Tea Boxes and Sympathy: The Anatomy of a Job Choice

Have you ever noticed a strange occurrence, and then it keeps happening? Sometimes this is a sign that God's trying to show you something. This past week held an example of such an experience for me.

I went to the supermarket to pick up, among other things, some tea. When I picked up the box, I noticed it felt awfully light. I simply reasoned that tea isn't heavy, so it must be fine. Well, when I got home I realized it was light because it was empty! Then soon after, I went to get some tea at work. I had a sore throat and was very much looking forward to the soothing taste of a cinnamon tea we had in our classroom cupboard. But it was just an empty box!

Then God began to open my eyes to the illustration He had in it all. It has to do with the visual indicators of depth, either of a person or an institution.

So let's say you are looking for a place to become involved. You may be seeking a charity to which you can donate, a church to attend, a sports team, a college, or a job. How do you evaluate which one is for you? Maybe you look at the happiness or success of the people currently involved? You may read literature on the program's features or even speak with a leader or two from that institution.

But how do you make your decision? Well if you are like many people, you decide based on what you can see.

Let's say we're talking about choosing a job. Many of us probably choose based on salary, the company's niche in their market, the potential for advancement, location, etc. Once you choose based on the above, do you think it's worth it? Do these things mean that the job is the best place for you? Will they guarantee that you will grow into the person you were meant to be as you perform your tasks daily? Can they ensure that you'll be satisfied in your work and enjoy co-laboring with a team that is as passionate about the work as you are?

If you've said no, this begs a further question. What, then, can we use to judge a job's real potential?That is the million-dollar question with a million-dollar answer! You look at the fruit of what an organization has done. I don't mean monetarily, but emotionally and societally. When the organization touches the community, what is the result? Do people rejoice? Do they cower? Are they empowered to be their best, or do they feel the need to conform?

You can have fruitfulness if you have depth without outward splendor, but you can't have fruit in outward splendor without depth. This isn't to say that the job with the great perks isn't a good fit, but let's not use those things to weigh its worth. You were made to accomplish things that will last forever and to make a permanent impact on your world. So pick the fruitful job and let the flashy things arise as a result of something greater! You don't want to get to the end of an era only to realize you've been painting a box of tea that has nothing inside to refresh the next generation.