You Are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World

by Alan Noble

In the event that our inner quest reveals that we’re altruistic, we tend to look at jobs where we can feel like we’re helping people, whether or not that’s what our neighbors need the most. Even when we’re altruistic, we’re not encouraged to ask, “What do my neighbors need? What does my community need? What problem can I address?” Instead, we ask, “What is a job where I can help people?” And the answer is usually doctor, nurse, counselor, teacher, and so on. Of course, these are all honorable professions, but if we desire the good of our neighbor, maybe none of these are what our specific community needs. Is it really loving your neighbor if you become a doctor so you can help people, but then you have to leave your community to find a place that needs another doctor? Is that better than staying where you are and becoming a teacher at a struggling public school? If you’re a Christian, perhaps your desire to help people motivates you to become a pastor or missionary. But could it be that your city doesn’t need another pastor? Maybe it needs someone working AC repair who mentors youth on the weekends. Could it be that a Majority World country doesn’t need another missionary, but the indigenous churches there could use our financial support? When you perceive your life to be a hero’s journey, even when you try to be intentional about helping others, there’s a good chance you’ll end up with a career that lets you feel helpful.