Most people reading this post probably either have a job or have had one, and that means you can relate to this article’s list of “5 Career Myths That Could Be Holding You Back”. (It’s interesting reading even for those who are not concerned with career issues right now.) They may not have meant it this way, in fact I’m positive they didn’t, but each of the myths that I am reproducing here apply to our spiritual lives as well.
“Myth 1: There is one perfect job for you out there, and you better hope you find it.”
Here’s one that comes up all the time for Christians, because many believers are under the mistaken notion that there is the one right job, or the one right spouse, or the one right house, or the one right fill-in-the-blank. You know what? There’s not.
It reminds me of a story a speaker told at a conference I attended. He once had someone ask him to help discern which job offer God wanted him to accept, and the speaker said it was as if the guy thought God would answer, “Well Chicago’s fine, I can make it to Chicago, but don’t pick Omaha because that’s just too far for me to go with you!”
If you want a handle on God’s will for your life, I’ll let you in on it:
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.)
There are other verses like this and none of them have anything to do with making a decision about something specific in your life, so don’t get caught up in thinking that if you choose one thing over another it means you are out of his perfect will forever.
God’s perfect will is about Christ living in you, not you living in Chicago.
“Myth 2: Once you’re settled in a career path, you’re stuck.”
Let’s say you do pick that job in Omaha and find out it’s really not a good place to be. (I’m sure Omaha is very nice. This is just an illustration, folks.) Then you’ll probably start looking for a job elsewhere. Fine.
Same thing goes with making decisions in your life with God. Are you in a ministry serving somewhere that has turned out not to be so good? Are you now saying “I thought helping in the nursery was going to be great, reading stories and rocking babies to sleep. But poopy diapers make me puke. Literally!”
You’re not stuck. There’s plenty to do in God’s kingdom, so find something else.
“Myth 3: You should choose your job based on the skills you have.”
In ministry, there are times we need to know our limitations. If there’s a bulletin announcement about the music team needing a guitarist and you’ve never strummed a chord in your life, perhaps that’s not the role for you. But God overcomes limitations all the time.
Look at Moses. He thought he was unqualified to lead God’s people out of Egypt, but God had news for him. It was God who was going to do the leading, and Moses needed to be ready for God to use him when it happened.
You may find that serving in the kingdom of God has nothing to do with using the skills you have, and everything to do with the fact that God is using you anyway.
“Myth 4: Do what you love, and the money will follow.”
In ministry terms, this would equate to seeing success in your ministry. But God doesn’t promise that we will see what comes from our kingdom work. He does promise, though, that as we abide in Jesus we will bear the fruit he desires to produce through us. (John 15.)
What does it mean, then, to do what we love? It means to love Christ, abiding in him and trusting that his fruit will follow whether we see it or not.
“Myth 5: If you want to make a lot of money, get your MBA.”
Many well-meaning fellow Christians (and some not-so-well-meaning ones too) will insist that if you read this book, or watch that video, or attend some particular seminar, then you can’t help but have a successful ministry. Well, you know who was well-equipped?
Paul. He studied under Gamaliel, one of the premiere thinkers in first century Judaism. Then he was mentored by Barnabas, one of the most effective workers in the early church. Then he had years of ministry experience to build upon.
And toward the end of his life, he found that all of this was nothing compared to the one thing he knew was really important: Christ.
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. (Philippians 3:7-8.)
***
Questions to ponder:
Are there ministry myths you cling to? Why?
Have they hindered your work in God’s kingdom? How?
I can’t tell you how many stressed out high-schoolers I’ve talked to, all fretting about how God isn’t answering their prayers and telling them where they ought to go to school, get a job, etc. I wish they could all read this. Also, on number three – I gave my senior speech in college against pigeon-holing ourselves into a personality type and thus limiting what God is able to do through us. I find personality types are more of an excuse for not doing things that stretch us than a help; in fact, I have a friend who tells me that while working as a missionary in Kenya he was with people all the time, so he rated highly extroverted on personality tests. Now that he’s in seminary, he rates highly on an introverted scale…So glad he didn’t pigeon-hole himself through his alleged “personality type”! God can use any person to do anything – you’ve got it exactly right.
