Direction change?
Greetings fellow brethren,
I thought this would be the best place to come for Godly advice. It is hard to find people who are truly devoted to God, and thus it is difficult to find good advice. I am nearly done with my pre-reqs for pharmacy school and Im at the point where I will have to take an entrance exam soon. God has blessed me with a competitive GPA, and everything looks to be pointing in that direction. However, this current semester and the workload I have in preparing for that entrance exam is killing me.
Its tearing me apart because I have to spend so many hours studying and as I do it, I commit idolatry. My mind becomes consumed with getting through this workload, and when I try to study the Bible, I cant concentrate because I keep thinking, I have to get this many hours of study in, I have to get this many hours in today.
I know if I get accepted into pharmacy school, it would only get worse. There is a minimum of around 18 credit hours in addition to rotations. I dont know how I would live through that, because there would be so little time to devote to God. I also want to spread the Gospel with the income I would make as a pharmacist, but I would have to wait at least 5 more years until I could satisfy those desires.
A man at my church offered me a job in his construction business, and all the workers are brethren. Im tempted to stop perusing pharmacy and just jump into that business, because I really want to start making money that I could use for spreading the Gospel. I know God will bless me in any direction I take as long as it is solely for His purposes, but Im not sure which direction would be in the best interest for His kingdom.
Pharmacy would be a very lucrative job and thus there would be lots of money that could be used for evangelism, but getting to that point has its cons. Construction could also hold weight, and I cant see why God wouldnt bless a small business, which is operated by Godly men who would use that money for His cause.
Ive spent about four years now perusing pharmacy, and as I said God, granted me success. But, to some extent, Im beginning to believe that God gave me that success to show me that he will aid me in my future as long as my ambitions are not for my own purposes. Im not sure if these thoughts are a ploy sent from the devil, because Im so close to getting in. I think there are legitimate reasons to choose another route.
Last semester I dealt with these thoughts, but I fought through it and as this semester is starting, it is really taking a toll on me.
What direction would you take?
Thanks in advance, sorry for my bad grammar
Which direction?
Which direction?
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
People will believe anything as long as it's not found in the Bible.
I, personally, would pursue the pharmacy studies, if I were your age, and in a financial position to do so, even if I should find it very difficult, and the effort almost overwhelming.
But this is probably entirely irrelevant, since I am not aware of all the details or how Christ is leading you. I suggest perseverence in prayer with a view to becoming assured and at rest, knowing that He will lead you to make a choice in keeping with His will for you.
But this is probably entirely irrelevant, since I am not aware of all the details or how Christ is leading you. I suggest perseverence in prayer with a view to becoming assured and at rest, knowing that He will lead you to make a choice in keeping with His will for you.
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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Reason:
Paidion
Avatar --- Age 45
"Not one soul will ever be redeemed from hell but by being saved from his sins, from the evil in him." --- George MacDonald
Avatar --- Age 45
"Not one soul will ever be redeemed from hell but by being saved from his sins, from the evil in him." --- George MacDonald
i agree with Paidion. what you are stating applies to medical students, law students, etc. if studying was considered idolatry, then there could be no christian doctors, lawyers, pharmacists, etc.
why do you feel guilty about having to study? you dont need to. you dont even need to feel guilty about not reading your Bible as much as you like. read what you can w//o stressing yourself out, and move on!
TK
why do you feel guilty about having to study? you dont need to. you dont even need to feel guilty about not reading your Bible as much as you like. read what you can w//o stressing yourself out, and move on!
TK
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
"Were not our hearts burning within us? (Lk 24:32)
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_Mark in South Dakota
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sun May 14, 2006 8:50 am
Benzoic - there are many people on this board who could give better advice then me, but I do have several thoughts.
1. No matter what job you have, if you are thinking of the money you will always be tempted to put work ahead of your spiritual life. This would be true if you were a Pharmicist, computer programmer, pastor, etc... I think this would be true even if you have the best of intentions regarding how you would spend your money.
2. What are your personal convictions regarding many of the drugs you might have to give out? I don't know the rules regarding what pharmicists are allowed to do, but have you thought through your personal convictions regarding the following scenarios:
You are asked to give Viagra to an unmarried man.
You are asked to give Psychiatric drugs such as Ritalin and Prozac. (this would depend on your opinions of these drugs.)
You are asked to give out the morning after pill or RU486 (although I am not sure the exact name of it.)
