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What I Want to Be When I Grow Up
See Steps to Christ, p. 83.
- Highlight the paragraph that begins,“You are not to wait for great occasions or to expect extraordinary abilities. . . . ”
“Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He received an education in the providence of God; but a large part of that education had to be unlearned, and accounted as foolishness. Its impression had to be blotted out by forty years of experience in caring for the sheep and the tender lambs. If many who are connected with the work of the Lord could be isolated as was Moses, and could be compelled by circumstances to follow some humble vocation until their hearts became tender, they would make much more faithful shepherds than they now do in dealing with God's heritage. They would not be so prone to magnify their own abilities, or seek to demonstrate that the wisdom of an advanced education could take the place of a sound knowledge of God. When Christ came to the world, the testimony was that ‘the world by wisdom knew not God,’ yet that ‘it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (Fundamentals of Christian Education, pp. 360, 361).
WHAT I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP
Hope and Nikki have been best friends since they were little. Growing up, they always used to dream about what their life would be like when they became adults. Hope had a dream of becoming a doctor. She loved learning about the human body, and she loved to study about health diseases, and nutrition. When Hope was young, she loved to play a computer game in which she could “do surgery” on patients and perform all types of operations. When she was a teenager, she volunteered at the hospital as a candy striper. Eventually, Hope decided that she wanted to become a nurse. Now Hope is almost done with nursing school, and she’s at the top of her class. She loves what she’s doing, and she is sure to be a fantastic nurse.
Nikki, on the other hand, wasn’t quite sure what she wanted to be when she grew up. Sometimes she thought it would be fun to be a veterinarian, since she loved animals so much. But then she decided that it would be too hard to see animals in pain. Other times she thought it would be fun to be an animal trainer.
She also thought about taking pictures and writing for National Geographic, becoming a teacher, or being a marine biologist. As Nikki grew up and changed, her ideas of what she wanted to do in life changed as well. In college she thought about being a school counselor, a youth pastor and psychologist, a writer and editor, and a marriage and family counselor. Even now, her fourth year in college, she is still unsure of what she wants to do with her life.
Nikki sometimes wonders to herself, Why does God make it so clear to some people what they should do in life, but not to others? Why can’t I be like Hope, and just know what I’m suppose to do? Why does it have to be so hard?
Hope and Nikki are still close friends, and they try to talk and encourage each other as much as they can. Hope has just a few more months before she graduates, and Nikki has a couple more years in college, in which she’ll be experimenting, praying, and seeking God’s counsel to find out what He is preparing her to do for Him.
- As an early teen Christian what is more important right now, knowing God’s plan for your life or following God’s will for you right now?
- What are some things you could do to find out where God might be leading you for your life’s work?
- Will God lead you to do a work that you are not happy doing? Explain.
- Could God lead you to a work that you thought you would be unhappy doing? Explain.
“To every man and to every woman God has given a work for him. He has not given to all the same work. Some have a greater number of talents than others have. God's children are to use their talents according to their several ability. Those who have five talents should faithfully put them out to the exchangers. To those who have two talents the Lord says, ‘Trade upon your talents, using and improving them to my glory’ (Atlantic Union Gleaner, September 16, 1903).
“All who are under the training of God need the quiet hour for communion with their own hearts, with nature, and with God.... We must individually hear Him speaking to the heart. When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. He bids us, ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’ This is the effectual preparation for all labor for God. Amidst the hurrying throng and the strain of life's intense activities, he who is thus refreshed will be surrounded with an atmosphere of light and peace. He will receive a new endowment of both physical and mental strength. His life will breathe out a fragrance and will reveal a divine power that will reach men’s hearts” (Counsels on Health, p. 163).
Here’s What I ThinkWhat about you? You are too young to have to worry about this yet, but do you think you are like Hope, who has always had an idea of what she wanted to do for a career? Or area you more like Nikki, who isn’t quite sure of what she wants to do? Why do you think God makes it clear to some people what they should do in life, but not so clear to others?
Log on to http://www.guidemagazine.org/rtf to post your responses. Be up-front and honest. Say what you think. The lines below are provided as an alternative to posting. You may want to share your thoughts with your class later.
Complete the puzzle using the clues shown below. This puzzle is about the occupations of some people in the Bible.
2. I was a ship builder and I grew a vineyard 1. I was a captured slave, a ruler, and a prophet
3. I was a farmer and the first murder 3. I was a Christian centurion
4. I was a fisherman then I became a preacher and a missionary 6. My son prepared the way for the Lord
5. I was a tax collector and became a disciple 9. I was a ruler, a shepherd and a leader
7. I was a shepherd I killed 10,0000 and more and I became king 10. I was a carpenter and a teacher
8. I was the first shepherd 13. I was a tent maker and a missionary
10. I taught my son to be a carpenter
11. I was a farmer
12. I was a shepherd, a slave and a ruler
14. I was a tent maker
“To save souls should be the lifework of everyone who professes Christ. We are debtors to the world for the grace given us of God, for the light which has shone upon us, and for the discovered beauty and power of the truth” (Testimonies,vol. 4, p. 53.)
“The testimony of Paul and Aquila is that by their occupation they were tentmakers. While they preached the gospel, Paul and his companion wrought at their trade as tentmakers, and in doing this they could give a more thorough knowledge of Christ to those who heard them. They labored that they might obtain means for support” (This Day with God, p. 203).
“The law of duty [to God] is supreme. It claims authority over reason and conscience, over talents and possessions. It will admit no rival, and will not for one moment abate its high demands. It enters into no compromise with any oppressive power of earth. In every act of duty we are hiding self in Jesus. We reach out beyond ourselves, beyond the narrow scope of selfish and present gratification. Obedience to God brings the soul into agreement with the highest laws in the universe. It imparts dignity and true greatness to the humblest occupation where Christ can preside. It crowns the lowliest position in life with the highest honors, bringing men into alliance with God and binding up His interests with plans and purposes that have existence in the infinite mind from eternity” (The Upward Look, p. 25).
So What?
The world defines success by how much money you make, how big your house is, how nice your car is, and what type of job you have. God, however, doesn’t care much about these things. When God looks down on this planet, what He notices is not shiny cars, big houses, and hundred-dollar bills. No, what catches God’s eye on this planet are His children. He values us so much, and works day and night for our salvation.
God has called us, as Christians, to join in the most important work of all. We are commissioned to go and make disciples for Him In the end, all of our material things will be gone and forgotten forever. The things that mattered so much to us—nice clothes, expensive cars, the perfect image—won’t matter at all. What will matter are people—our neighbors, and the people we work with. Don’t you want to see all the people you care about in heaven? Our number one career in life is to introduce people to Jesus. By using our SHAPE (if you wonder what that means, check out the Friday section) to bring people to Christ, we will find true joy, significance, and purpose in our lives, and we will bring a smile to our Father’s face.
- What should our first concern be in life?
- How can you tell others about Jesus when you are at work?
- Will Jesus open doors for us to share Him with others?
- What talents do you have?
- Is there a way to share Jesus with someone using your talents? Explain.
Match the text with the phrase that is extracted from the text. These verses are taken from the NIV Bible.
| Text | Phrase | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ephesians 2:10 | ____ | A. “For we are God’s workmanship. . . .” | |
| Jeremiah 1:5 | ____ | B. “. . . . do it all for the glory of God.” | |
| Romans 12:6 | ____ | C. “You were bought at a price. . . .” | |
| Romans 12:1 | ____ | D. “Therefore I urge you. . . . ” | |
| 1 Corinthians 6:20 | ____ | F. “We have different gifts. . . . ” | |
| Mark 8:35 | ____ | G. “For whoever wants to save his life. . . . ” | |
| 1 Corinthians 10:31 | ____ | F. “. . . .before you were born I set you apart. . . .” | |
"‘For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway he took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his Lord's money. After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.’
“This parable brings to mind the great day when every individual will have to give an account of the use to which he has put the talents entrusted to him. Christ likens his return for the investigation of every case to the return of a man from a long journey. The faithfulness of his servants during his absence is judged by the use to which every talent has been put. Every gift of mind, every physical capability, is God's entrusted talent, and let no one lightly regard his endowments of mind or body. We are to appreciate them as the gift of God, to cultivate and improve them, and place them at the service of God. This was the purpose for which talents were committed to us according to our ability to trade upon and cultivate these gifts. As we use our powers, we shall increase our ability to use them, and thus be enabled to do the highest kind of service. We shall be able to put our talents to a wise use; but if we do not use those qualifications of mind and body that God has given, however precious they may be, they will become valueless. The money that is locked up in worldly investments is no blessing, even to the one who claims to be its owner. The true owner of all our gifts is keeping a reckoning, estimating the good that might be done to suffering humanity if they were wisely used in the service of God, to build up His kingdom in the world. Money wisely invested in the enterprise of saving souls would yield a large return in the end. Not only would men have increased ability to gain wealth, but they would be laying up treasure in heaven.
