A career minded life.

I was wondering what this website's opinions are on a Christian life with a career. I would like to know about scriptures that pertain to having or pursuing a career in our life. You could say I'm asking what everyone thinks their purpose on earth is. Our commission is to bring the word of the Lord to everyone, and to worship the Lord our God. But besides that, are we allowed to pursue a career, is it important that it be God-given? Does God truly care what we pick to do as our job?
My husband had his own opinion on this, saying that no matter what job we take, it will always be work. There can never be a job that we will fully enjoy, because that is not the nature of work. Of course, he also stated that is being a tad jaded and realistic about his ideals on work. I'll try and break down what I mean in bullets, just in case I'm coming off as confusing.

• Are careers important for humans to have?
• Does God care what jobs we hold?
• Does God want us to have a home-life?
• If everything is meaningless, why should we try to make anything out of our lives?
• Do we have a purpose outside of trying to win souls for God?
• What are talents, and what does it mean to bury them?
• How do we know talents are?

First, take Ecclesiastes with a grain of salt. It is not prescriptive, the name of God is not in it. It was heavily debated as to whether it should be in the canon. I think it should, personally because it has much to show us about how anyone can get depressed, whether that means us, family members, or perhaps someone wanting to be a counseler or help people who find life to be “meaningless!”

I think it is important we have something to occupy our time, besides the pleasures of the flesh. (Which was probably the problem with the writer of Ecclesiastes!)

For some, that might mean being a full time homemaker. For others, part time or a job, as opposed to a career. Some might need extensive training to follow their career path. Watching my DIL and my SIL go from med school to residency and now fellowships, after completing an undergrad degree, makes me realize that is not a career path I could have completed.

As far as sharing the gospel, a workplace can be the perfect place to do that. And soul-winning?? That’s a funny term, for something that God totally initiates and completes. We don’t win people, God does! We won’t even get into the exegetical issues concerning the word “soul!”

Our job is to be available, to pray and hear God as to how he is leading us to share who Jesus is. I’ve taken courses in evangelism. For most of us, being friends and caring for people is the best way to open door for sharing the good news. I know people who had the gift of evangelism. One was the man who shared the gospel with me 20-30 times. I admired his faithfulness. Ironically, my husband, before we married was the one who convinced me about my sinfulness and my need for forgiveness in Jesus. But the man who shared with me, he was jumping for joy and praising God when I told him God had saved me!

Technically, a talent was a large unit of money in Roman times. Nothing to do with “I’ve got a talent,” as in some kind of gift from God. Regardless of how many times you have heard it preached to the effect, that if your talent is evangelism, or teaching or whatever “you better not bury it.”

But, yes, God does give us gifts. It might be sewing, and you could make new clothes for single moms. It might be gardening, and you start a truck garden to help feed the poor. Making sure, you look for those open door opportunities to share Jesus! You might be a mechanic and you help people who can’t fix their cars on weekends! You might be a teacher, and teach Sunday School, lead a Bible study, or get fully trained, become a school teacher, or go on the mission field to help a new mission design materials to help a people group become mature in the Lord.

How do you find your gift? The same way as we do everything. Read the Bible daily, pray, be faithful in church and service. Learn about God. God will show you what he wants you to do. I wanted to be a missionary when God saved me,
But my husband did not. So, I had children, worked as a teacher, helped out in the worship teams, singing and playing flute. I taught various age levels in church, and felt used of God. Then God called me to seminary! That did not fit with my plans! And besides, women couldn’t be pastors, anyway!

A few years after that, I became really ill with a severe chronic illness. I had to go on permanent disability. In fact, I quit church, reading my Bible, and turned my back on God. Not a good career path. Then, in my 50’s, God called me to seminary again, and I didn’t hesitate to go. God has opened doors left and right, although I am still too sick to be a pastor. I thought I had it figured out, when God opened doors to go back to school and start a PhD. I having been walking with God long enough, I know he has plans for me to deal with people that are sick and hurting and broken. I should be retired, but, I’m starting a new phase. Too many people think high school or university and then a job the rest of their lives is the path to take. And it may be! John Piper wrote a book telling retired people to go to the mission field. I know a man in Mainland China, doing church planting and making disciples in his retirement.

So, don’t close the doors on finding out something new and exciting God is calling you to do. Be faithful in what he calls you to do. That is what counts!

Although I wasn’t the poster of this, the answer does answer some of the questions that I had, but was unable to put in to words, as to my way forward in deepening my understanding and strengthening my belief in God. Thank to you both.

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
(Proverbs 31:10-31 NIV)

10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

"One talent is equal to 6,000 denarii, which would take an ordinary laborer 6,000 days (16 years) to earn. "

source: World Mission Society Church of God

All of these answers have been very helpful, especially the ones concerning what talents actually are. Most of my life I had been told that they were less physical items and more of a skill that a person has. It's good to know that that kind of thinking is actually incorrect. It is uplifting to see what you all have to say, even if some of it is a bit sad.