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[churchyreal]

So last night me and my friend was helping another friend make an important job decision. They have a job at a local grocery store but is getting an offer to work at pepsi. He has only been a pepsi for about a year and is being offered full time but as been at the grocery store about 3 1/2 years. He is not totally satisfied with the grocery store but is being offered positions for advancement within the company. But the Pepsi job would give a little more freedom.

So this made me think of something: When looking at jobs, which do you think is more important or should be given more priority: job satisfaction or advancement within? How much should job satisfaction factor into a job decision?

[csedwards2]

What about the weight place on which job God wants you to take? Or which one is related to your purpose and calling?

[dingster1]

I totally agree with CS. My entire work schedule is planned with ministry activities in mind FIRST! Anything that comes in the way of that, I will not do. I will only work on the rare Sunday afternoon and no Wednesday day stuff.

[LaRue1212]

Same here, Dingster.

For the unsaved, though (or non-ministry-minded), I'd say that it depends on where they are in life. At some stages in life, money is of paramount importance. At others, it might be benefits. Might be satisfaction, growth opportunities, or a host of other things.

Personally, my first "item" on the checklist is the will of God. After that, it's enjoyment. I don't care what the salary is, I will not take a job I don't enjoy doing. Period. (At least not at this stage in my life, and I pray I never have to). My job has to be able to hold my attention and challenge me.  If it doesn't do that, I'll be miserable and won't perform well (if at all), so the money won't even matter.  After that, it's location.

Advancement doesn't cross my mind. But that doesn't mean your friend shouldn't consider it. Depends on his goals, age, circumstances, etc.  At your age, I'd probably put advancement opportunity over enjoyment, btjm.

[under13]

Same here, Dingster.

For the unsaved, though (or non-ministry-minded), I'd say that it depends on where they are in life. At some stages in life, money is of paramount importance. At others, it might be benefits. Might be satisfaction, growth opportunities, or a host of other things.

Personally, my first "item" on the checklist is the will of God. After that, it's enjoyment. I don't care what the salary is, I will not take a job I don't enjoy doing. Period. (At least not at this stage in my life, and I pray I never have to). My job has to be able to hold my attention and challenge me.  If it doesn't do that, I'll be miserable and won't perform well (if at all), so the money won't even matter.  After that, it's location.

Advancement doesn't cross my mind. But that doesn't mean your friend shouldn't consider it. Depends on his goals, age, circumstances, etc.  At your age, I'd probably put advancement opportunity over enjoyment, btjm.

[LaRue1212]

Wow. I REALLY thought that was self-explanatory.

Simply put: those who are saved and ministry-minded should be foremost concerned with taking a job that is in the will of God, and follows his purpose for their lives.  Those who are not saved or are not ministry-minded probably won't think that way.

Got it? Good. 

[churchyreal]

Wow. I REALLY thought that was self-explanatory.

Simply put: those who are saved and ministry-minded should be foremost concerned with taking a job that is in the will of God, and follows his purpose for their lives.  Those who are not saved or are not ministry-minded probably won't think that way.

Got it? Good. 

This is exactly what I'm going through right now. As I've been working in this agency for about 3 weeks I've came to a conclusion that office work is not what I want to be doing for my life career. My overall life goal is to help people who are disadvantaged, hurting, broken and seen as less in our society. So I see case management as an area that would be good in directly helping people who are going through.

This is why I'm also praying on some other things as it relate to other ministry goals that I'm not ready to reveal yet....lol!

[kodacolor]

So last night me and my friend was helping another friend make an important job decision. They have a job at a local grocery store but is getting an offer to work at pepsi. He has only been a pepsi for about a year and is being offered full time but as been at the grocery store about 3 1/2 years. He is not totally satisfied with the grocery store but is being offered positions for advancement within the company. But the Pepsi job would give a little more freedom.

So this made me think of something: When looking at jobs, which do you think is more important or should be given more priority: job satisfaction or advancement within? How much should job satisfaction factor into a job decision?

His job at Pepsi could lead to advancement.  I think it's worth the risk.  For me job satisfaction is very important.  I do better at work when I want to be there.  I would hate to be in the management department of a company and hate waking up in the morning knowing that I have nothing to look forward to for the next 8 hours because I hate my job.

