Time to Change Jobs?

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

Over the last three weeks, we have looked at a number of Scriptures that can help us respond well to jobs we don’t love. But all of these responses have assumed staying in your current job. Today, we turn to our final biblical response to work we don’t love: changing your job entirely.

Now, I have saved this response for last because I am afraid it is often the first and only response we consider when we feel stuck in a job we don’t love. But the fact is that there are situations in which making a career move is the most God-honoring thing you can do. This is especially true if it is clear that you are in a job that doesn’t match your skill-sets and you see no path to achieving mastery of your current craft. After all, if the purpose of work is to glorify God and love others, we should all be doing the work we can do most exceptionally well. Mediocre work loves nobody. If you see no path to mastering your current role, take the time to explore where your passions and gifts might intersect with clear opportunities to meet the needs of others. But be careful not to focus too heavily on your pre-existing passions. As we saw last week, passion typically follows mastery, not the other way around. Spend more time identifying the work you are best at and seeking out jobs that will allow you to exercise that gift most frequently.

If you believe the Lord is calling you to change your job, I would encourage you to keep in mind the other biblical responses we have studied throughout this devotional series. “Work…with all your heart” for your current employer until God makes it clear it’s time to leave. Be sure to honor and respect your boss and company, even in the midst of transition. And remember that in whatever job you land in, it’s purpose is not to bring you ultimate meaning that can only be found satisfactorily in Christ. The purpose of your work is the purpose of life for every Christian—to love God and love others. Do that by finding the work you were created to do and working at it with all your heart.