Whatcha Wanna Be?
Theme of the Week: A Man of Significance
M. Craig Barnes
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago (Ephesians 2:10). Bonus Reading:Philippians 3:7—11
I used to believe people when they said things like, "I don't really care about my job title as long as I enjoy the work." But I've been both a pastor and a supervisor too long to still buy that line. I've also spent too much time myself trying to get the job of my dreams. We may not admit this, but it's important to us to have a good answer when someone asks, "And what do you do?"
Our society is confused over the relationship of being to doing. We keep thinking that if we just do the right things, we'll be happy. If we aren't happy, we ought to do something else. The roots of this confusion go back to the days when our favorite uncle would put us on his lap and ask, "And what do you want to be when you grow up?" We knew we weren't supposed to say, "Happy!" No, we knew we had to say something like "fireman" or "astronaut." So now that we're all grown up and not happy, we assume that we'd better find a different job title.
The Bible is clear in asserting that I never know what to do with myself, without first being the blessed creation of God. What I do for a living is important, but it doesn't determine who I am. Only God determines that.
—M. Craig Barnes in Hustling God
My Response: One thing of value about me aside from the work I perform is …
Thought to Apply: The exclusive worship of the bitch-goddess Success [is] our national disease.
—William James
Adapted from Hustling God (Zondervan, 1999) by permission.
Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click
for reprint information.
1 of 1
 share this page
Help me grasp, Lord, that my identity and value go way deeper than what I do for a living. And thank You for making this so.
Men of Integrity
Connect with God | Transform my Mind | Live by His Power
Relate Better | Make an Impact
Home | Archives | Contact Us
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try an Issue of Men of Integrity
Free!
|
 |
|
No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders.
If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless.
Give Men of Integrity as a gift
Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
RSS Feed
