Please, Don't Waste Your Life :)

          Its always interesting to see what John Piper has to say in each chapter of his book Don't Waste Your Life.  Chapter eight talks about jobs.  He points out that just because you are a Christian doesn't mean that you have to work in the ministry or mission field.  He says that we are put in our job for a reason and we are supposed to shine the light of Jesus wherever we may work.  We are to be in the world, not of the world. John Piper gives us some helpful hints of how we may accomplish this.  Talking to God throughout the day will help.  Continually thanking him and praising him will help you survive your work day.  Another way to shine God's name is to be creative and use our talents.  God created us in his image.  We glorify him when we do good and creative things.  He gave us minds so we should use them and have a good work ethic.  It praises God when we do everything to his glory.   Having good standards in your workplace will help.  It is good when people know they can trust you.  We should adorn the gosple with our work because then we fully rely on God, and we boast in the cross.  When we choose to rely upon ourselves and not trust God, easy work becomes hard work.  In the beginning work was joyful.  Adam and Eve were able to be creative and enjoy life without having to wory about providing food and clothing for themselves, but after the fall a curse of struggle came upon work.  Even though Christ came to lift the curse, he still wants us to work.  He wants us to be able to be independent and not take from people.  Although he wants us to work hard and strive to earn what you need, He doesn't want you to worry.  God will provide in any situation.  But just because we know that God will provide doesn't give us liscense to be lazy.  This is a bad example to unbelievers and shows a wasted life.  Don't work hard just to simply earn money.  God wants us to do our best to make ourselves beneficial.  Just because a job is well paying doesn't mean it's profitable.  It makes much of God when we use our hard earned money for God's work. We should be willing to help others in hard times.  Lastly, and most importantly, we should use our secular jobs and the relationships with coworkers to bring people to Christ. Evangelizing and makeing new believers is the best job any Christian can do and it can be done under any profession.  This job requires no degree and is very simple.  All you need to do is get the courage and speak the truth to someone.  You never know what God can do with one simple word.  This job may pay not money on earth, but it has lots of eternal rewards in heaven.