Whenever careers or jobs are being discussed, one of the common questions people ask is “What is the pay like?” Or perhaps it might be, “What is the scope of the field?” or “What are the opportunities in such a field?”
The pattern of the world is to ask, “How much can I earn?… What’s in it for me?” But disciples of Jesus are called to not conform to such patterns.
We march to a different tune. We see our jobs as opportunities to serve others. We don’t ask, “What’s in it for me? Instead, we ask, “What’s in it for others?”
How can we disciples of Jesus be so different? We can be radically different because we have something the world does not — glorious promises made by a faithful heavenly Father.
The anxious 4-year old
Imagine a neighbour sees a 4 four-year-old boy walking around the neighbourhood looking anxious.
The neighbour asks, “Beta… you look worried… what are you worried about?”
And the boy replies, “I’m worried whether I’ll get food to eat today. Things are rather expensive these days.”
What would this tell us about the boy’s parents?
Now think of what we tell the world about our heavenly Father when we go around telling people our jobs don’t pay enough or our investments cannot even beat inflation.
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:11 ESV)
The faithful heavenly Father
Our hopes of sustenance do not rest on our jobs or careers. They do not rest on the increment of our salaries, the size of our savings, or the wisdom of our investments. They rest on the faithfulness of our Father, who is the giver of all good gifts. Therefore, we Christians are liberated from the anxiety of whether our jobs or careers will pay enough to meet our needs.
Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Our Father… Give us our daily bread.” God provides the sustenance for our lives. He may use our salaries as a means to do so. But it is He who provides. We don’t provide for ourselves.
The faithfulness of our Father and his amazing promise liberates us to serve others fearlessly. We are liberated to do work that brings us deep joy and provides an opportunity to serve people rather than work that does not serve people and is not enjoyable but pays a lot.
Remember. Our sustenance does not rest on our salaries. It rests on the faithfulness of our good Father.
Remember the sparrows and the lilies
Christian, is salary the main factor you’re considering as you discern God’s calling for your life?
Remember the promise of God. If he feeds the little sparrow, will he not feed you, O you of little faith? If he clothes the lilies of the field, will he not clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matthew 6:26, 30)
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