We May Agree that “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want” yet we all seem to want more out of life, especially when it comes to our occupation. We never seem to get ahead of the game. We spend long hours in the educational system, look hard to find the right job for the right salary and we still may not be happy.
What we must remember first and foremost is to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all of our needs will be provided for according to God’s will. The key is to be satisfied with our lot in life no matter where we are.
Which occupation?
When it comes to our occupation how do we choose the right one?
What saith the scripture? Psalm 1 tells us the person who is not walking, standing or sitting with the ungodly or unbelievers shall be blessed and all that he puts his hand to shall prosper.
How difficult it is today to find a work place where we are not confronted with co-workers who fill our ears with foul language and an ungodly lifestyle. Such a work place can make it difficult to be in the world and yet not a part of it. II Corinthians 6:14 commands us to be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.
There is danger even in working with those who profess a Christian faith who would have us to believe we are all one big happy family with no difference, even concerning doctrine. The danger here is that we might be swept away with the ecumenical movement so prominent in the churches today.
Matthew 4:18-22 shows us that when our Lord sought out disciples, he took to himself first Peter and Andrew who were brothers working together, and James and John who worked with their father. Both examples show they worked with their brethren and were not unequally yoked. They were fishermen and our Lord called them as he calls us to be fishers of men.
How then are we to apply these passages to the choice of our career or occupation? Clearly it would be very difficult for us all to work with our family or with our brethren in Christ. Each of us must decide how to apply the scriptural lessons to ourselves.
A personal experience
As for myself, I was born into the world and not into a family in the way of the truth. When by the grace of our Lord I heard the call, I began to experience conflict with coworkers and I prayed for the blessing of working with brethren of like precious faith. I sought to work with those who would not ask me to lie, cheat, steal, misappropriate or work Sunday, as many of my employers had done.
The application of scripture in my life was to be willing to make less money in order to improve my work environment. I was working in the world when God answered my prayers and gave me an opportunity to work with brethren. Some may find it a hard decision to work for less, but I felt the benefits far outweighed the financial issues. In the long run, God has blessed my decision and, as the man in Psalm 1, God has caused my work to prosper. As a result, today I enjoy the benefits of a godly work environment and, after a few years, now make more than I could have in my previous occupation.
Bible examples
Examples are given to us in scripture of those who went into the world for employment only to find frustration, fair-weather friends, marriage partners out of the faith, financial and or spiritual ruin and, for some, even death. Consider examples like: the prodigal son: Judah, son of Jacob, who left the family to work with Hirah the Adullamite (Gen. 38:1.). Judah found himself married out of the faith, sleeping with harlots, and, when the famine came, out of a job.
Elimelech (Naomi’s husband in the book of Ruth) during a famine left the house of bread and praise (Bethlehemjudah) to go to the land of flesh (Moab). There his two sons married out of the faith and, in the end, Elimelech and his two sons died in the land of flesh.
The world has changed; most of us don’t live an agrarian life style as those in times past, yet the scriptural examples are there for us to learn from and try to apply to our lives. There are only a handful of brethren who own businesses and employ brethren. Some have become self-employed, however most are left to work in the world. For those in this predicament God gives encouragement in the example of Joseph.
Joseph (the son of Jacob) was thrust into slavery and then into prison to end up in Pharaoh’s court. Joseph all his life gave the glory to God, shared his faith with others, fled from sin and temptation, set forth a good work ethic and prepared a godly work environment for his brethren when they were reunited. God knows the way of the righteous and how to deliver them from the wickedness of this world.
The choice of any occupation is a difficult decision. I suggest young people choose prayerfully a profession in which they would be able to develop godly principles and share our hope of the coming kingdom on earth. This much is clear, whether we work in the world or with brethren, we should always do all unto the glory of our Lord.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One