Emulating Christ in Our Careers: Part One - Serving Others

In the pursuit of a fulfilling career, many Christians face the dilemma of reconciling their faith with their professional journey. As someone who continues to grapple with the same predicament, I understand the inner turmoil that arises when work feels disconnected from our values and beliefs. This disconnect can bring feelings of emptiness and doubt, leaving us unengaged and unfulfilled at work. If not recognized early, it can be easy to spend an entire career chasing corporate goals at the expense of continued growth in our relationship with Christ. 

Early in my career, I found myself in a similar situation, worried that my efforts were leading me down a path devoid of divine purpose. Despite setting and achieving various goals at work, I still felt that something was missing. Although I might have been showing signs of development and progress in my career, I still felt that work was an area where I wasn't prioritizing and exercising my faith. Looking back, I realized that my ambition and drive had become a hindrance and were distracting me from what was really important. Therein lies some irony -- God created us in His image, which I believe includes character traits like ambition, perseverance, and determination, but these qualities were never meant to be exclusively applied to work -- they were first meant to be focused on our relationship with Him. This is why we may accomplish many things in our careers yet remain unfulfilled. Any achievements apart from God will be fleeting. 

Now, I'm not saying that, as Christians, we need to be monks or pastors to find profound meaning and alignment with Christ in our work. Many professions, no matter how seemingly ordinary or secular, present an opportunity to live out our faith authentically and impact the world positively. By adhering to God's guidance on work ethic and emulating Christ's example, it's possible to turn our professions into our own personal ministries.

So, where do we start? From the dawn of creation, God entrusted humanity with a profound job description -- to be His representatives, bearing His image in the visible world. Over the ages, humanity has faltered, but Jesus Christ demonstrated the way. As Christians, we are called to follow in His footsteps and be "little Christs," reflecting His character in all aspects of life, including our work. 

Let's delve into some essential aspects of a work ethic guided by Godly principles and Jesus' practices, highlighting our primary duty as Christians: to love each other.

Part One: Serving Others

Jesus Christ's life was a testament to the transformative power of service. He taught that greatness comes through serving others, and as Christians, we are called to embody this principle in our work (Mark 10:42-45; Galatians 5:13). By serving our colleagues, clients, and the community with love, compassion, and humility, we exemplify Christ's character and bring His light to the world.

Mahatma Gandhi famously said, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service of others." This sentiment resonates with the teachings of Christ, who washed His disciples' feet and showed that leadership is about serving others, not seeking personal glory.

In my own journey, I was once focused on influence and income. However, I realized this sense of power was transient, and the money was never enough. 

After much prayer, God made it clear to me that my primary focus should be on showing love to others, embodying His virtues of humility, selflessness, and authentic leadership through service -- the rest would work itself out. With that guidance, I was taken down a path that I never expected, in a career that I never could have envisioned for myself. Once paralyzed with uncertainty and indecision, God led me to a quote from American Author and historian, Edward Everett Hale;

"You are only one, but you are one. You cannot do everything, but you can do something. Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”

I've come to realize that I might not become a CEO, but every day, I'm given a chance to make a positive impact on the lives of others and to live out my faith. I’ve never been happier at work.

By serving others daily through our work, making it about Christ and not ourselves, we fulfill our calling as Christians. In the upcoming parts of this series, we will explore more dimensions of our job description as Christians and how we can turn our professions into platforms for expressing our faith and serving others. Our work is not just a means to an end but a powerful tool for advancing the Kingdom of God and emulating the example of Christ in the world.