what I hope to discuss on this blog.
This is Greg Johnson.
In short - to make an impact. I've been leading a study of James in my Sunday school class the past few weeks...I love James. He's practical, a bit blunt and very to the point. In chapter 4, verse 14, he makes the following point: "Why, you don't even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." On the surface, this drives home our relative insignificance and the brevity of our time on earth. Digging a bit deeper, we realize that what James is telling us to do is to make an impact - our legacy is what we leave behind when we are gone. He goes on to say in verse 17 that if we know the good we should be doing (the impact we should make) and do not do it, we are committing a sin. This is true in our service of God (we need to follow the call and get out there and be ministers in our communities and homes) and in the workplace (do good work in whatever your chosen field, let people see you are a Christian through your actions in a professional setting). I am a healthcare consultant. I chose this job to make an impact - to impact my clients, to impact the healthcare industry, to impact my community through connections I make through my job and to impact the young men and women that I am privileged to work with every day. Of all of these, the impact on the staff is most important - helping others to succeed is my highest calling. Teach them to succeed and they'll be able to teach others to do the same thing.....
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