I am not saying these things to try to get into a debate on each of those drugs, but I am saying this to point out some moral issues you will have to deal with. The world needs more Christian pharmicists, not less Christian pharmicists, and I think it is possible to be a Christian and a pharmicist, but not if you are in a position that you have to violate your conscience, especially when it could potentially be quite often.
3. What is God leading you to do? If God truly is leading you to be a pharmicist, He would not do it at the expense of your spiritual life. He would provide ways and means for you to draw closer to Him.
If I was in your position, I would be most concerned about #2. Perhaps you have already thought through these issues, but I know that many times people don't think through these types of things until they are already in their job, and then they feel like it is too late to do something about it.
1. No matter what job you have, if you are thinking of the money you will always be tempted to put work ahead of your spiritual life. This would be true if you were a Pharmicist, computer programmer, pastor, etc... I think this would be true even if you have the best of intentions regarding how you would spend your money.
2. What are your personal convictions regarding many of the drugs you might have to give out? I don't know the rules regarding what pharmicists are allowed to do, but have you thought through your personal convictions regarding the following scenarios:
You are asked to give Viagra to an unmarried man.
You are asked to give Psychiatric drugs such as Ritalin and Prozac. (this would depend on your opinions of these drugs.)
You are asked to give out the morning after pill or RU486 (although I am not sure the exact name of it.)
I am not saying these things to try to get into a debate on each of those drugs, but I am saying this to point out some moral issues you will have to deal with. The world needs more Christian pharmicists, not less Christian pharmicists, and I think it is possible to be a Christian and a pharmicist, but not if you are in a position that you have to violate your conscience, especially when it could potentially be quite often.
3. What is God leading you to do? If God truly is leading you to be a pharmicist, He would not do it at the expense of your spiritual life. He would provide ways and means for you to draw closer to Him.
If I was in your position, I would be most concerned about #2. Perhaps you have already thought through these issues, but I know that many times people don't think through these types of things until they are already in their job, and then they feel like it is too late to do something about it.
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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Reason:
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_Mort_Coyle
- Posts: 239
- Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2005 12:28 am
- Location: Seattle, WA
Hi Benzoic,
I have a son in college and I know the pain and frustration of long study hours with little end in sight.
A couple of thoughts come to mind, and I'll be brutally honest:
1) I am in my mid-forties and have a stable career with an above average income. I did not go to college. My biggest regret in life is that I neglected my education as a younger man. Why? Because it severely limited my options. Although things have turned out well for me (by the grace of God) I wonder sometimes about what might have been if I had gone to college. My high school sweetheart ended up going to college, then law school and is now a State Judge. She has earned a reputation as a tough advocate on behalf of neglected and abused children. Yes, she makes big bucks, but more importantly, she has used her life to make a difference.
What if I had become a medical professional? How might that have been used to minister to the poor? What if I had pursued my interest in journalism? Perhaps I might have become a reporter who made the world aware of injustices perpetrated against the helpless. I wonder about these things sometimes.
My point is that a college education opens up possibilities. As a Christian, these possibilities are ways that the Kingdom can be expressed through your life. Paul, as you probably know, was a highly educated man and also had a valuable career skill (tentmaking). When the time was right, God used these things for the Kingdom.
2) As Ecclesiastes 3 says, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven..." Maybe this is a season where you need to study pharmacology more than the Bible and that's ok. It's a season. This is where you've been placed right now. As Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” I am not suggesting that you completely neglect the study of scripture, but that you give yourself grace.
3) I detect in your writing a bit of performance orientation towards God.
Examples (with my own emphases added):
These are just the thoughts of a Dad who occasionally has similar conversations with his own son. Your mileage may vary...
I have a son in college and I know the pain and frustration of long study hours with little end in sight.
A couple of thoughts come to mind, and I'll be brutally honest:
1) I am in my mid-forties and have a stable career with an above average income. I did not go to college. My biggest regret in life is that I neglected my education as a younger man. Why? Because it severely limited my options. Although things have turned out well for me (by the grace of God) I wonder sometimes about what might have been if I had gone to college. My high school sweetheart ended up going to college, then law school and is now a State Judge. She has earned a reputation as a tough advocate on behalf of neglected and abused children. Yes, she makes big bucks, but more importantly, she has used her life to make a difference.
What if I had become a medical professional? How might that have been used to minister to the poor? What if I had pursued my interest in journalism? Perhaps I might have become a reporter who made the world aware of injustices perpetrated against the helpless. I wonder about these things sometimes.
