It is often easy to tell, without any prior knowledge, the type of building that is being erected when we see the foundation. If it’s a bungalow, a two storey building or a skyscraper, you can tell. This is because the foundation of a thing determines the burden it can bear and how lasting it can stand.
The success of our career is a function of the foundation on which it is built. When I have the opportunity to speak to young people (not like I am old) just starting out in their career, one of the few things I tell them is to be hungry to learn new things daily and eschew mediocrity. I have seen this pay off in all cases of people who have headed this.
Foundation is very key and that is why the Book says that if it be destroyed, what else can be done to rectify it. Imagine a skyscraper with a faulty foundation, how do you rectify it? It is better brought down and rebuilt.
Not so many people may have the opportunity to rebuild a career that is based on a faulty foundation, it is therefore imperative that we start building on a solid foundation.
There are seven core foundational principles responsible for the career success of a Christian employee. Let me mention here that there are other principles that work for career success which are not kingdom’s principles, but as long as we acknowledge that we are of the kingdom of God and wants to do things according to His will, these seven principles hold true for us. We will give account of our stewardship based on these principles when the time comes.
Here are the seven principles;
- God controls kingdoms and companies
- You are an employee of Christ not your company
- The future of your career depends on God and your response to Him
- Your circumstances are designed by God
- Count your superiors worthy in thought, word and deed
- Your total trust must be in the Lord to direct your career
- Your only status symbol must be the cross
These principles form the core of the teachings of the Christian Employee Series since it started some years ago.
It is not just knowing these principles that is important but our commitment to building on it because the validity of these principles are proven by stress, trouble, challenges and the likes.
Flood, stream and storm will arise to prove whatever foundation is built (Luke 6:47-49). You will be presented with options that look more like making a choice between what looks good at the moment and you can grasp versus waiting for an unknown period of time to get something that only exists in the realm of faith.
Your superior will stress you such that you feel like calling his bluff and damn the consequences, but something tells you to be patient and hang on. You don’t know why you should hang on but as a child of God you realize this is what He wants for you at that period.
Friends, it’s never easy to live by these principles, but He promised that His grace is sufficient for us.
If we truly want to have a career success that is pleasing to God, that will make Him day this is my beloved son or daughter in whom I am well pleased, we must make up our minds to live by these principles.
In subsequent editions, we will look into each of these principles.
God bless
Akindele Afolabi
Christian Employee Series