Keeping your resume current, ensuring your training is not lagging behind, keeping your LinkedIn profile up-to-date, and ensuring you’re not stagnating in the job – all these things and many more are just the responsible things a diligent Christian does. Having said that, exercise due spiritual diligence in making any career move. How do you know the job offer is from God?

Tune in to this conversation between a Christian and her employer:  

"I don't know if I can handle it or not. I feel honoured that you would offer me such a promotion, but I'm afraid it will mean even more work. I am already going flat out all day long. I sense this promotion would complicate my life even more. I'm not sure being upwardly mobile is the 'be all and end all' in life."

"I know how you feel, but you are being very short-sighted if you are only thinking of your increased workload. Think of it in terms of your longevity with us and the potential the promotion offers you. This company has other brilliant minds, but we have selected you. Yes, it will mean more pressure and more time in the short term but look at the other benefits – a bigger salary; increased job satisfaction; greater influence; enhancements to your resume and the possibility of earlier retirement. We'll do what we can to make it easy for you. We'll give you the latest technology so you won't be tied down to the office - you'll be able to do business stuff even while you are doing the zoo thing on Saturday with the kids. We'll do whatever we can to meet your needs because you're our best catch in a long time."

Have you ever heard of the sweet and subtle strategies of Satan? Well, there’s nothing sweet about them! A new job offer could be (but may not be) a part of a dark, sinister plot to keep you from maximizing your potential for the Lord. Pray plenty. You may have to say no to the lucrative dream offer.

The children of Israel were thinking about deliverance from Egypt’s bondage. Finally, they could see a light at the end of their dark tunnel. There was a hint of excitement in the air as they thought about the Promised Land God had in store for them.

They were thinking about going and making sacrifices to the Lord. But here’s what happened. No sooner had they set their hearts on deliverance when down the tubes came Pharaoh’s edict: “Make them work harder! They have way too much time on their hands to think about their God. If they keep thinking about this stuff, we’ll lose them.”

A delegation went to meet with Pharaoh to complain about their long hours and the unreasonable workload. Here’s Pharaoh’s response:

“But he said, “You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks.” Exodus 5:17-18

Satan knows that our most valuable but unrenewable resource is time. The more he can fill our time with non-God things, the less time we’ll have to spend with the Lord in our daily devotions and spiritual service and, yes,  the greater the waste will be in our life. The bigger the grip our jobs have on us, the less the Lord will get from us.

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Make no mistake about it: there’s a dark strategist behind the scene feverishly working to make our lives busier and crazier. If Satan can’t do it by cruelty, he will do it by subtlety. By hook or by crook, he will do whatever he can to limit our fruitfulness for the Lord and our testimony in the world.

If you have too much time on your hands, you might put more effort into the assembly. You might help out with the prison ministry or the food bank. If you’re too idle, you might start studying your Bible seriously or plan to block out some time to help out in DVBS or Seed Sowers. You might take your family to a Bible conference if you have too many weekends off. If you’re too idle, you might be home more, and the chances of wrecking your marriage and losing your kids diminish.

Before we conclude, imagine this: it may be unrealistic but think about it: if every Christian asked their employer to reduce their workweek by half a day and used, hour-for-hour, those same freed-up hours for spiritually-specific work, can you imagine the difference it would make now and in eternity?

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD! I have fled to you for refuge. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! Psalms 143:8-10

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5 NIV

Don’t hesitate to share a thought from your personal experience or a verse that has been a blessing to you –  in the comment section below. Or, if you would like to reach out privately, click below.