I have been doing a lot of learning recently when it comes to my new job at the Job (Jobe) Foundation. It is a nonprofit that works with youth and families living in poverty. I have had a lot of learning and adjusting to do. Through this job, it has definitely cemented my feelings of needing to make anything, including a job and even a relationship with Christ, your own.
I have contemplated this a lot for two reasons. One, it is summertime. The Job Foundation where I now work does not do regular programming during the summer. Therefore, there are not as many appointments or lessons or families coming through as a whole. There is still plenty of work to be done and there is still information to be gained, but it is not at the fastest pace. Second, My new coworkers have been really good about not wanting to overwhelm me with information or tasks. They know that I just moved and am getting settled in. Because of these two reasons, I have not been given a super long list of items to complete. Time has been given to me to use how I best see fit.
This being said, I have had a lot of time to create and brainstorm. What are ways that I can make this work that I do here the best that I can? What are some ways that I can contribute to this new organization? What are some new things I can bring to the table? There have been times when I have sat at my desk and contemplated, but then there are other times when creativity and ideas are just coming to the brain and I have a list of projects I am starting on. I know there are skills and ideas I can bring to the table and to the position. I just have to remember the training and the education that I have been blessed with to make it happen.
When kids first get a job or even when they are in school, it becomes all about what other people want them to do. They need to complete this worksheet with this many problems at this time. At usual first jobs, it is stacking shelves or serving customers, or watching over kids. There are tasks involved. Follow the orders that are given to you. There is a straight level of obedience. There are some opportunities for creativity when completing a project or how you choose to answer questions, but otherwise the person’s work will look very similar to other people’s work.
However, as you make it into your career, it becomes all about making decisions and designing things that are for the betterment of the company without necessarily being told what to do. It is important that a person thinks about the ways they can make their career and what they by their own skills and training can bring to the job.
This is true in all areas of life. I think we can easily fall into the trap of listening to what everyone else wants us to do when it comes to following God. Yes, I believe there is great advice and wisdom that can be shared through the many other of God’s followers, but ultimately every single person’s relationship and walk with God is going to be different than the person standing next to them.
It is important that when we start to think about our relationship with God, we go through the same thinking process that we did when it came to the job reflection. What are some things that we can bring to the table? What is the influence that I personally have that I can then use to spread the Gospel? What are the ways that I can grow and prosper to be as close to God as possible? 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
I have two challenges for you this week. The first one is for you to think about your particular job or career. This could even be if you are a stay-at-home mother or a student. Those are both roles that you are fulfilling. What is something that you can bring to the table of your job? What are the skills that you are good at and can really center on? Then I would like you to focus on growth to be the best at the position that you have been given. Remember that God has called you to the job that you are at, and he expects you to give him the best of the time that you are there.
Then the second part is what can you do to grow your relationship with Christ. What is the way that you can grow closer to God? Who are the people that you can see and serve in your day-to-day life? How can you help the vision and the mission of Christ grow daily? Devoting time to God is a personal relationship and so it is important that we make this relationship very special, unique and beautiful.
Colossians 3:23 Blog 