1 Corinthians 10:31

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

I firstly acknowledge the blessings I have that I am able to choose the career I want, and access training and technologies that allow me to pursue many different pathways. But all this said, which career do I choose? Paul says in his letter to the Corinthians to ‘do it all for the glory of God’. How much priority should I put on providing for my family versus spreading the gospel? A very high paying job in a management position will have less opportunities to share the gospel than a far lower paying job as a school chaplain, or even a third-world missionary.

I believe providing for one’s family is vitally important. Paul even says so to Timothy:

1 Timothy 5:8

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

But I think the whole purpose of the gospel is to provide to the needs of those around you. Not the physical needs, but the spiritual needs, which are incredibly vital. Therefore I think the answer to the question is ‘both’. We need to find a career, or enable our careers, to be one in which we can both provide for others (family), and have opportunities to share the gospel. The thing missing from that career? Our own wants and desires. Our own ‘need’ to rise up the corporate ladder or feel worth from our colleagues and/or bosses. I have always struggled with this; knowing I can be fully satisfied by God’s love and don’t need the approval of others. But when we have those criteria in our minds; providing for family, having opportunities to share the gospel and ultimately doing it all for the glory of God, it really opens the doors to many, many, many different careers and opportunities.