The Job Hunt

I'm living now in Colorado Springs, and looking for a "Big girl" job. I'm discovering though that networking and what not is incredibly difficult! I'll have to catch ya'll up on everything the Lord has been doing when I get today's work done. But for now, here is a thought. I've been struggling with a competitive spirit within the job hunt, both within myself and with friends in the same situation. Not surprisingly, the Lord has been teaching me a lot about His heart, and what it means to be His child through all of this. He has brought this scripture to my attention. In all relationships, (it started out in thinking about my dating relationship with my favorite pilot but ended up being applicable to all relationships and life in general), we are called to see others as more important than ourselves. Kelly Anne has always had this thing, or used to, on her phone that said "Be 3rd," referencing that we are to put God first, others second, and ourselves and personal interests 3rd. I  am seeing how hard that is in our broken world, and how much society seeks to teach us otherwise. It would be a true testament to Christ if we were, as a body of believers, to truly walk out the lifestyle of humility and selflessness God calls us to. 

"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Phil. 2:1-11

Who knew the job hunt would teach me so much about the heart of Christ? In searching for a job here in Colorado Springs, I am coming to see and discover the cut-throat attitude of our culture. It's all about "#1." If I am to find a job here, it's going to be at the expense of every other person looking for a job. We are taught to seek out our own interests before those of others, to step upon one another and essentially prevent the success of others in a spirit of competition in order to succeed- our success is based purely on our assistance in the failure of others. How can this be alright? How, as a Believer, does this lifestlye reflect the Heart of Christ? If we are called to be Salt and Light, where do we stand? Jesus said our lives would be different, that we would live against the cultural norms of society. So how does this play into our own success, our own advancement? It doesn't. It's that simple. We are called to live in a way that places the needs of others before our own. It does not glorify God that we pursue our selfish advancement at the expense of our brothers and sisters. We are a body, called to help one another, to encourage and build up each other. We are called to give, not withhold. And, furthermore, we are called to see others as more important than ourselves. How does this work? And if we truly live in this manner, what would be the outcome? In this position, we are called to fully lean upon the counsel and provision of our Lord. It is an opportunity for ultimate trust, for true faith in the Father. After all, this attitude of competition seeks to take care of our own interests, but this stems from a lack of faith in the Provider, in His sovereignty and ultimate plan of goodness for us. His plans towards us are good, and I believe He honors our efforts to live fully for Him. This means allowing our hearts to be changed by His word, by living His standards and ways as opposed to those we have been taught by our broken world. Will He not honor our hearts when they are aligned with His? I do believe He will. So Lord I ask that you would help me to pursue this job hunt with the uttermost selflessness, to see others as more important than myself, and to rejoice in you even when the world seems to be working for my destruction, trusting that You are who You say You are, and that You will not abandon me. 

More to come on life and it's craziness later!