A purposeful life?

[BrokenDancer]

I decided that the best place to put this question would be on this forum as I guess a lot of you, like me, might be thinking about your future and where your life is heading.
I'm really confused at the moment as to what God wants me do with my life. I'm not sure if my course at the moment is what God wants me to do. If I'm not spending my life telling people about him or praying to him then how can I be doing what he wants me to? I mean Peter and Paul and Jesus himself all left their jobs and devoted it to him in every way. If as a Christian we are called to become "Christ-like" how can we have both "normal" jobs and still be Christ-like? I'd really like any guidance you can offer, especially if biblical examples can be given.

Thanks, and I know this is a tricky question

 

[eurekat]

I know what you mean, it is hard. All i can say is that people who I've spoken to who are in "full-time ministry" or whatever you want to call it, say spend a least a few years working in the "secular world". It givs you so much experience of what the world is like, allows you to discover you giftings, meet non-christians and is a great place to be a witness for christ.

I don't think everyone is called to give up a "normal" job, as surely this would alienate christians from the world, and I know in a sense we should be, but its hard to witness when you don't know any non-christians. But in whatever we do we should be like lights, be clearly set apart, in the world and not of the world etc.

sorry can't help more but i'm struggeling with this too. I'll keep a look out for some biblical examples.

eurekat

 

[Astreya]

Hi,

Have read your question and decided to answer on the basis of what I know.

You mentioned examples of Paul and Jesus as people who left their jobs and totally devoted themselves to ministry. But I think that you forget about the fact that both of them had some skills - Paul was a tent maker and Jesus was a son of a carpenter, and I am sure that Jesus, having grown in the family of a good carpenter, should have learned something from his father Joseph. And Paul - yes, he was one of the great missionaries of all the times, but when from time to time he needed some money to support himself, he went back to his job. And it is mentioned in the Acts of the apostles. And in one of his letters (unfortunately, cannont find the refence now, he even told to his followers follow in this question his example).

I know that it is always better to mention exact references, but now I just cannot remember them exactly.

And about Peter - do you remember that after ressurection Christ appeared to some of his disciples on the coast. He prepared some fish and bread while others - His disciples - were fishing. I am sure that they never left their jobs forever.

And by the way, yes. some people really have calling from God to be full time ministers, but others are succefull on sharing the Gospel on their workplaces.

Now there is a question to you - if all the believers were ministers, who then would have supported them financially?

Hope, that will help you somehow. Will be glad to know what you think about all this.

 

[BrokenDancer]

Thanks, that has given me some good stuff to think about and I'm going to have a go at finding some of the references you mention.

I think once I've thought about it, it's going to make it a lot more confusing.

 

[inmercysgrasp]

This is a good question. I think alot of Christians would probably love to be doing Christian work where they could share Christ openly and receive income as well. And maybe that is something God will lead you to, I don't know. Just pray...
But I think remember too that God has a place for each child. Just where they are, no matter how simple the occupation may seem or how dull the job, remember it's a way to glorify GOd, to witness of Jesus love, in action, by example, and maybe some times by word too. Don't be discouraged...stay close to Jesus, and mayhap those you work near will see Him in you.

 

[MidnightCandel777]

I decided that the best place to put this question would be on this forum as I guess a lot of you, like me, might be thinking about your future and where your life is heading.
I'm really confused at the moment as to what God wants me do with my life. I'm not sure if my course at the moment is what God wants me to do. If I'm not spending my life telling people about him or praying to him then how can I be doing what he wants me to? I mean Peter and Paul and Jesus himself all left their jobs and devoted it to him in every way. If as a Christian we are called to become "Christ-like" how can we have both "normal" jobs and still be Christ-like? I'd really like any guidance you can offer, especially if biblical examples can be given.

Thanks, and I know this is a tricky question

The Bible also says, in so many word, that if you don't work, you don't eat. Not eveyone is called to leave everything and go join a missions. Just living your life is a form of ministry, one that everyone around you watches.

 

[Silver-winged Flyer]

You don't have to be in full-time ministry to lead a Christ-like life. You can be as Christ-like as you possibly can right now, where you are.
To answer your question about whether the course you're doing is right, that's hard to say yes or no but if its something you are enjoying and want to work in that area then God probably does want you to carry on studying.
There's a verse in Colossians 3 that I'll paraphrase because I can't remember it word for word but it says: "whatever you do work at it with your heart as working for the Lord and not for men, it is the Lord God you are serving" and that is true if you are in full time ministry or in a secular job.

 

[MarkEvan]

All the advice given on this thread i great, but I though I would add my thoughts anyway;
Personally I would think that the majority of people are to have a "normal" job unless you hear very clearly from God that says otherwise. But a normal job doesn`t stop us from praying or witnessing, in fact a workplace is often one of the best places for you to witness because not only can people hear what you are saying but they can see that your life matches what you preach. The will of God for our lives is sanctification (1 thesalonians 4 vs 3) this is an inward process that happens at our heart, it doesn`t matter where we work so long as we are doing all to the glory of God.

Mark