IA College and Career Content 2

As the world becomes more efficient compared to the past, we often pay the price of being busier and suffer more stress than before.  Greater efficiency but less time—how you strike a balance among your career, family and church becomes a matter requiring real strategy.  A strategy that prioritizes God first and everything else around Him.  Do you prioritize your schedule or schedule your priorities?  A common practice of not having a God-based prioritization is to rank career first, family second and church a distant third.  Balance then means that “God can wait” or that “We will make up to the family later.”  The price you pay is waning in fervor.

In the parable of the wedding feast, the king ordered his servants to call those invited to attend the feast, but the invitation was taken lightly as each went their way, to their farms or to the business.  The king was furious and deemed those invited as unworthy (Matthew 22:2-8)

On another occasion, Jesus called someone to follow Him.  The person asked Jesus to wait as he had to first bid farewell to his family.  Jesus deemed this man unfit for the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:61)

These two passages remind us that putting off matters of God to a later date to focus on our career or our family may not be a wise choice.  Image God calling you unworthy and unfit for the kingdom of God.

The effective way of managing our time and energy starts with the realization that is not about focusing on different aspects at different phases of our lives.  A successful balance also does not pivot on an equal allocation of our time.

Actually, the only way a balance can be achieved is to make God the pivot and have everything else balance around it.  This means that our one and only focus is God and nothing else!

This does not suggest that Christians, by default, are irresponsible workers in society and negligent spouses or parents at home.  On the contrary, it is precisely because our only focus and pivot is God that Christians should display the most responsible behavior both at work and at home.

The motivation to do a good job at work is not our relentless and blind pursuit of material rewards, for career advancement, or the satisfaction of our ego, but rather the natural need for a good Christian to do the right thing, be an example, and bring glory to the name of God.

“Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” Ephesians 6:5-6

As we draw closer to God, He will give us the wisdom to naturally strike the balance in faith, career and family.  Therefore, the formula to manage conflicting demands for our time and energy really lies in just focusing on God.

What does achieving your fullest potential in your career look like?  

The rebuilding of walls of Jerusalem in Nehemiah involved many different roles ranging from leaders to inspectors to builders, support and others.  The question is whether Christians should continue to attain or accept more and more senior leader roles in their career which often compromises the time for and the quality of service to the Lord.  So, does that mean that Christians are meant to be underachievers even if they may not necessarily be under-performers?

The Bible does not forbid Christians from being achievers.  Let’s look at some of God’s people who attained very high levels of achievement.  At only 30 years of age, Joseph became second only to the pharaoh of Egypt, a leading nation at that time.  Daniel became one of three governors under King Darius.  Neither Joseph nor Daniel actively sought their high-ranking position.  All they did was to simply continue in their faith and integrity towards God even in the face of diversity.

Joseph did not yield to temptations and when jailed did not murmur against God.  Daniel did not compromise his beliefs to enjoy the delicacies of Babylon and risked his life to continue to pray three times a day.  They simply did the right thing.  The rest of the road to achievement was paved by God.

As you advance in your career, consider the following:

• Are these career opportunities engineered by us or by God?  Are we overworking to be rich or to achieve advancement in our career?
• Is this promotion pandering to our ego or is there potentially a higher purpose of God?
• What is the state of our faith?  Are we moved by our faith or are we moving wishfully hoping that God will concur?
• If we were to rise to the highest levels in our career, would we be able to use our achievements to contribute to God?
• Are there any direct conflicts with our faith?

The Verdict at the End.

There is still some time before that End Day.  How you manage our time and efforts in maintaining a balanced life today will determine how you view your career.  What thoughts do you want at your retirement party?  Will you be thankful that God has walked with you and guided you through your entire career?  Will God be pleased with you?

Get a head start.  Join us at the True Jesus Church’s bi-annual Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation.  See details below.

18-21 April, 2024 Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation

Thursday, 18 April, 2024 6:50PM to 8:10PM
Friday and Saturday, 19-20 April, 2024 9:00AM to 8:10PM
Sunday, 21 April, 2024 9:00AM to 1:00PM
Complimentary lunch and dinner will be served.

Please find our church location below:

4N550 Church Road
Bensenville, IL 60106
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For online streaming, please click here.

For regular service hours, please click here.

Email us at ilovejesus@tjc-chicago.org