I would have enjoyed hearing that senior speech, Nick. Any chance you can relate it in an article? Say, and article you’d post here?
I’d be happy to, but that was a long time ago…It might be more of a Summer thing, with the end of the semester looming.
Whenever. I’ll always leave a light on for you here, Nick.
These are really life myths, aren’t they? If we know God loves us and is always with us (not playing a game of Let’s Make a Deal with us!), we can be so much less anxious about decisions and choices. “God’s perfect will is about Christ living in you, not you living in Chicago” — that’s so great.
Precisely, Jeannie. They’re life myths!
I loved these! I’m a worship leader and I feel like I’m always begging people to serve with their musical talents and people use that Myth #3 on me all the time. Good stuff
I know what you mean, Tricia. I’ve been the team leader for music a lot over the years, and getting back-up singers especially can be difficult sometimes. I don’t need you to sing like David Gates or Ella Fitzgerald. I just want someone who can carry a tune!
Forwarding this on! I know a bunch of parents of high school seniors and college seniors who are experiencing what Nick described. Then there are also many people today who are looking back on the last 8 years and saying…”was what I was doing not God’s will? is that why God didn’t bless it?” No, “God’s will is about Christ living in you”. Really good stuff, Tim!
Refocus the lens and see His glory!
Refocus the lens – yes! Very Hebrews 12:1-2!
Myth 5 so resounds with me… Paul’s credential was his suffering! (Not the ‘letters’ after his name) Our learning curve is what equips us.
The Holy Spirit certainly equips us as we rise up that learning curve!
Amen to that!
Terrific post Tim! Resonates deeply with me (on many different levels at that). Comments myth-wise.
(or is that just a myth people like me like to cling onto to maintain their sanity? Wait, don’t answer that!)
Myth 1: Am I glad that we can be in the center of God’s will (rejoicing, praying, giving thanks) despite occasional idiotic decisions and the limitations of our own understanding! Loved this – “God’s perfect will is about Christ living in you, not you living in Chicago”.
That said, I’d like to believe that I did marry THE one right person for me
I really think we need to get rid of the notion that doing God’s will is a tight rope act- one wrong move and we’re out of commission. I also think some of us at some point or the other have misused/abused the whole notion of ‘being led of the Lord’ when it comes to doing something. I do believe that there are times when we get very specific guidance about decisions and God allows His peace to direct our path, but many times we refuse to act even when we should just because we’re waiting for some instructions to be carved afresh in tablets of stone. For instance, I’ve been guilty of being in a dead career track for 2.5 years just because I wasn’t ‘led’ to get out, despite being thoroughly miserable in it. Yeah, I know. Don’t say it.
Myth 2: Loved this -”You’re not stuck. There’s plenty to do in God’s kingdom, so find something else”. I hope this frees many of us from a self-imposed Hotel California like experience.
Myth 3- Strangely enough, this myth worked very well for me in the corporate world. I always went in for jobs that I felt inclined towards and had an aptitude for and sure enough, they turned out just great. But I’m beginning to find this myth debunked when it comes to ministry. Having been in training and writing for 14 years in the corporate world, I really thought I’d be serving in a related capacity in ministry now. But in the past 6 months I’ve been in ministry, I’ve been nowhere close to serving where I think my aptitude or passion lies. On the contrary, I find myself involved in stuff I never signed up for. To give an instance – in the natural, I’d run a 100 miles before having anything to do with ministering to insecure women, but to my utter surprise, that’s the area God seems to have me in and am feeling fulfilled as I do it! Another area is that of serving others where it involves long periods of waiting and doing nothing, but just being around someone who needs someone around them (maybe an invalid or someone’s kids). Patience has never been my strong point, but I’m pleasantly surprised to find God giving me reserves I never thought possible. I guess He equips you afresh for whatever task is lined up for you. Thank God, our sufficiency truly comes from Him.
