Career vs. Job

What is the difference between a job and a career? According to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, the two can be defined as follows:

Job: a small miscellaneous piece of work undertaken on order at a stated rate.

Career: a profession for which one trains and which is undertaken as a permanent calling.

Anyone old enough to be in the workforce should be able to point out some of the contrasting details between these two terms. We are going to look at three specific differences between jobs and careers, and how these apply in a larger sense to our lives on earth: Size, Duration, and Pay.

Size: By size, I mean the magnitude of work at hand. While jobs and careers both include minute, trivial, boring paperwork and tasks, this tends to be the only work involved in a job. Yes, a regular job may have the occasional professional lunch meeting, or celebrity visit, but more often than not a "job" is just something you do to get by. A job ends at 5:00 o'clock.

A career, on the other hand, involves building up. The boring tasks and paperwork are done because the individual sees themselves rising to the next level in their work, and not simply to make it to 5:00 o'clock so they can clock out. A career-minded individual's day does not end when their fingers touch the time clock, but instead carries on with them on the drive home, and in the way they present themselves to the world. A career-minded individual understands the importance of keeping a good image for the company they represent, whether in uniform or not. The work they have in front of them they deem as important; as future-shaping. This is probably because it is.

Duration: We see from the definitions above that a job is simply a "piece of work" while a career is undertaken as a "permanent calling". A job focuses on the activities at hand, while a career focuses on the purpose of completing those activities. While a dishwasher might feel that the purpose of washing the dishes is to provide clean dishes for customers and pleasing his manager, the owner of the company knows that without dishes, the restaurant cannot sell food. A career-minded individual understands the importance of the small tasks and applies them to the overall goal of the company. 

Because of this large view, a career-minded person is more accurately able to gauge growth over time because they are willing to invest time. One cannot notice grass grow by watching it for one day, but rather by watching it for several weeks. In the same way, a career-minded individual watches his career grow from decade to decade, making the necessary changes to stay growing, but keeping the overall goal in mind. On the other hand, the job-focused worker goes from yard to yard, seeking the highest grass. While they might feel like they have found the easy route to large gains, they are clueless as to what to do when the landscaper comes and cuts away their profit. It is because of this reason that people with "jobs" are at a bigger loss than people with careers when companies close.

Pay: The aforementioned definition of a job ended with "at a stated rate". Plain and simple, a job pays you for what you do on a daily basis at a fixed rate which may fluctuate, but rarely by much. In contrast, a career takes in mind everything you have done in the past, and your income is a result of how hard you work. Because you choose how much you want to invest into your career, you yourself determine how much you will make. You are aware of decisions you can make that may harm or help your income, and you take these into consideration daily as you make life choices.

So what does any of this have to do with a blog titled "Where is Jesus?"

Many people fail to realize that our lives as Christ-followers fall under the same category. We are called to a career of living for Christ, not a job! By distinguishing between "jobs" and "careers" based on these three attributes, we can see very clearly the difference between someone who is actually following Jesus and someone who is just "working a part-time" by attending church. God has called us to a large size mission, for a lifetime duration, with an incredible salary and retirement. For those who believe in the Word of God, check it out for yourself:

Size: 

"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Duration: 

"Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me 
all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23:6)

Pay: 

"Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people, because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24)

Knowing this, we should begin to treat our relationship with Christ and our calling from God as a career rather than a job. In no way am I implying that salvation is works-based, but instead that salary is.

God bless,
Alex