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Job Description of a Christian
by A.J. Wilson

When looking through the newspaper, you will likely always find help wanted ads in the classifieds section.  These little paragraphs or collection of phrases are intended to spark the interest of a job seeker enough that they will call the potential employer and express interest in the position.  Those of us who are not self-employed, likely responded to one of these ads to find the job we now have.  Often these help wanted ads are a shorter version of a job description, which could be some where between a half page to several pages, depending on the complexities of the job. I pondered the little help wanted ads this week, I asked myself “What is a Christian’s job description?”  Let’s look at a few lines that Paul wrote to the church in Philippi. 

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;  for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”  Philippians 2:12-16

Paul reminds them to display the attitude and nature of Christ in verses 1-11, and now adds with character (not as in my presence only).  We cannot only be Christians in public, and sinful in private.  By exhorting them to “work out your own salvation” Paul is not advocating a salvation by works, but rather a continual effort on our part to become more like Christ.  We will never be perfect (blameless and harmless/innocent) but it should always be our goal that we are striving for (ch. 3:14).  John MacArthur says it this way, “they are to be growing toward something they do not fully possess as children of God (perfection).”  In our sinful society, where most people are just seeking to indulge themselves in sin, a Christian’s pursuit of perfection will shine like a flashlight in a power outage.  How might we attempt perfection, when we are surrounded by so much sin?  Paul answers, “holding fast the word of life” which we know as the Bible.  By continually reminding ourselves of the heroes in the faith, and the exhortations of God, it helps us in our efforts to become more like Christ. 

Paul felt these actions and attitudes exhibited a true Christian, which is why he hoped the Philippians showed them.  Otherwise Paul’s efforts would be “in vain” if he only produced an emotional response from them.

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