Do you sometimes day dream about having a job that really matters? Do you ever wonder if it's possible to make a living doing something that makes a difference in the world? Do you ever worry that the job you're doing now is pointless and wish you could figure out a way to get another one that wasn't?
Well, you're wasting your time.
Not because you can't make a difference in the world. (You can.)
But because the perfectly purposeful job doesn't exist.
A lot of our friends, for example, are pastors. A couple of us on the A.R.E. team are pastors. We've all worked, in one way or another, within the institutional church at some point in our professional lives.
What could be more purposeful, right? What kind of job could possibly matter more than being a part of what God is up to and inviting others to be a part of it, too, right? What could be more satisfying than knowing you're leading a community of people who are passionate about making a difference in the world, right?
You'd think.
But according to the research our friends in one large mainline denomination have done, people generally aren't "coming to church" to be a part of what God is up to or because they're so fired up about making a difference in the world.
People come to church because:
- My friends are here (and it’s cheaper than a country club) – 25%
- I'm looking for a religious experience – 22%
- I'm looking for some kind of moral authority to order my life – 19%
- It's entertaining – 17%
- I need some practical advice about how to...(have a happy marriage, raise my kids, etc., etc.) – 17%
In other words, people generally come to church for reasons that are "all about me."
No wonder so many pastors are exhausted and burned out. According to another research report, 40% of pastors have thought and/or are thinking about leaving ministry altogether. This should not be surprising. Most pastors we know came into the job all excited about serving God and changing the world...and they find themselves serving, basically, as spiritual babysitters.
Blech.
Now, we're not trying to dump on the institutional church. It just happens to be an organization we know best. Frankly, we think no institution on the planet has more of an opportunity (or more of a responsibility) to make a really positive difference in the world...to break down all the walls that separate people from each other and from God...to be a place of radical welcome and scandalous love...to challenge and inspire people to care for creation, to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with the One who has created us all. At A.R.E. we are committed to helping the church we love be who it is and see what it has for the sake of doing what really matters in the world.
But it isn't perfect. And that is exactly the point we're trying to make: There is no perfectly purposeful job.
There are only people who are clear about their purpose
no matter what job they are doing.
It doesn't matter if you're standing in a pulpit or behind the counter at Burger King, sitting in a corner office or behind the wheel of a semi-trailer, writing copy or making copies, serving lunch to the homeless or at home all day with a toddler...you're not going to get your purpose from your job.
You need to bring your purpose and your passion to whatever job you do.
So, who are you? What really matters to you?
What are you on this planet to do?
How do you want to be remembered when you're gone?
What kind of mark do you want to leave?
Why are you here?
Answer those questions. And then take those answers with you into every single situation you're in. Be that everywhere you go. Do that wherever you live, work, learn, play, worship, or serve.
Maybe once you start wrestling with these questions, you'll decide you really do need a different job. Maybe this wrestling will give you the motivation and energy you've been waiting for to make a change in your life.
But probably you just need to do what you're already doing with more passion and more purpose.
Probably you can change the world from right where you are.
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