The Christian's Secular Job
Author: Steve Amato
Keywords: christian, secular, job, work, bible

## ISSUES CONCERNING
THE CHRISTIAN'S SECULAR JOB

### 1. Responsibility

Question: If I have decided to follow Christ wholeheartedly, does that mean I should give up secular work to become a full time Christian worker (being supported by Christians working in secular jobs)?

Either-Or vs. Both-And Philosophies

2Tim 2:4 No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs - he wants to please his commanding officer.
Acts 20:33-35 I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.;
2Thess 3:6-12 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.

Question: What is the primary reason why I should work? Provision

1Thess 4:11-12 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Titus 3:14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.
2Cor 12:14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

### 2. Ambition in the workplace

### Workaholism

Question: What is the distinction between working whole heartedly (as in Col 3:23; Eph 6:6-8) and working obsessively?

Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Ec 2:26 To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

### Credit

Question: How important should it be to you for you to get credit for your work?

Pr 27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.
Joh 5:44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?
Lu 14:8 "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.

### Success

Question: If you are living properly as a Christian, should you aspire to be successful at your job? At what cost?

Mr 8:36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
Pr 22:29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.

### Lust for money

Question: How might you evaluate whether greed has become a dominant factor in your striving for success? What can you do to prevent it?

1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Heb 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." {5 Deut. 31:6}
Ecc 5:10 - He who loves money will not be satisfied with its increase

### Fulfillment

Question: Should you expect your job to be fulfilling? How important is fulfillment in your job? What expectations and desires do you have concerning your job? Is a lack of the feeling of being fulfilled a justifiable basis for discontentment?

Ecc11:9 Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.

### Retirement - Security

In light of Luke 12:16-21, how much of a "nest egg" should you build up? Should you seek to retire early, given the opportunity? Why work if you don't need to?

### 3. Submission - relationships with those in authority (David)

Question: Should you view your secular boss as a legitimate God-appointed authority figure over you? Should you make it your aim to serve yourself or to serve your boss? Should you consider your own success more important than your boss's success?

Col 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
Eph 6:6-8 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
1Pet 2:18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.

Question: What things that by avoiding at work, I will gain a good reputation?

Titus 2:9,10 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
Dan 6:4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.

### 4. Purity - relationships with the opposite sex (Joseph - Gen 39:8,9)

Question: As most adulterous relationships start at the workplace, what precautions might you take to avoid inappropriate relationships with the opposite sex at work?

The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources