God's Career Guide

Practical Insights for the Workplace Christian

Clarion Rating: 5 out of 5

Accessible and inspiring, Layhee’s advice helps Christians find success and happiness both in and out of the office.

Most people don’t think about the intersection between work and faith. Patrick Layhee’s God’s Career Guide helps professionals find success by understanding that work is a calling from God. By using the Bible, Christians can find success and happiness both in and out of the office.

Every type of professional can make use of Layhee’s career guide, from homemakers to CEOs. Each chapter provides practical advice. According to Layhee, a Christian’s top priorities include God, family, and work. Thus, doing work and doing it well are a chance to effectively witness Christ.

Layhee asserts that all professionals need to establish boundaries between work and rest. Genesis 2:3 is used to explain that rest is holy and a chance to reflect. This handbook makes it easy to see how work and God go hand in hand. Success at work means success with faith, which increases fulfillment.

Common work ruts are addressed in pieces about how to avoid sluggish days or how no job is too small. A blessed work life means working hard and inspiring coworkers. Thinking about work as a piece of God’s plan will help Christians enter the workplace with renewed passion. Layhee understands, however, that jealousy and work-based cliques happen. He uses scriptures as strategies for staying positive no matter the circumstances.

Layhee’s handbook is written using accessible language. Short paragraphs make it easy to take in both biblical passages and rich tips about becoming an effective leader and valued worker. Focus questions at the end of each of the six parts help readers reflect on the readings. Layhee poses questions so people can discover if they are working too hard or too little, or allowing misinterpretations of the Old Testament’s “an eye for an eye” to get in the way of ministry and success.

The book’s eighty-one chapters are organized around six themes: Biblical Principles of Work, Workplace Trials, Fruit and Blessings, Relationships with Others, God’s Wisdom and Will, and Work as Ministry. Readers can thumb through the book and pick out relevant chapters—which are short, sometimes just a page—or read the book from start to finish. Layhee includes a study guide to help readers reflect on faith, work, and different Bible verses.

Though focused on Christianity, any faith-curious person can learn the power of positivity and humility at work. Like Psalm 128:2, “You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessing and prosperity will be yours.” Layhee’s book guides people toward spiritual and professional glory.

Reviewed by Lisa Bower

Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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