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We are all familiar with that question. Remember when
one of your aunts or uncles asked you? Hopefully, it was
when you were a young person and not an adult.
Everyone needs a model to follow, and it's never too
late to teach our children about the biblical principles
of work and stewardship of talents. And, apparently,
it's also never too early to plan for a career. Consider
the fact that modern day public schools often force
teens to make key education and career decisions at
increasingly earlier ages sometimes as early as sixth or
seventh grade.
But is that the best way to make a career decision? Are
our youth learning a biblical model for education and
career decision making, or is it a method based on the
convenience of the education system?
If someone asked you how to solve career issues from a
biblical perspective, could you do so? Unfortunately,
many of us would have no idea where to start no clear
process has ever been taught to most of us at home, at
school or in the church. What are the steps you can
follow to discover how God has designed you and what His
calling is for your life? And, just what is the
spiritual nature of work?
For the Christian, there are always two viewpoints from
which to choose -- the world's view and God's view.
The world's perspective
According to a report from
www.careerbuilder.com, in 2003 nearly one in four
workers were dissatisfied with their jobs. That
represented a 20 percent increase over the survey they
had taken just two years earlier. In addition, 60
percent of those surveyed said they planned to leave
their job for other pursuits in the next two years.
Another study indicated that half of those working in
the information technology field said they would rather
be doing something in the liberal arts.
There is no evidence that those statistics have
improved. So that means there were a lot of men and
women who went to work this morning feeling they're in
the wrong professional field or occupation. They don't
just feel that they'd like a different boss they think
they are in the wrong career altogether.
These statistics merely reflect the fact that,
generally, people base their career decision making on
faulty foundations the world's perspective of
determining a career. Some of these viewpoints include
choosing a job because of the amount of money it pays.
Or maybe it's the first or easiest job that's offered,
and maybe friends work for the company. Perhaps the job
sounds good or has a good title, or a parent had that
job. Or, perhaps it would fulfil a parent's unfulfilled
dreams.
Do any of these career choice strategies sound familiar?
Unfortunately, they are all too common and the results
are always the same stress, unhappiness, unfulfilled
expectations and eventual burnout.
The biblical perspective
At Crown Financial Ministries, our mission is to share
with you the good news that you don't have to operate
under the world's perspective in any matter including
work. As Christians, we should understand that God has
ordained each of us to fill a special role in His
service. We have a calling, which He has prepared for us
in advance, and for which He has uniquely designed each
of us. And it is through this God-directed work that we
are able to serve others, honour Him, impact the world
around us, and win others to Him.
It's never too soon to begin career-planning, and it's
certainly never too late to teach our children about the
biblical principles of work and stewardship of talents.
Everyone needs a model to follow. The question is will
it be God's the world's?
Our youth need to be brought up and instilled with the
realization that they are uniquely created by God and
need to look prayerfully to Him for what His will is for
their lives. In the final analysis, it makes little
difference whether they become doctors, business owners,
editors, custodians, teachers, lawyers, public servants
or preachers. What matters is whether they are following
God's will for their lives.
Howard Dayton is
CEO of Crown Financial Ministries. Dayton and the late
Larry Burkett joined forces in 2000 when Crown
Ministries, led by Dayton, merged with Christian
Financial Concepts, led by Burkett.
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