Seth Barnes Jun 3, 2012 8:00 PM

Choosing between a 'career' & missions

A blog reader wrote with a question. Though he's a student, he has an offer to work with "a great company that would provide a comfortable, secure lif...

Subscribe


A blog reader wrote with a question. Though he's a student, he has an offer to work with "a great company that would provide a comfortable, secure life." He's wrestling with that on the one hand and missions as an option on the other. 

He says, "I cannot say that I've felt a specific call to full-time missions. I can think of many ways to spread the Gospel through this job, but I want to make sure that's where the Lord is calling me. I can see how the Lord may very well be calling me to this company, but the feeling I have while on mission abroad is incredible and a part of me wants more. Can you provide any clarity or wisdom?"

My response:

Yes, the young man is wise to observe that God can use us in the workplace. Most of us will end up there and God wants us to view our workplace and our career there as a mission field. There's a false dichotomy between a call to missions and the default of having a career.

I responded to him quickly, posing some questions and making an observation.

Ask yourself this: What do you want your life to be about?

We're all called. What we're called to do is to go into all the world and make disciples.
So where do you come alive? And what is God
saying?

What breaks your heart? Whatever it is, commit to make a difference and to be the change you want to see. 

Your 20's are meant to be a series of experiments. I would make my experiments count. And I wouldn't feel the pressure to make money or get a career.

It's a tough issue. What advice do you have?

Related Blogs

Sleep walking through life

Sleep walking through life

We were made to do work that makes truly come alive.
 
But too ...

By Seth Barnes
7 Realms of the kingdom

7 Realms of the kingdom

When God calls you to himself, he doesn't leave behind the part of you that is c...

By Seth Barnes
Finding your voice

Finding your voice

My dad diagnoses diseases. He's a world class pathologist who gives the gift ...

By Seth Barnes

Related Races (3)

South Africa | Semesters | January 2026

South Africa | Semesters | January 2026

Gap Year | 9 Months | August 2026

Gap Year | 9 Months | August 2026

Colombia | Semesters | June 2026

Colombia | Semesters | June 2026

Next article

She is a Princess

Our AI generated post content for you!

Here's a suggested caption you can copy and tweak.