Employment and Christian Finances

Employment and Christian Finances covers practical tips on how Christians can fulfill the employment part of God's financial plan. Employment is the first part of Christian Finances And Stewardship.

Employment And Christian Finances

The first part of a personal financial plan is employment. Whether you're looking for a full-time career move, a bridge job to change careers or a part-time job to manage a temporary budget shortfall, the job search can be the most frustrating time in your career...and very rewarding. The tips I'll offer here are very useful and often controversial. They've worked for me and many others I know who use them. Here are the latest best-selling books on Employment and Job Search.

Recovering From Job Loss: Very few of us have gone very long in our careers before we've had to deal with this devastating event. When we have a job, we tend to plan as if it's permanent...it's not! We've made financial commitments based on an assumption that our employer would be there to pay us...but that's not guaranteed. Now, we're faced with a financial emergency that is difficult to handle. Unemployment insurance and public assistance programs are helpful, but only go so far. If you haven't saved for this transition time (and most don't) you need to be willing to take drastic action to keep eating and pay your bills. As painful as it is, now is the time to be willing to do anything legal to put food on the table. This could involve long commutes...even moving. The good news is, if you're not too picky, you stand a very good chance of making the transition to another career and learning some valuable lessons that only a time like this can teach you. You will recover if you keep looking.

Help Deciding What Career To Choose: Most of us were asked as children, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" The comments we received shaped our ideas of which careers were considered valuable. Unfortunately, the ones making the comments (our family), in most cases, wouldn't describe their own careers as particularly valuable or even successful. Most of what they know about other careers they learned from rumor. When I was a child, the "wisdom" of the day was to get a job from a big company and they would 'take care of me'. The massive bankruptcies and turmoil of the 70's and 80's blew that rumor. My father paid into a Union retirement his whole life. Though retired more than a year before he died, he never saw a dime of that money. Now people are telling their kids to find a job with a health plan and retirement program, but we're hearing of huge companies going bankrupt because they can't afford the benefits they promised. What we ought to be teaching our children is to not rely on anyone but themselves for their financial well-being. It's up to us to manage our money so these things are just nice window dressing...not necessity. This is where I break with all tradition and say that it's foolish to choose a career based solely on monetary issues. In some countries this is necessary, but not in the developed World.

The most important factor in deciding a career is doing something you love to do. It may not pay as much as a lawyer at first, but if you love doing it, you will be far happier and need less money...unless you love being a lawyer.

"You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle." Steve Jobs, June, 2005 (founder of Apple and Pixar)

I did the best-paying, most 'secure' thing for the first 20 years of my adult life. I was professionally miserable, had no sense of accomplishment and eventually just quit after 15 years with the same employer. Now I make very little (though more than enough) helping people with their life problems. I get satisfaction every day because I can see I'm making a difference. Do what you love and you will have the money. We spend more than 50% of our lives (waking time) at work. How can we allow that time to be spent on something we're not interested in...or worse. We've all been "served" by people who hated their jobs. I don't return to places where that happens. It's very refreshing to come across those rare people who genuinely love what they're doing. It's obvious to the customers and the employers. Do what you love and you will be paid far more than the one who doesn't love what they do. Once you've found the one or two career fields in which you can do what you love, then you can look at money and benefits.

Conclusion at Employment and Christian Finances

Employment and Christian Finances

I'm honored that you've allowed me to be a part of your Christian life. Please return often for fellowship, study and prayer. Thank you very much for visiting.

Love & Hugs,
Glen

Employment and Christian Finances covers practical tips on how Christians can fulfill the employment part of God's financial plan. Employment is the first part of Christian Finances And Stewardship.