Modern Woman. Modern Life. And GodSample

Choosing a Profession

The Bible provides numerous examples of professions and jobs. In most cases, professions in the Old Testament were “inherited”—passed down from father to son or mother to daughter in something of a mentoring manner or apprenticeship relationship. Occasionally, a person’s special talents in a particular area or the call of God on the person’s life were noted, and that person then was singled out for a unique position, such as when Deborah became a judge of Israel (Jdg 4:4–5).

In the New Testament, women and men enjoyed much more autonomy in choosing a line of work or a profession. Lydia was a notable businesswoman in the textile industry (Ac 16:14); Dorcas was a well-respected seamstress (Ac 9:39); and Priscilla worked in the tentmaking trade (Ac 18:2–3).

The understanding of the New Testament believers, however, was that their entire lives were subject to God’s command and direction, including their choices of careers. The Holy Spirit was to be trusted both for direction and timing.

The idea of a career path was not regarded as something that a person must engineer on her own, but something that flowed naturally from a person’s talents and abilities and in response to opportunities that arose. You are to be motivated in your work by a desire to use your abilities to their fullest for the glory of God rather than being motivated by positions on corporate ladders, work incentives, higher salaries or cultural standards of prestige and status.

The Bible clearly warns against worshiping the work of your own hands or exalting that which you have created or earned to the place of supreme honor in your life (Ps 115:1–8; Jer 25:6–7).