My point is that a college education opens up possibilities. As a Christian, these possibilities are ways that the Kingdom can be expressed through your life. Paul, as you probably know, was a highly educated man and also had a valuable career skill (tentmaking). When the time was right, God used these things for the Kingdom.
2) As Ecclesiastes 3 says, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven..." Maybe this is a season where you need to study pharmacology more than the Bible and that's ok. It's a season. This is where you've been placed right now. As Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” I am not suggesting that you completely neglect the study of scripture, but that you give yourself grace.
3) I detect in your writing a bit of performance orientation towards God.
Examples (with my own emphases added):
I know God will bless me in any direction I take as long as it is solely for His purposes, but I’m not sure which direction would be in the best interest for His kingdom.
I can’t see why God wouldn’t bless a small business, which is operated by Godly men who would use that money for His cause.
Benzoic, maybe God wants to bless you because He loves you. Maybe His blessing you is not conditional upon what you do. God is just like that. He's the kindest person you'll ever meet. You don't have to perform to try and meet His expectations in order for Him to bless you. He wants you to love Him, not impress Him. As far as your "own purposes", what does that mean? Using the abilities He gave you to the fullest? Being able to support a family? Working with people in medical need and reflecting Jesus to them? I don't know much about being a pharmacist, but it seems to me that making sure people get the right medications in the right dosages and understand how to properly administer them is a very worthwhile thing. Don't buy into the whole false duality thing that differentiates "earthly" pursuits from "spiritual" pursuits.I’m beginning to believe that God gave me that success to show me that he will aid me in my future as long as my ambitions are not for my own purposes.
These are just the thoughts of a Dad who occasionally has similar conversations with his own son. Your mileage may vary...
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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Reason:
Hello,
I’m very grateful for all the input. To address the question first, I believe a person commits idolatry when they are consumed with something other than God. To the point where they have an intense passion for something and this passion becomes, at that moment, more important than God. The amount of time I have to spend studying sometimes gives me those ungodly passions, which makes God a lower priority on my list. I agree that there is nothing wrong with studying and I don’t have a problem with studying, but this is like studying as if you have a final exam the next day, every day. For me, at least, it is almost impossible to keep my mind focused on God.
As for the time I spend in God’s word, you’re right, there is no divine quota, but I can’t really grow if I don’t spend a particular amount of time in His word. As soon as I begin to slack on my Bible studies, my relationship with God suffers. Perhaps I’m just becoming lazy and I’m making excuses.
I guess in a fallen world, no matter what path you take there will always be some sort of complications. Thanks for you input Mark. I actually never thought about some of those questions. It’s probably because I have yet to interact in a pharmacy setting. I probably would not be able to deal with some of those situations on a daily basis. As for the money, I’m only concerned about it because of the particular work I want to carry out in regards to spreading the gospel, but I understand where you’re coming from.
I guess I’ll just have to pray more ☺. Also, what do you guys think about a person who is a professional musician, a Christian, but the majority of the gigs that he gets are in bars, where there is lots of iniquity going on? I suggested to my friend that he should stop doing it. Basically, I maintained that he is providing a more enjoyable atmosphere for those who are doing terrible things in the eyes of God. He agreed, but he stated that some people come for just the music, and I know he doesn't want to do this, but is waiting until his career progresses more.
thanks
I’m very grateful for all the input. To address the question first, I believe a person commits idolatry when they are consumed with something other than God. To the point where they have an intense passion for something and this passion becomes, at that moment, more important than God. The amount of time I have to spend studying sometimes gives me those ungodly passions, which makes God a lower priority on my list. I agree that there is nothing wrong with studying and I don’t have a problem with studying, but this is like studying as if you have a final exam the next day, every day. For me, at least, it is almost impossible to keep my mind focused on God.
As for the time I spend in God’s word, you’re right, there is no divine quota, but I can’t really grow if I don’t spend a particular amount of time in His word. As soon as I begin to slack on my Bible studies, my relationship with God suffers. Perhaps I’m just becoming lazy and I’m making excuses.
I guess in a fallen world, no matter what path you take there will always be some sort of complications. Thanks for you input Mark. I actually never thought about some of those questions. It’s probably because I have yet to interact in a pharmacy setting. I probably would not be able to deal with some of those situations on a daily basis. As for the money, I’m only concerned about it because of the particular work I want to carry out in regards to spreading the gospel, but I understand where you’re coming from.
