"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.....But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:25, 33.
Jesus says he will assume responsibility for providing for our needs if we seek first his kingdom. He guarantees this. This implies that if we are following him, we should look to him for provision for food, clothing, shelter, protection. Our occupations and work become therefore a vehicle through which we serve Jesus our king thereby seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness. Our occupations should not be looked upon as a means to gain provision for our needs since Christ has stated he would take care of these. Therefore, whether in the professional ministry or in manual labor, our occupations are a means to be used by God for his glory. If we view our occupations as "the means whereby we earn our livings, we will not be able to seek adeuately the kingdom of God (Walt Henrichsen, Diary of a Desperate Man)." To seek God's kingdom means to seek God's rulership in our lives and the lives of others. All of us are therefore in the ministry of our Lord. In the words of Walt Henrichsen, "The only difference between a vocational Christian worker and the laity (an average Christian church member) is how the ministry is funded."
Mr. Henrichsen goes on to say, "If you are unhappy with your job because God wants you elsewhere, you should change jobs and do the will of God. If you are discontent with your job, but believe that is where God wants you, then you need to repent." Ouch.
Ideas from Walt Henrichsen's daily devotional Diary of a Desperate Man Day 176.
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