Christians
and Career Choices
What does the
bible say about Christians and career?
Does God care
what career we choose?
What are some
Christian considerations to be made before we choose a job/career?
What does the
bible say about work?
1 Timothy 5:8 –
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those
of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an
unbeliever.
2 Thessalonians
3:10 – For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If
anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
According to
these passages, work should be a part of every Christian man's life.
Do these passages only apply to the men? The burden of caring for the
family financially seems to clearly rest upon the men. However, I do
not believe that women are prohibited from working by these verses.
On the contrary, women in that day did have employment at times and
even had their own businesses. Lydia was a seller of purple, Acts
16:14. Priscilla and Aquilla were called tent makers along with Paul,
(Acts 18:3). Ruth, was forced to go and glean because her husband had
died. Though she was benefiting from another's labor there was still
work to be done out of the home. That work was not condemned. The
virtuous woman can serve an example as well, (Proverbs 31:10-31).
Perhaps one may
argue that a woman's place is not the secular work world, but the
passages referenced above indicate Old and New testament evidence
contrary to that idea. That does not mean that a woman may neglect
her God ordained duties of the home, Titus 2:5. However, if a woman
can serve dutifully in both capacities then it should be counted good
and honorable, (Proverbs 31:10, 31).
This being
said, I do not believe that the man and woman should switch roles.
Men are not to keep the home, the women are. Women are not to be the
bread winners, the men are. This does not prohibit women from making
more money than their husbands, but women in this position should
understand that the burden for the financial care of the home rests
on the husband. It should never be assumed that the woman will occupy
this place for any duration other than in an emergency situation,
i.e. health, temporary unemployment, etc. To change the place that
men and women occupy changes our God given role. Strive to please God
in this when seeking a job.
There were
certainly women of that day that solely acted in a domestic capacity.
Though we find far fewer examples of women working at home, we do
have an example of such and a command, (Luke 10:38-42, 1 Timothy
5:14). The work of the home is unlike any other work. The woman of
the home usually does not get a lunch break. Her duties do not end in
the evening. Many of us have heard the phrase, “a woman's work is
never finished.”
So WORK in the
most general of senses, does actually apply to both sexes. A woman's
duty is to keep the home, but it is not a sin for her to hold a
second job. A man's duty is to provide for his family financially,
but can and should hold a second job at home as helper of
housekeeping. Men need to understand that their career should always
be secondary to God and family as well. A man's family should rank
right under the Lord, but every man should also know that caring for
the finances of his family is HIS responsibility.
It's the same
with the woman's role, It's not a sin for a man to help with
housework. It's not wrong for him to take time to help children with
homework, or even to cook dinner. I may get in trouble with our
brethren for saying such, but the bible's truth speaks louder than
any of them. When Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, He
demonstrated that there was no job to low or beneath Him. The washing
of feet would certainly be counted a domestic duty. Brothers, if we
sat around that table as Jesus washed, would we find ourselves with
Peter (John 13:8)? Would we be so bold as to declare this work as
women's work? Ephesians 5:25 teaches us that our love for our wives
should be likened unto Jesus' love for the church. There was no task
to small for Jesus. Let us wear that same attitude as we show love to
our spouses.
2 Thessalonians
3:10 may seem a difficult passage to be obedient to when we consider
the unemployment rate of today's world. But when a person really
wants to work, they will find a way to get themselves employed. It
may not be doing something that one could love. It may not pay the
best, but if someone wants employment, they can usually find it.
Of course when
Christian brothers and sisters fall on hard times they do have the
ability to lean on family and the church when in need. However the
passages mentioned at the beginning of this study demonstrate that if
someone is being lazy about finding employment, then they should not
be supported or placed in a situation that encourages that poor
behavior.
Knowing that
God desires us to be workers leads us to our 2nd question:
Does God care
what career we choose?
When we think
about employment as Christians, our careers are not something that
define us as people. We are Christians first. Maybe Brethren/Sisters,
sons/daughters, husbands/wives and fathers/mothers second. And then
we are electricians, doctors and bus drivers. Our jobs are just an
end to a means...in other words, we work for a paycheck. Sometimes we
can gain pleasure from our jobs...but the job should never take the
place that God or our family should occupy. Read Matthew 6:24-33.
When God takes the first position in our world, we have His promises
to keep us and help us through. Whatever career we choose cannot be
something that gives the Lord the back burner. He doesn't want that
position. Read Revelation 3:14-21.
If we can
choose a career/job that allows God to retain first place in our
life, we honor God in our choice. We know that scripture teaches
against putting career above God. With these things in mind each
Christian must concede the following...
- We should choose no job that has us working on Sunday Morning (Heb 10:25)
- ...no job that violates the other New Covenant Laws given to man. (John 15:14)
- ...no job that would compromise our faith and integrity. (Proverbs 28:6)
There are
sometimes areas of judgment that a Christian shouldn't be condemned
in if they fail to see the wisdom in following the advisement. These
following verses display those things:
- We would be wise to choose a job that keeps us busy(1 Tim.5:13, Proverbs 6:6)
- ...wise to choose a job that lets us attend all the services and allows time for study(2 Tim. 2:15)
- ...wise to choose a job that didn't tempt us unnecesarily(Mark 9:47-48)
- ...wise to choose a job that didn't remove our responsibility to family(1 Corinthians 7:3-5, Eph 5:22-33)
God may not
directly rule on jobs a Christian should or shouldn't have. But the
scriptures are not silent about the matter at all. (Philippians
3:20). Does God care? Yes, I believe He does in light of the passages
we have mentioned.
So lastly
today, what are the considerations a Christian should make before
entering any field.
Ask the
following questions of yourself or your potential employer:
- Will this job interfere with my Christian walk or unnecessarily tempt me to do wrong?
- Will this job interfere with my primary duty to my family as husband and/or father, wife and/or mother?
- Will this job enable me to support myself and lend help to those in need?
If we can
answer these questions in a positive way that reflects God is first
in your life then I believe we've found a good career to pursue. I'll
leave you with Peter's words for thought from Luke 18:18-30.
