The stress, the deadlines, the projects. College isn’t for slouchers! But, frankly, life isn’t either. The college phase will soon pass into a seemingly endless search for a true career—somewhere to make our mark and, with any luck, make money. Many of us are either desperately trying to ignore that fact or are obsessing over it. But perhaps there is a better option.
Chasing character.
Certainly we are designed to use our gifts in a meaningful career. And yes, money is a necessity (darn). Yet, perhaps we should chase after character the way we chase after a career.
Our preoccupation with finding and building a career can turn from a conscientious endeavor to a frantic, worry-filled, all-consuming nightmare if we let it.
Yet, in this career search we need to remember that there are more important things than landing our dream job. We ought to be diligent in building up our moral character, our kindness, our integrity, our faith.
An employer may judge off of an impressive resume, but what does God judge us by? Our career success? Our wealth? Surely not.
“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7
So as we wonder about where to find a job let us recall that it is important to invest in more than a glittering career or financial success. Let us invest in ourselves, spiritually, growing in character and truth.
Even this often agonizing search for a job, a path, is an opportunity to expand character—teaching us patience, faith, empathy, and joy.
It’s important during this time to consider who God intended us to be. What gifts has He given us? How has He uniquely wired us and how can we use our gifts in the job field? And more importantly, who does He want me to be?
Let us think upon these questions as we approach the next chapter of our lives. Even in our worry over employment, let us live gratefully, growing in spiritual wisdom and benevolence.Then our lives will reflect Him everywhere we go, in our workplace and our homes. And that is the greatest calling of all.
How about we become so overflowing with kindness and good nature that people have to stop and wonder what hit them? Doesn’t that sound good! Isn’t that worth striving for? Can you imagine someone so joyful and trusting that even career troubles have no hold of them?
We ought to build up our character because our faith demands it, but also because it is an indicator that we are His.
Let us never neglect the job God has assigned us as believers—making Him known. And that can only be done through spending time with our Savior so our behavior reflects His own.
Even if worldly success is never obtained, even if a career slips by, there is one thing that will remain:
Our faith and what we did with it.
