THE CHRISTIAN GUIDE TO JOBS AND CAREERS
By Charles Humphreys
Onwards and Upwards Publications. 275 pages. £11.50
ISBN 978 1 907 509 087
Charles Humphreys was for several years ‘a careers advisor in South London’, where he ‘helped unemployed people find work, many of whom had never before held down a job’. He has written this book for ‘anyone who has suffered frustration and setbacks in a job situation and who can relate to any of the following statements:
* Why doesn’t God just give me that career break as soon as I ask him?
* What is the value of my spending all those years in a job where I am not using my talents?
* What was the point of my being made redundant for the third time in as many years?
* If God loves me so much, why does he leave me unemployed and put me through such frustration and sorrow?’
I was not personally asking any of these questions, but I accept that there are many who are in these uncertain times.
This book is well laid out and follows a logical structure, covering many of the questions a Christian may ask or the challenges that we might face when seeking guidance on the important issues of life. It also includes nine appendices at the end giving a series of practical guidance on a number of issues, including job search tips, successful application forms, job interviews and starting your own business.
However, although I came to this book with eager anticipation, as I agree with the author that there is insufficient attention paid in Christian teaching and literature to many of the challenges that we face in our work situations (whether we are in or out of work), I found that much of the advice and teaching was very general and yet with constant reference to the ‘career wilderness’ that the reader was assumed to be going through. The book is also written from an overtly charismatic standpoint, which will be perfectly acceptable to some EN readers, but not at all to others. There was some interpretation and application of the Bible along the way that I personally found to be rather bizarre — some, but not many!
I was left feeling that the author had made an earnest attempt to address a very real issue and I believe that some will find its contents helpful and challenging, whereas others would find it misses the mark and does not resonate with their own faith, practice and experience. I would put myself into the latter group.
