Help Wanted

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

– Mark 1:14-15

The news is filled with stories about job layoffs, empty storefronts, and companies fleeing big cities. But Help Wanted signs are still out there, and some businesses can’t fill their open positions.

If you’re in the job market, your first hurdle is to demonstrate that you’re available and can do the work. What’s more, employers must decide if they like you. Even if you’re well-qualified, you probably won’t get the job if they think you lack the right chemistry. And they also want to know if you’re a risk. In other words, do you have a reputation for being difficult to manage? And finally, you must be affordable. Employers will drop you from consideration if your salary demands are unreasonable.

Fortune 500 companies aren’t the only ones with high standards for their team members. For example, Christ-followers are tasked with preparing God’s Kingdom and being a bright light in a dark, troubled world. And since it’s such an important job that can yield eternal, life-changing rewards, only certain candidates are considered. If you’re up for the challenge, be aware that you must be available on an as-needed basis. (Expect to work weekends and holidays.) You also must be obedient and follow the Boss’ (Jesus) instructions — even if they don’t make sense at the time. Humility is likewise important, so you should share the credit whenever it’s due. Expect overtime and sacrifice. And to top it off, you must take the initiative and be on the lookout for opportunities to help your customers (neighbors), both local and foreign.

Here’s Jesus’ admonition to his would-be employees (disciples) as recorded in Luke’s gospel:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

Landing a job can be difficult — even in a vibrant economy. But here’s some good news: Jesus is hiring right now for his organization’s growing team. And many of his highest producers started with no experience in the field. The working conditions aren’t always ideal. But there are plenty of rewards along the way ... and the retirement plan is out of this world!