Driven Career

Luke 3: ¹⁴ And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

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“Be cool” was the thought that ran through my mind as the negotiations continued. The opposition was trying to play hardball and I had to do the same. In order to get more money, I may need to flex my power to show them who is really in charge.

• There were times when I thought intimidation was the key to success.
• There were times when I thought getting “tougher” was best for “my” career.
• There were times when I thought climbing the ladder meant taking others down so I could make more money.

Soldiers of certain leaders would not only protect their king, but would sometimes hurt people to take their money, falsely accuse people in order to take their homes and grouse about how little they made in wages. John saw through their question with the aid of the HOLY SPIRIT. His message speaks to me.

• GOD wants me to desire to have peace with people.
• GOD wants me to use my power for grace and mercy versus violence and intimidation.
• GOD wants me to be content with my wages knowing HE is the one who sustains me.

Wow! Everything in this passage seemed to go against what the “successful” people would tell me. I mean those who would tell me to “get tough” are the same people who would tell me I would never have “enough” money. BUT GOD says something different.

GOD wants me to be tough enough to stand up for those who are wronged. HE desires that I trade in my intimidation for compassion. When I get paid for my services, HE wants me to be excited rather than in a constant state of complaint. HE wants me in a state of grace and peace.

• Are you discontent?
• Do you have a complaint about where GOD has you?
• Can you ask GOD for peace with people and contentment for where HE has you?

Make GOD number ONE

Genesis 34: ² So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. ³ Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.” 

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Productivity was extremely low around the company as the impending message of doom was going to be announced at the company.  It was early in my career so I felt a little confident but that confidence waned as the week went on.  I had worked so hard, were they going to cut me? I began to pray.

I received a call asking me to move to another city with the company. GOD had answered my prayers. “Well I guess I better put the company first” I thought to myself.

• Many times I have made work my idol.
• Many times I have made money a false god of “security.”
• Many times I have made cars and other toys things to cherish.

I have treated some of the material things better than humans pushing thousands of dollars into them just to maintain them.  I have also treated jobs like they were a god, dedicating more time to it than GOD HIMSELF. What does GOD want from me?

• GOD wants me to make HIM the number one GOD.
• GOD does not want any human or job to be worshipped more than HIM.
• GOD does not want my house, car, money, clothing, jewelry or any other material thing to be worshipped more than HIM.

If anything or anyone gets in the way of worshipping HIM it will soon become a problem. Worry, fear and doubt will permeate my being and that is not what HE wants. GOD wants me to have peace. Anything or anyone that destroys my peace has been placed higher than HIM. GOD says look at ME and you will have peace.

• Are you worried about something?
• Are you thinking about someone and get filled with fear and doubt?
• Won’t you place your faith in GOD, knowing HE has control of every situation?
• Can you accept your purpose with HIM?

A sense of "Purpose."

Matthew 16:24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. 28I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

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I used to think this set of scripture was talking about selling all that I had and becoming a preacher living in the desert. While that's not a bad idea, it currently is not my calling.

I thought about what was being said here and I believe JESUS is telling me to have a sense of purpose while I'm here on this earth. I remember just getting out of college, ready to take on the world. I hadn't seen church much sense high school, so I thought I would pray. Strange thought, but let me give it a shot.

I prayed that GOD make me "successful." Wow! I had no idea about the ride HE would take me on. My first job enabled me to buy my first new car, instead of the side of the road specials I had been driving.

I started going to church again and even "serving" and this time I prayed "LORD get me out of this small town" for I had moved to "Podunk, Nowhere USA." Shortly after my prayer, I got a job with a premier consulting firm in Chicago that had me flying all over the country. Hey, this prayer stuff is alright!

I then prayed for a wife and family. Poof. OK not Poof, but my wife did come along and we did have kids. Wow. I like this prayer stuff! Then I prayed for a better neighborhood to live in because we were raising kids. I got another job which enabled us to move into a house we built from the ground up in a nice neighborhood.

During this time I was blessed to grow in the LORD, learning, I went to night classes at Bible college, witnessed in neighborhoods, went on missions trips. Life is good!

I got a promotion. Then another. Then another. Then they asked me to move to Southern California! Wow! I'm successful. I can't teach now, I'm too busy, but I do have time to go to that island and on that cruise and "yes" I'll take one of those and two of those.

I got another promotion and this time I had to move back to the headquarters because I am now over the "nation." I'll take one of those and five of those shiny things right here. Only the biggest and the best!

"Wait a minute?" you ask, "what happened to prayer?" "What happened to serving?" Well I had no time for that. GOD wants me to be a good steward over my job right? Yes but not as an idol.

I idolized my job and status. I realized this when I no longer had the position and I wondered where I was with GOD. I had gained the world and was losing my soul. I had lost my sense of purpose of being here.

• GOD wants us to remember we are here temporarily.
• GOD doesn't mind you having stuff, just don't make "stuff" your purpose.
• GOD will let you do "your" thing, but remember, HE wants us to do "HIS" thing.

I forgot my purpose for being on this planet. It is not to look the "sharpest" in the best clothes and drive the best and forget the rest. GOD desires that we tell people about HIS SON. No matter what my career or status, GOD wants me give to others, love humans and keep them from rejecting HIS SON.

• What is your purpose?
• What are you "driving" for?
• What does "success" look like to you?
• Is GOD calling you to another purpose for your life?
• Will you use your career to serve GOD also?