Determining our path in life can be found in our service in the church. When I was in grade school, I participated in many church activities. I did not see it as volunteering. It was fun and I looked forward to it. I was in the choir, the step team, the mime team and community choir. I also participated in acting in plays and playing the piano. Although I did not go into a career in the arts, I learned so much from these activities. I developed leadership skills, practiced being dedicated, experienced a team depending on me to do my part and learned how to follow. In retrospect, those years were crucial to me becoming who I am today. Serving in the church has helped me to fine tune skills needed for a successful career. I encourage everyone to get involved some way, some how. I truly believe you can discover your career by serving.
There are many aptitude tests to help determine career paths but the best one I have found is serving in the church. I enjoyed serving and organizing, and now I am in a career where I serve and organize. I am constantly challenged to improve my leadership abilities and doing my best since there are so many teammates depending on me to do part with excellence.
We have gifts and talent in us. Serving in the church allows us to practice using those gifts and talents so we can be our best in the world. Romans 12:6-8 confirms that we have different gifts and we should use them accordingly.
In Exodus 25:8-9, God spoke to Moses stating to let the people make a sanctuary that He can dwell in. God gave Moses a blue print of the sanctuary including all of the furnishing. The construction of sanctuary involved so many talents. It amazes me how many different talents were involved in the building of the sanctuary (Exodus 25-31): construction, carpenters, pottery, interior design, botany, artist, seamstress/ers, farmers, engineers, transportation, welders, care-givers of the lamp stands, fashion designers, engravers, jewelry makers, cooks, administrators and accountants. Not only were there specific tasks, but God also noted the specific people and groups he wanted to complete the tasks (Exodus 31). God states that He fills people with the Spirit of God in wisdom, understanding, knowledge and expertise, and He gives skills to make all the things that He has commanded us to do.
If you are not sure how to start discovering your gifts, pray and ask God “What can I do for you?”. James 4:2-3 states that we do not have because we do not ask. Many times we ask God to do things for us but we rarely ask God what can we do for Him, what gifts can we use to expand His Kingdom. 1 John 5:14-15 assures us that if ask accordingly to God’s will, he will hear us. God may respond through visions or through other people. If you notice multiple people in the church are telling you the same thing, take note of this. You may have the same dream many times or a sudden burning desire to do a particular activity. God responds differently according to His will, but He will respond.
Before Solomon could say one word, 2 Chronicles 1:7 notes God challenged him with “Ask! What shall I give you?”. Solomon asked God for wisdom and knowledge in 2 Chronicles 1:10. God gave him wisdom and knowledge; not for money or status but for leading God’s people and building the temple for God. From this Solomon, was set on a path that lead him to money, wealth and honor. He focused on serving God to determine what he was called to do. In 2 Samuel 7:12-13, God had already called Solomon to a specific task that would benefit Him, God’s people and his own path in life. It’s a win-win-win!
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