Question: Hi Greg!

I am currently having some conflicts in my life due to my change in thinking since becoming a Christian. I know that I continue to be a Christian in my current profession as an engineer. God can work through me to pass on his message of love, hope and peace in eternity. But I am also disillusioned with my career, the product we sell and the issues I have to deal with daily. I would like to work with people and give more to this world than I can now with my over demanding job and current situation.

I also have difficulties trying to take care of myself (love myself) and in turn sacrificing for God. There seems to be a conflict in messages when reading the Bible about self-sacrifice and turning your life over to Christ and taking care of yourself, your family and friends. For example, you cannot make a "big" decision to follow God without it affecting your family, children, career, plans for a house, etc.

Robert

Answer: Dear Robert,

Welcome to Christianity! These two issues will be a part of your physical life from now on! Many of us yearn to do more for Jesus Christ, even those of us who are in the profession of ministry and the church. We often become discouraged and bogged down, as it seems that we spend most of our time on issues that Christians want to argue about and quarrel over rather than evangelism, and sharing the good news with the world at large.

The fact is that God knows were you are – and certainly can use you where you are. He may have called you because of where you are – he may even have placed you where you are. Changing professions and vocations are huge decisions and decisions should be made carefully, cautiously, with counseling, research, prayer etc.

The second issue you bring up concerns stewardship – how to be a living sacrifice for God (Romans 12:1-2). How to be a tool in his hands, how to ensure that we take care of our own responsibilities to family (including ourselves) as well as to the work of God – the kingdom work in which he allows us to be involved.

Stewardship involves our time, talents, and treasures – we are called to be faithful, wise, discerning, and balanced stewards. Many Christians have unwisely sacrificed their own health, their own families’ needs, the time that their children require - in order to serve in their own local church. But God tells us that we are to take care of our own families, to ensure that their physical and spiritual needs are met. So we must not neglect our own home and our own "backyard" while considering how we can help our neighbor.

Remember – all "big" decisions to follow God always involve one’s family – and that Christians do not make quick decisions without counseling, prayer, research, etc. to which I alluded above. These are issues you should discuss with a pastor, and/or a spiritual elder, as well as other human resources like parents, spouse, friends, etc.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht