Playing on Vanity
Some people don't get what i do for a living.
Very simply - i live in a country that is consumed with appearance and i make money off people's vanity. Haha! Kind of joking, but seriously (after 2 1/2 years of experience, i have yet to have a client come to me that was satisfied with their appearance and just wanted to workout for health benefits).
Truth: i work under the title "personal trainer" (but i like to call myself a "personal encourager"). Regardless of what your imagination conjures up at the thought of a personal trainer, i don't yell at my clients, i don't make people throw-up, i don't make people forever hate gym facilities/fitness, nor do i encourage weight loss (in fact, i hate scales and wished they didn't exist, but for the sake of science - i must use them). Maybe i'm not your typical trainer "as-seen-on-TV," but i would like to think that i am a normal, you know, average health professional striving for maximum mobility for my clientele placing the needs of my clients before my own personal gain. Not to dog on myself, but REALITY CHECK here: i'm probably above average when it comes to work ethics and customer service. i go the extra mile to make sure my clients have everything they need to succeed and meet SMART goals.
...
But i'm not just a personal trainer, i am also a disciple of Jesus Christ.
And as a follower of God, i have wrestled with this question: why waste your time investing in people's lives that are not going to advance the kingdom?
"It is not that there is anything wrong in secular employment; God's will is that man should work in order to provide for his needs and the needs of his family. But the life of true discipleship demands that the kingdom of God and His righteousness be sought first; that a believer should not spend his life doing what the unregenerate could do as well, if not better; and that the function of a job is merely for current necessities while the main vocation of the Christinan is to preach the kingdom of God." -William MacDonald, True Discipleship
While i agree with MacDonald to an extent, i also believe that there is room for preaching the kingdom of God in the work place. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and when we move and act in the work place, it should be Jesus that people see in us. Some of our co-workers are dying spiritually and emotionally...and they need the gospel, too. No one person is more lost than another. If they don't have Jesus, they need Him (whether they realize it or not). Working in secular employment is an opportunity to share Christ with fellow staff and clientele.
And as far as a "waste of time," you must remember that investing in people's lives is NEVER a waste of time. Life is precious and each person was hand-picked and designed by our Creator.
[ Whether or not they grow or change, you will ]
It provides a chance to obey the Lord's command to "love others more than ourselves." And when in the kingdom business, whether or not they are going to advance the kingdom should not be the deciding point as to whether or not to invest in their lives - no! Just invest - love - share the love of Christ unreserved. Leave the heart-change up to God! He is ultimately the ONLY one that can advance His kingdom, we are merely clay in the hands of the Potter - to do what He sees as the best use of our lives.
...
Just some thoughts from a recent college graduate.
Very simply - i live in a country that is consumed with appearance and i make money off people's vanity. Haha! Kind of joking, but seriously (after 2 1/2 years of experience, i have yet to have a client come to me that was satisfied with their appearance and just wanted to workout for health benefits).
Truth: i work under the title "personal trainer" (but i like to call myself a "personal encourager"). Regardless of what your imagination conjures up at the thought of a personal trainer, i don't yell at my clients, i don't make people throw-up, i don't make people forever hate gym facilities/fitness, nor do i encourage weight loss (in fact, i hate scales and wished they didn't exist, but for the sake of science - i must use them). Maybe i'm not your typical trainer "as-seen-on-TV," but i would like to think that i am a normal, you know, average health professional striving for maximum mobility for my clientele placing the needs of my clients before my own personal gain. Not to dog on myself, but REALITY CHECK here: i'm probably above average when it comes to work ethics and customer service. i go the extra mile to make sure my clients have everything they need to succeed and meet SMART goals.
...
But i'm not just a personal trainer, i am also a disciple of Jesus Christ.
And as a follower of God, i have wrestled with this question: why waste your time investing in people's lives that are not going to advance the kingdom?
"It is not that there is anything wrong in secular employment; God's will is that man should work in order to provide for his needs and the needs of his family. But the life of true discipleship demands that the kingdom of God and His righteousness be sought first; that a believer should not spend his life doing what the unregenerate could do as well, if not better; and that the function of a job is merely for current necessities while the main vocation of the Christinan is to preach the kingdom of God." -William MacDonald, True Discipleship
While i agree with MacDonald to an extent, i also believe that there is room for preaching the kingdom of God in the work place. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and when we move and act in the work place, it should be Jesus that people see in us. Some of our co-workers are dying spiritually and emotionally...and they need the gospel, too. No one person is more lost than another. If they don't have Jesus, they need Him (whether they realize it or not). Working in secular employment is an opportunity to share Christ with fellow staff and clientele.
And as far as a "waste of time," you must remember that investing in people's lives is NEVER a waste of time. Life is precious and each person was hand-picked and designed by our Creator.
[ Whether or not they grow or change, you will ]
It provides a chance to obey the Lord's command to "love others more than ourselves." And when in the kingdom business, whether or not they are going to advance the kingdom should not be the deciding point as to whether or not to invest in their lives - no! Just invest - love - share the love of Christ unreserved. Leave the heart-change up to God! He is ultimately the ONLY one that can advance His kingdom, we are merely clay in the hands of the Potter - to do what He sees as the best use of our lives.
...
Just some thoughts from a recent college graduate.
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