“There is a great dearth of men and women of solid experience and moral worth in this our day. How many do not appreciate the value of their blood-bought privileges, and do not improve the opportunity that has been purchased by the price of the life of the Son of God! They do not estimate the worth of every precious endowment by the light reflected from the cross of Calvary, or they would make use of every capability by consecrating it to the service of Jesus Christ. A large revenue might be brought into the treasury of God if people made a right use of their money. These matters require our thoughtful study.
“Many of our youth need to take themselves in hand, and examine themselves to see whether they are true to the name they bear. To be a Christian means to be Christlike. Are you seeking to gather all the wisdom possible from the words of Christ? The parable of the talents reveals the need of the consecration of every entrusted capability. Some make a diligent use of everything that God has entrusted to them; and by so doing they are continually increasing their abilities, and acquiring more and more useful knowledge. When God sees that the human agent recognizes the value of every power of mind and body, and esteems it as the gift of God, he is satisfied that it is safe to entrust to the human agent greater measures of power; for he will make profitable returns. We should study how we may make the best use of our Master's capital.
“But while some trade upon the talents that God has given them, others seem to think that they are placed in the world to please themselves, and they are dissatisfied when others do not help them to get all possible selfish enjoyment out of the world. They spend their money, they spend their precious time, they employ their influence, in teaching, by precept and example, that the chief end of life is selfish amusement. They do not grow in grace or in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. They make no advancement. They have but limited knowledge, and are dwarfed in the Christian life; when if they had used their influence and employed the talents entrusted them of God for wise improvement, they would have increased in power and usefulness. The apostle adds: What! Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.’ All praise and glory are to be rendered to God; and we are so to employ every entrusted capability that praise may be ascribed to God” (Ellen G. White, The Youth’s Instructor, February 6, 1896).
Top of Form
What Does This Have to Do With Me?
Stop and think for a minute about all the amazing things God has done for you. He created you and molded you into a completely beautiful and unique person. He gave you life so you could feel the warmth of the sun, breathe in the fresh air, laugh until you cry, roll down grassy hills, and most of all, experience His love. He died on the cross for you and forgave all of your sin so you could stand unashamed in your Father’s presence. He has adopted you as His child and made you heir to His throne. He has promised you eternal life. And He has given you a great purpose in this earth that only you can fill.
God has given you more than you could have ever dared to ask for or even dream of. God wants the best for you, and He knows that you’ll be the most fulfilled and the happiest if you let Him be Lord of your life. So why not join David affirming God’s role in your life. “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever” (Ps. 16:11, NLT).
- What makes it so important for us to be what God intends for us to be?
- What if we follow God’s will and it leads us to poverty instead of the riches we saw in our future? Would God really lead us to poverty? Explain.
- Can you think of anyone who worked for God and lived in poverty? Did it matter to them that they were living in poverty? Explain.
- How can we figure out God’s will for us?
While Cornelius was praying, God sent to him a heavenly messenger, who addressed him by name. The centurion was afraid, yet he knew that the angel was sent by God to instruct him, and he said, ‘What is it, Lord?’ ‘And He said unto him, thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter. He lodgeth with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.’
“The explicitness of these directions, in which was named even the occupation of the man with whom Peter was making his home, shows that heaven is acquainted with the history and business of men in every grade of life. The very street on which we live is known to God. He is acquainted with the daily employment of the humble laborer, as well as that of the king upon his throne. And the sins of men, as well as their good deeds, are all known to Him” (The Signs of the Times, April 6, 1904).
How Does It Work?
God wants you to discover the SHAPE He has given you so you can serve in the place that fits you best. Before you start discovering your SHAPE, first take some time to learn what this acronym stands for.
S Spiritual Gifts—These are gifts that God gives to every believer. You were not born with these gifts. You received them when you became a Christian so that you could serve God. (Read 1 Corinthians 12, especially verses 27-31.)
H Heart—Your heart holds your deepest desires and passions, “what you love to do and what you care about most.”
A Abilities—Your abilities are natural talents you were born with.
P Personality—Your personality is what makes you completely different from everyone else on this planet. No one is exactly like you! Some personality traits include being introverted or extroverted, being a “thinker” or a “feeler,” and liking routine or variety.
E Experiences—your experiences have molded and shaped you to be the person you are now. Some experiences include “family experiences, vocational experiences, spiritual experiences, ministry experiences, and painful experiences.—Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, pp. 236-246.
How has God shaped you? Take some time to reflect and think about the person God has formed you to be. List below the gifts, desires, abilities, personality traits, and experiences God has given you that make you “you.”