[kodacolor]

What about the weight place on which job God wants you to take? Or which one is related to your purpose and calling?

This. 

*sends royalty check*

[churchyreal]

Let me throw this question as it pertains to this discussion:(BTW this is some good discussion)

From a spiritual perspective do you believe God will at times have us in situations and/orjobs that's not necessarily satisfying but part of our growth and preparation for the next job that will be satisfying?

His job at Pepsi could lead to advancement.  I think it's worth the risk.  For me job satisfaction is very important.  I do better at work when I want to be there.  I would hate to be in the management department of a company and hate waking up in the morning knowing that I have nothing to look forward to for the next 8 hours because I hate my job.

I said that taking Pepsi full time is a risk. At the end it's a tough decision but I said that because of the sustanibility that's possible with the grocery store because of the years being there it might be best to stay in the grocery store. His eventual goal is to get out of retail as a whole. 

[kodacolor]

Let me throw this question as it pertains to this discussion:(BTW this is some good discussion)

From a spiritual perspective do you believe God will at times have us in situations and/orjobs that's not necessarily satisfying but part of our growth and preparation for the next job that will be satisfying?

Yup.  My last job was like that, I believe.

[churchyreal]

Yup.  My last job was like that, I believe.

See that's why I'm not totally sold that the most satisfying job at this point is the most important factor. He said that he would probably be more satisfied at pepsi than the grocery store due to more freedom and less micromanaging but.....idk it's a tough decision.

[under13]

Wow. I REALLY thought that was self-explanatory.

Simply put: those who are saved and ministry-minded should be foremost concerned with taking a job that is in the will of God, and follows his purpose for their lives.  Those who are not saved or are not ministry-minded probably won't think that way.

Got it? Good.  

I'm just saying that I dont think people should be lumped into a group with the unsaved and be labeled as not being ministry minded because they dont put church ministry before their secular career....thats just the impression I got from your's and dingster's posts.....not tryin to start no debate.....not today anyways

[sjonathan02]

I'm just saying that I dont think people should be lumped into a group with the unsaved and be labeled as not being ministry minded because they dont put church ministry before their secular career....thats just the impression I got from your's and dingster's posts.....not tryin to start no debate.....not today anyways

First, she said the unsaved won't think that way because they, in fact, AREN'T ministry minded; how COULD they be?


For those that are saved but AREN'T thinking about ministry first (meaning, they aren't scheduling their careers around their ministry responsibilities, I assume), what would YOU call it? 

[churchyreal]

I'm just saying that I dont think people should be lumped into a group with the unsaved and be labeled as not being ministry minded because they dont put church ministry before their secular career....thats just the impression I got from your's and dingster's posts.....not tryin to start no debate.....not today anyways

I think that they were talking about jobs in general, not specifically geared to the church vs. secular.

[sjonathan02]

I think that they were talking about jobs in general, not specifically geared to the church vs. secular.

 

[Incognegro]

I smell a spin-off thread...smells like....like it's coming soon.

[kodacolor]

See that's why I'm not totally sold that the most satisfying job at this point is the most important factor. He said that he would probably be more satisfied at pepsi than the grocery store due to more freedom and less micromanaging but.....idk it's a tough decision.

Still, my last job was the best I could get at the time because I didn't have a degree.  I refused to do certain things because I already knew I would hate it (from prior experience).  If God didn't bless me to get a promotion I would have left four months into the job.  That four months turned into about 2.5 years.  It wasn't the best job in the world, but it wasn't horrible either.  I learned a lot even though it's not something I can see myself doing for the rest of my life.

[LaRue1212]

Thanks Jonathan. That IS what I meant.

U13, does that make more sense to you?

[csedwards2]

said another way

I have experienced no satisfaction like the satisfaction I have felt working in my calling that God gave me. It is peaceful, stress free, and rewarding. My needs are always met, and the favor I receive with God and man working here hasnt ceased.

I work in the school system of a district that fired unqualified, nontenured, unlicensed, inexperienced teachers just 30 days ago. On paper, I fit each and every one of those descriptions..... But God! And as far as I can tell, the doorway opened for me to get the job, and closed behind me after I walked in. Its an amazing feeling.

Seeking your purpose, and His will, will cut tons of confusion in the job selection process on your very next job and every job to follow