Occupational Search - A Biblical View

Occupational Search Help Using A Biblical View

An Edited Paper By Naomi (my 15 yr old Daughter)

Does the Bible have anything to say and guide us, I’m fifteen, in our search for our occupation in life? You bet it does! God cares immensly about us and He equips us with talents and gifts to labor for our good and for His Glory. So let’s take a look at what I discovered concerning how one needs to understand the teaching of the Bible while researching what their occupational labor will be.


“God created men as a two part being. There is an immaterial part of man and a physical aspect of man. Man has a physical body and a mind. Men, created as a thinking being, are to think, and plan and establish projects. The Lord Jesus used the example of using the mind in the teaching that He provided in the need of counting the cost (planning / thinking ) before building a tower "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? (Lk.14:28)" Once planned men are then to meet those goals through labor. To move things, to clean, to build, etc. is to stretch the muscles using the body. Man was created with muscles and the ability to engage the body in planned labour.

God has given men certain competiencies to fit

the calling God has for each person

There is an inter-relational order between the different types of labor- mental and physical.. Some men and women work and labor intently with their minds in their vocation. In this type of labor there are the lawyers, teachers, engineers, pastors, corporate leaders, etc. Other men and women labor intently with their hands, backs and minds in doing the practical work of building things as well as carrying forth services that are needed by our society. They are the builders, nurses, mechanics, cooks, policemen, etc. All types of people are needed in our society to build and serve the societial infrastructure. While some work with their hands and back with chemicals, wood, paper, computers, etc. they are also called to work with people that work more with their minds teaching, managing, writing, planning, etc.and vise versa. One type of labor is not better than the other. We all are obligated and responsible, being given the ability and responsibility to work together with people with all types and variety of competiencies. Both are equally important in this world for society and for the good of mankind to build the proper social infrastructure. Each persons competiencies and gifts are given by God for the common good of all mankind, the advancement of the kingdom of God and for the glory of God.


The Gifts and Call of God in Your Work


God has given men certain competiencies to fit the calling or callings God has for each person. Men are to work using those gifts and ablities which God has gifted him or her. We live in a society wherein we think we all have the rights and ability to go to college, take whaever course of study we desire, struggle through, graduate and then work at that job for which we desire even though we barely passed the final exam. It is true that we are all created equal but we do not have the same abilities. Maybe, just maybe, we are over extended from our God given abilities. You need to understand that not all people have the same abilities. Some people do not see well. Therefore for them to take a job as a reader, test grader, newspaper journalist / editor would be out of their God given providential abilities. The gifts of God in Romans 12, 1 Peter, and 1 Corinthians are gifts based upon the abilities God is pleased to give the believers. So it is with mankind in creation in general. All non-inhibited, non-handicapped people may be creative in their abilities God has given them, but not all of them can be carpenters, lawyers, doctors, business men. Not all can be office managers, drafters, contract negotiators, etc. Your abilities are a gift from God. You need to decern your abilities and seek those as avenues of study and labor. For you to try to be an auto mechanic, even if you have a desire, without the ability to perform this task is to bring upon you undue burden, hard labor, dissatification in the work force and personal relationship problems. You may even find yourself eventually in the unemployment line. Without further comment and any other example I think most of us can identify with this in that many of us may have possibly have been there.

How does one evaluate to discover, develop, and use the gifts God has given to you as an individual? Romans 12:3-6 affords a basic biblical framework!

We need to understand that our abilities are from God. Not only are our gifts and abilities from him but also the labor that we are to perform is a calling of God in our lives. We know that God is soverign and that in His providence we are in a vocation from God. Therefore we are to work in that position which fits our competiencies and abilities to the glory of Christ our Savior knowing that this is God’s will for us at this time. Our life will be best regulated when the focus is to know, acknowledge and use those God given abilities. In putting our abilities to use we will not be unsettled about where to look for a place to fit in the work environment. We will not be running to and fro at every "I think I’d like to do this" fanciful whim. We will not be trying to do that which is really beyond our abilities. We will quickly become more stable in our work environment, with a more stabile work enviornment and we will be more stable in providing for the family. Also in this we will be able to do a better quality work for the glory of God, the advancement of the kingdom and the common good for our society.



How does one evaluate to discover, develop, and use the gifts God has given to you as an individual? Romans 12:3-6 affords a basic biblical framework. First, you need to evaluate soberly (clearly and factually) yourself in order to discover God’s gifts. An example: Do not think you are a scientist when you do not know nor have never worked in science field but only like science magazines. Secondly, you must recognize the function of the individual gifts among the many that there are. You must know that your abilities are different from others yet they are part of a whole. Not all have the same gifts or abilities. Thirdly, use the individual gift in practical applications which is goive you by the grace of God, by God’s help. In othere words, "How does that which I am able to do affect others in church and society?
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Romans 12:3-6 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:4-5 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching.



Work was established in the garden prior tothe fall. In this "friendly environment" work was about being obedient to God who ordained it. Created men were to accomplish work because of the ordanince / decree of God. Therefore we can deduce from the time historical account of the established ordinance that money is not the satisification we get from work. The money we get from work is a benefit and not its ultimate purpose. The ultimate purpose in work is to please God by being obedient to Him working aqs unto Him. Work done in a God-honoring manner will bring joy and satisfaction as we live redeemed in Christ in the abundant life He gives.


The necessity in man is to be a creative and productive being.



The necessity in man is to be a creative and productive being. Man has been made to have dominion over the works of his hands. God has put all things under his feet. (Ps. 8:6 and Genesis chapters 1-2) This overall calling and necessity is seen in the carrying forth of such desires in the tasks and duties of: a. the science of discovery; b. building of things; c. Home furnishing and decorating; d. gardening; e. self-employment of many sorts; f. baking; g. hobbies; etc.”



You can know what God has called you to do. Practically think through what you have read and make application to yourself. Then take your competiencies and talents and put them to work. Remember God has provided what you need to be successful in a proper occupation!