A Worthy Example

A Worthy Example

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:1-2

Chuck Noll told me often that it’s better to invest yourself in something you can put your heart into rather than earning a living just to earn a living. He also knew that a career doesn’t define who you are; it’s simply what you do. Who you are is defined by something much deeper.

When I played professional football, the average salary was $47,000 a year, and a lot of guys made much less than that, so many of us had off-season jobs. I worked for Mellon Bank, Heinz, and the Dayton-Hudson department store. In fact, I tried a lot of things, but I never really found the job I loved—until I started coaching football. I’m thankful I was able to do something I enjoyed for so long. But that career doesn’t define me.

If you’ve ever thought about what you want to be doing next year, in five years, or even in ten years, you’ve probably thought about it in terms of what will be fulfilling and satisfying. Yet too many people find themselves pressured to make decisions that take them away from their goals rather than moving them toward them. Sometimes it’s for financial reasons, sometimes it’s due to family issues, and sometimes it’s just the logistics of making a change. And while all of those are real factors, it’s important to keep your goals in focus and remember that what you do should be an overflow of who you are. You were designed for a satisfying life.

You may not find a career path that gets you excited right away, but wherever you find yourself, you can be who you were designed to be. Remember that the key is not what you do but who you are. You were meant to live as an imitator of Christ, sacrificing yourself for others as He did for you. More than anything else, that should drive your decisions about careers, relationships, and other commitments. Evaluate every opportunity not by how much money you can earn but by how effectively you can reflect Christ and live for Him in that situation.

Uncommon Key > Whatever situation you find yourself in, allow your life to be a reflection of Christ to others.