Myth 4: True. Unfortunately, most times success in ministry is defined in pretty much the same way as it is in the corporate field (numbers and visibility seem to matter most). And if you are not totally sure of what you are doing in ministry, you can end up feeling like a complete failure when you don’t see tangible or spectacular results. I have an illustration close to home – My husband’s been in the ministry for the past 14 years and it has been in a very behind-the-scenes capacity, and most times without much acknowledgement of the value of his office from other fellow ministers in highly visible offices. But he just keeps at it and does whatever he does unto the Lord, depending on God’s grace to stay faithful to his calling and considers God as having granted him success whether or not he sees immediate or tangible results. This situation used to drive me crazy earlier, but am learning to be obedient to God anyway and leave the results to Him. That statement of Paul’s you mentioned really helps put things in perspective when it comes to success!
I seriously wish believers would stop peddling formulae for ministry success that mirror the world’s cookie cutter pattern of success. And that we’d stop acting like all we need to do is come up with THE perfect code to hack into God’s hidden blessings. We forget that He has freely given us HIS VERY SELF! Am reminded of that verse which says ‘The Lord was with Joseph and Joseph was a successful man. (Gen 39:2)’ I don’t know if this is meant to be read as a cause and effect statement, but I see it as the continuation of a single thought – success is having the Lord. At least, I’d like that to be my definition of success. To walk as an overcomer because the Lord is with me and allow Him to establish His kingdom and rule in every area of my life!
Sorry for the long comment. Please feel free to delete it later! I would have preferred to mail this to you.
Shalini, there is no way I’d delete a single word of this! What a great way to expand on the points I was trying to make. By relating them to your own experiences you’ve clarified so much of what I was getting at, so thank you!
In fact, not only am I not deleting any of your words, I’m going to repeat some of them. I love how you said we should “stop acting like all we need to do is come up with THE perfect code to hack into God’s hidden blessings.” Such a good message to get out there for everyone, Shalini.
Cheers,
Tim
Thanks for saying those nice things Tim! Much encouraged!
Tim, this is rich, wise words. I especially like your advice on God’s will for our life. I’ve been trying to better understand God’s will by reading every scripture that mentions the word “will.” It’s amazing how often I, and many others, mess up on what God’s will really means.
Thanks, and what a great word study, Lesley! Any chance you’ll write about it and share your discoveries? Perhaps we can do it as an interview here at my place?
I’m at the point in my life where I just trust God will provide for us and that I am willing to give it all up for His sake and ready to be a missionary. Sacrificing myself for Him is most important. Money used to have a hold on my life. I cared about materialism. Now, I could not care a thing for it at all other than to be able to clothe and feed each of us. :: shrugs ::
I don’t like how our world (very very much so in NJ too) believes that money makes things better and careers are the most important goal to have. Too many have forgotten to build soldiers of Christ, not soldiers for culture and business.
Now that we are working towards our goal, we are finding that it seems like you have to have degrees to do MOST missionary work. . .when all we can think of is how the disciples hadn’t any degrees at all. They just had the Holy Spirit. I think of Bruchko who was told what he needed to do in order to be a missionary, and instead he just went alone into the jungles and found the most dangerous tribe and just lived with them for five years learning their language and being with them before having a chance to share Jesus with them, and once he did. . .their whole tribe is now Christian! I love that. There are loads of missionaries that were like that. . and they inspire me. Just trust in God! So many people leave that part out of their ministry focus!
Good points, Victoria. Wherever we are and with whatever we have, we can be good and faithful servants.
I’d disagree with one point, though. I’d say the most important thing is not sacrificing myself for God, but that he sacrificed himself for me. Now he lives in and through me. That’s all much more important than sacrificing myself for him.
Blessings,
Tim
right but I mean the most important thing WE can do. Obviously Jesus sacrificing for us is most important. There are loads of other important things too.
There are loads of other important things for us to do. I think Jesus said the most important is for us to rest and abide in him as he produces fruit in us.
He says to be living sacrfices and to pick up our cross daily and follow Him. Considering He came out of the comfortable perfection of heaven to sacrifice His life for us, this makes perfect sense as what we are to do for Him. If you really want to be specific the “perfect undefiled religion” verse says to to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world (James 1:27)
I think you started to just stretch out my comment. . there are LOADS of important things. . I just believe THIS is the most important one, which is why I am so fond of martyrs (and they do get crowns, so that should show that in sacrificing all themselves for Christ & the gospel, they get much glory). I think in sacrificing ourselves we will easily know how to abide in Him and He’ll be producing that fruit in us and He’ll give us ultimate rest.