I guess I’ll just have to pray more ☺. Also, what do you guys think about a person who is a professional musician, a Christian, but the majority of the gigs that he gets are in bars, where there is lots of iniquity going on? I suggested to my friend that he should stop doing it. Basically, I maintained that he is providing a more enjoyable atmosphere for those who are doing terrible things in the eyes of God. He agreed, but he stated that some people come for just the music, and I know he doesn't want to do this, but is waiting until his career progresses more.
thanks
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
People will believe anything as long as it's not found in the Bible.
Hi Mort,
Your insight is also very helpful. I see where you’re getting at with the quotes you pulled out. No doubt I have those thoughts in my mind sometimes - in that I need to do something in order for God to help me. I know such thoughts are not correct. I have everything in Christ and my works are but filthy rags. But you’re right, that is apparent in those quotes isn’t it…
But I know my heart, and the reason I want to do things for His cause is not so I can live a better life. I genuinely want to spread the Gospel, and I just want to have the resources to do it. By “my purposes”, I’m referring to worldly virtues - self-ambition, recognition, prestige, success, honor, and reputation. All such virtues render a Christian ineffective for serving God.
Before I became a Christian those things characterized my person. I never want to go back to it and as people in my family, church and friends see that I may become a pharmacist, they view me in a special manner that I hate. I know if I became one it would only get worse and inside I would have pride.
Thanks for that verse in Ecclesiastes. However, I’m not sure that I could handle less time with God.
Thanks for all the advice, I received much more than I expected. Thanks Mort.
Your insight is also very helpful. I see where you’re getting at with the quotes you pulled out. No doubt I have those thoughts in my mind sometimes - in that I need to do something in order for God to help me. I know such thoughts are not correct. I have everything in Christ and my works are but filthy rags. But you’re right, that is apparent in those quotes isn’t it…
But I know my heart, and the reason I want to do things for His cause is not so I can live a better life. I genuinely want to spread the Gospel, and I just want to have the resources to do it. By “my purposes”, I’m referring to worldly virtues - self-ambition, recognition, prestige, success, honor, and reputation. All such virtues render a Christian ineffective for serving God.
Before I became a Christian those things characterized my person. I never want to go back to it and as people in my family, church and friends see that I may become a pharmacist, they view me in a special manner that I hate. I know if I became one it would only get worse and inside I would have pride.
Thanks for that verse in Ecclesiastes. However, I’m not sure that I could handle less time with God.
Thanks for all the advice, I received much more than I expected. Thanks Mort.
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
People will believe anything as long as it's not found in the Bible.
Finish school and occupy until he comes!
What a blessing that you can finish school and make a decent income.
I am sure my husband would like to have gone to college..Now that he is
60, he is still in a job that is hard on his body physically.
Pls, only an opinion...
What a blessing that you can finish school and make a decent income.
I am sure my husband would like to have gone to college..Now that he is
60, he is still in a job that is hard on his body physically.
Pls, only an opinion...
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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Reason:
Benzoic- i certainly appreciate your attitude (wait a minute-- you shouldnt be reading this-- you should be studying for that test!) just kidding, of course.
but be open to the idea of God revealing Himself to you apart from simply reading the Bible. my pastor always reminds me of this (probably because he thinks i read a lot more than he does
) in other words, God could be attempting to teach you something through your studies! remember, Abraham had no scripture. is it a sin not to read a certain number of verses a day? i hope not!
When i was studying for the bar exam, my son was a newborn. i was between jobs, so i stayed at home during the day and studied, often with him sleeping on my chest as i did so. i know that God used that time to forge a bond between me and my son.
i guess the point is that God is not mad at you for studying pharmacy now. he understands that the test is hard, and i am sure he wants you to pass. i think MLH's advice is excelleent-- there is a time and season for everything.
TK
but be open to the idea of God revealing Himself to you apart from simply reading the Bible. my pastor always reminds me of this (probably because he thinks i read a lot more than he does
) in other words, God could be attempting to teach you something through your studies! remember, Abraham had no scripture. is it a sin not to read a certain number of verses a day? i hope not!When i was studying for the bar exam, my son was a newborn. i was between jobs, so i stayed at home during the day and studied, often with him sleeping on my chest as i did so. i know that God used that time to forge a bond between me and my son.
i guess the point is that God is not mad at you for studying pharmacy now. he understands that the test is hard, and i am sure he wants you to pass. i think MLH's advice is excelleent-- there is a time and season for everything.
TK
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
"Were not our hearts burning within us? (Lk 24:32)