Career

One of the most difficult and important decisions you will ever make is that of the career you will follow. Some people seem to have made that decision at a very young age; others never seem to decide on a career. For some that decision is one that is forced upon them by necessity. Others are pressured by relatives or government into following a certain career. Usually though, in this country, you have a choice as to what career you will pursue.

Consider that in any given week you have 168 hours, of which 63 are spent sleeping. That leaves you with 105 hours of useful time. 40 to 60 of those hours will be spent at a job. That is 38% to 57% of your time is spent on the job. No wonder choosing a career is so difficult and important!

We don’t want to talk about choosing a career though. We want to consider discipleship. You might think, “what does discipleship have to do with career?” Well, actually they have much to do with one another.

Some Christians think that discipleship is like going to seminary and becoming a missionary or pastor or something like that. Actually, a disciple is simply one that follows Christ and His teaching. Jesus called those who followed Him, His “disciples”. Mark 6:1. Is following Jesus all there is to being a disciple then? No, not really. You see that is why I compared discipleship to a career. It is something that too many believers take for granted or lightly. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is very serious business.

Being a true disciple is not something that can be forced on you by necessity, or something you can be pressured into by relatives, pastor or friends. It is not to be entered into lightly, hastily or emotionally. For some this decision seems to come easy, for others it is very hard and takes years; but for all it is an awesome decision.

Jesus gives us some pointers about discipleship. He says; “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” First there must be a desire to truly, wholeheartedly follow Jesus. Now, to follow Jesus means that we must agree with Him. Note Amos 3:3. Jesus will NOT agree with us! Isa 55:8. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.

So we decide to follow Jesus, then there must be a denial of ourselves. That means we look at our ambitions, desires, joys, emotions… in one word our LIFE; and we say,“.. I also count all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ” Phil 3:8.

Then we must take up our cross. That means that we are willing to go through any sacrifice for our Lord and Savior. We give of our time, our talent, our money; sacrificing that which we love for the proclamation of the gospel.

How the Kingdom of God would advance if all of God’s people took their discipleship as seriously as they do their career. For their career they sacrifice the best years of their life to study and climb the corporate ladder. They put aside all other desire and ambitions and sometime even emotions in order to obtain a degree and pursue their careers. Oh, that God’s people would lay aside every weight and run with patience the race that is set before them!!!

Please consider the words of Jesus. “..If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” John 8:31; 15:8; 13:35.

R.C.