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Hey:

Sorry for the delay. My time has been very, very full the last couple of weeks.

I'll answer below:

Hey Arthur,

Hope everything is going well.

Can you give me a biblical perspective on work?

I know that's a very broad and open ended question, but to let you know why I'm asking, I have two practical applications. The first one relates to myself. At the present time, I don't think that (my job) challenges me. It can be routine, and I'm not really doing what I love about (it) - namely analyzing and evaluating (it). There are some exceptions, especially when I worked in my last rotation. I woke up each day desiring to go to work b/c I really enjoyed the type of projects I got to work on..

So anyway, I applied and got an offer to (another job). I think I would enjoy the work much more, but they already told me that the expectation is 70-80 hours/week. On top of that, there are financial incentives for me to stay (where I'm at), such as my awards/bonuses.. after praying about it for a long time, I've pretty much come to peace with not accepting the offer.. I don't want to break my commitment and leave my current program, and I truly believe God has me in (this position) for this time for a reason.. and there are many things I think God wants me to do before (moving on). Also, I think the hours may make me even more focused on work and things of the world and not allow myself enough of a work/life balance..

I want to really enjoy what I do, but what sacrifices should I be willing to make for that enjoyment? I guess understanding the biblical perspective of work would help realign my values of what I should be looking for, and what opportunities might be off limits. I've heard it said that we should work to live, not live to work. And I understand that.. but does that mean I should just stay w/ a company like (the one I'm at), put in my 40 hours/week, and not be challenged, such that my "living" is maximized b/c work is not as demanding both in time and in intellect? I just don't feel challenged, and sometimes I get frustrated and desire better work.

I'M NOT SURE THE COMMENT IS COMPLETELY CORRECT. IT'S CERTAINLY TRUE THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO LIVE TO WORK, BUT TO SAY WE OUGHT TO WORK TO LIVE, WHILE IT'S TRUE IN ONE SENSE, PERHAPS ISN'T COMPLETE IN ANOTHER.

(ACTUALLY, I'M GOING TO SWITCH TO REGULAR PRINT - THIS DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT TO ME)

I think there's a false dichotomy being drawn. Work is part of life, and part of life is working. I'm actually uncomfortable when some Christians tell me that their career or job is just a job, just a means to make a living. There's a disconnect in a perspective like that.

Our work is one platform for God to show Himself through us, both through our integrity, hard work, and our perspective, as well as through the quality of work we produce. It's a mission field and an opportunity to engage people right where they live, on their "home field."

However, on the other hand, we need to make sure that we're honest with ourselves and to keep the big picture before us. It's also easy for a Christian to say what I just said, but in his heart, he really has the same goals and perspectives as the non-Christian fellow worker. It's easy for the world-soaked Christian to actually harbor the love for the world within a cloak of Christian values. That Christian is truly trying to be a Christian at work, but at the same time, aspires to the world's acclaim, fame, and treasures as well.

In reality, for many Christian, the non-Christian's "home field", in reality, becomes somewhat the Christian's home field as well; and then it no longer becomes a mission field as much as a playing field where the Christian ends up competing with or playing with the non-Christian for the same prize.

As you know, that can't last for long. John 15 says that "every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes that it may bear more fruit" (listen to the Clinging to the Vine Pt. 1 message on the td site for my take on this verse - it differs from MacArthur's - thankfully, a rare thing:) )

I think you now may be entering that stage where what I've told you years ago applies - prioritizing your life values and then living life in that order, making the lesser serve the greater. You know what I'm talking about, right? Now, it's not just theory for your future. It's now, and you have to do some soul searching as to what you're really going to live all out for.

When all is said and done, I believe it all comes down to calling. Since we are missionaries on this earth 24/7, and this world is NOT OUR HOME (!), then what is God calling us to do as His missionaries. That answer is the same and yet different for each person; the same in overall objective, different in specific roles and tasks we're called to perform.

So, one thing I know is that whatever we're called to, it's not for the purpose of establishing and further deepening our roots on earth. That would be like a short-term missionary spending his energy on his mission trying to upgrade his accommodations.

So, I'd ask you, what's your mission? What's your calling? With your background, you may have answers in your head that are not God's answers. You also may have a culture and value system that has been somewhat ingrained within you (through the back door) that may not be eternally based. Your task is to recognize it, surrender it to God, and then allow him to take your training and do whatever He wants with it in your life.

As you know, however, that's difficult for one who's tasted "Paris." That person has a natural resistance to going "back to the farm."

It's not really even an issue of what you do for work, it's a matter of your heart's desires. You could be working in some inner-city job out of obedience to God, but your heart still could be on (the high paying job) and all it offers. As you know, in that case, God would be desiring your whole heart and would not be properly glorified, even if you were "doing" the right thing. Our being comes before our doing, right? Who we are (alone before Him) comes before what we do (for Him). That takes His holy scrubbing and pruning ... and pruning involves cutting ... and cutting hurts. It's often easier to get Israel out of Egypt than it is to get Egypt out of Israel.

The question for you then isn't so much whether one career path is more fulfilling to you than another, as much as it is, what's God calling you to be and do in your whole life (not just career) as His short-term missionary on earth? When you can define His purpose for your existence on this earth, then all the decisions to be made become clearer and naturally follow (Matt. 6:33).

Augustine rightly said that we were made for God, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in HIM!

So, if the more "boring", less exciting, less hours job would better serve your life calling, then that's reason for rejoicing - it will give you the time to better serve your bigger calling (lesser serves greater). If the more challenging, time consuming, more intense job is intricately woven into your bigger calling and ministry, then that's great too. Either way, you are in the center of His will and calling. One isn't more righteous or sinful than the other. They're neutral.

For instance, if it was His call on you to own your own business or to have your own ministry, to have employees, and represent Him in that way, then you certainly would need to spend lots of time on that to have a "successful" business or ministry (in the eternal sense), and it would be right ... unless, it was done for worldly motives.

That's what I mean when I say we live before an Audience of One. Live before God and don't look left or right. Don't compare yourself with others. Everyone has their unique calling. We just have to honest with our motives and perspective.

Anyway, hope that helps a little. Please let me know what you think. As for (your other question), I'll have to address that another time as I've got to go fulfill my calling now and teach math to a kindergartner :)

Blessings,

Arthur

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Total Devotion is the High School Fellowship at Mandarin Baptist Church of Los Angeles.

Total Devotion meets on every Friday night from 730 PM to 10 PM in Room 131 except for the last Friday of each month.