THE BIBLE AND CHOICE OF CAREER

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies); ND/HD (Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.

Call: +2348037346939 E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com

THE BIBLE AND CHOICE OF CAREER

Presented by: Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

Devotional Text: Exo.31:1-11

INTRODUCTION:

           The WORD of the LORD to Moses, saying, “see, I have called by name Bezaleel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of  the tribe of Judah: and I have filled him with the SPIRIT of GOD, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship {Ex. 31:1-3} clearly shows that careers are DIVINE giftedness from the ALMIGHTY, and strongly indicates that no inventor would have invented anything without the SPIRIT of GOD, as no craftsman would possess the skills for artistic designs without DIVINE endowment {vs.3-5}. Therefore, nothing of human career comes by chance, but by the predetermined WILL of the LORD GOD of heaven and earth, who gives careers as gifts to individuals before they are born. And, to miss GOD’s path for one’s career on earth, is to live a life without DIVINE direction, that definitely leads to unhappiness and confusion.

GENERAL REMARKS

(1)     There are people gifted to pioneer certain careers on earth, {Ez. 31:1-3}

(2)     There are also people born with DIVINE imprint to propagate the already discovered careers on earth, {vs. 6}

(3)     There is the need for one to discover GOD’S path for one’s career on earth, {Acts 9:6}

(4)     There is also the need to pray for DIVINE guidance in one’s career on earth, {vs. 6}

HUMAN CAREER AS A GIFT FROM GOD

No human career is by chance, and where one picks up a career by chance, one becomes robbed of the fulfilment and blessings of career. Many people on earth are not fulfilled, because they are in the wrong choice of career. So, it is wrong for one gifted for medicine, to engage in engineering profession, or in any other career that is not designed by GOD for one. The story of Bezaleel, as cited in the account of Exodus 31:1-3, shows that, it is the SPIRIT of GOD that chooses one, as well as endows one with the wisdom, knowledge and understanding that are required for any career. This giftedness is imbedded in the human nature, and so, it is not a spiritual thing, nor is it only for the godly, since, it is obvious that, both the godly and the ungodly are gifted alike. But, the believer in CHRIST JESUS, our LORD and BLESSED SAVIOUR, who is led by the SPIRIT of GOD {Rom. 8:14} is better placed in the search for the right career for one’s life. To this end, it becomes the duty of the believer to pray that GOD:

(i)                   Reveals the career HE has designed for his life, {Ex. 31:1-3}

(ii)                 Grant him the abilities for the fulfilment of his career, {vs. 1-3}

(iii)                Leads him to the appropriate place(s) for the fulfilment of his career, {Rom. 8:14}

INDIVIDUALS AND SPECIFICATION OF CAREER

    Every GOD-given career comes with specifications, where the gifted individual can fit in most. In the case of Bezaleel, the LORD specified he had ... to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stone” ... {Ex. 31:4-5}, as Aholiab ... of the tribe of Dan was detailed for the making of the furniture of the tabernacle, the table and its furniture, and the pure candlestick, with all its furniture, and the altar of incense,” {vs. 6-8}. So, in every human career, one should endeavour to ascertain the specified area one is particularly gifted, as one gifted for electrical engineering in the engineering  profession should not allow sentiments to lure one into mechanical engineering, or one divinely endowed for nursing in the medical profession allow oneself to be engaged in any other unit of the medical field. This, also, applies to missionary assignments, as the Apostle Paul, remains a shining example of one who ascertained his specified area of duty, which the Scripture records that ... “as he trembled in astonishment, he said, LORD, what will you want me to do? And the LORD said to him, Arise, and go into the city; and you shall be told what you must do” {Acts 9:6}, ...as the answer that specified his ministerial assignment came in the LORD’S reply to Ananias, which shows that, he was a chosen vessel, to bear the NAME of the LORD before the Gentiles, the kings and the children of Israel, {vs. 15}. In this connection, therefore, the believer should:

(i)             Endeavour to discover the specified area of his career from the LORD before engaging in it, {Ex. 3:4-5; 6-8}.

(ii)           Resist every temptation that could lure him out of the specified area of his GOD-given career on earth, {vs. 4-5; 6-8}.

(iii)          Cry out to GOD, to find out his real career and the particular dimension of it, {Acts 9:6;15}

HUMAN CAREER AND CHOICE OF LOCATION

The Scripture, “go to now, you that say, today or tomorrow, we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain. Whereas, you do not know what shall be tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour; that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. For that you ought to say, if the LORD WILLS, we shall live, and do this or that {James 4:13-15} strongly indicates that the place of one’s career should be in line with the WILL of our GREAT GOD and LORD of Heaven and earth, who is the giver of every human career. In other words, if GOD wants a given career-bearer to locate in Nigeria, Britain, Japan or China, the specified place must be ascertained from the LORD and adopted for operation, if not the career is likely to fail or have set-backs. The simple reason is that the LORD knows where HE HAS planted or located career-helpers for a particular career, and so, if the target is not noted and taken advantage of, things will definitely go wrong. For, as individuals are gifted variously in career, so countries and locations are blessed with different human and material resources that make for successes in career, and to import such resources from far places, is not often successful. So, endeavour to find out where the LORD, our GOOD GOD Has made suitable for your career, as well as ensure that:

(i)                   No-one takes you out of the location HE has appointed for your  career, {James 4:13-15}

(ii)                 You take advantage of the human and material resources in that location for maximum success, {vs. 13-15}

(iii)                You always pray that GOD would always show you where to find the human and material

resources meant for the success of your career in that location which HE WILLS for you {vs. 13-15}.

In conclusion, please, do have in your retention that GOD is the giver of every human career, and that every human being has a duty to ascertain from HIM where he is gifted, with appropriate specification, as well as discover HIS point of location, for maximum success and fulfilment. PLEASE, BE INFORMED!