Sermon Title: Validation: Found in Career or in God?

In our fast-paced, achievement-driven world, the question of validation is one that everyone contemplates. From early childhood, we are taught to strive for excellence, to be successful, and to gain recognition for our hard work. For many, the validation they receive in their careers, from promotions, accolades, or even public acknowledgment, becomes the measure of their worth and identity.
But what happens when career success doesn’t come as expected? Or when a person faces setbacks, unemployment, or failure in their chosen profession? Where does validation come from then? The truth is that while a career can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment, it should never be the primary source of validation. True and lasting validation is found only in God.
In this sermon, we will explore the tension between seeking validation from our careers and seeking it from God. We will look at what Scripture teaches about how we can find true validation and identity in Christ, regardless of our professional status or success. Through understanding the difference between earthly and heavenly validation, we will come to see that the ultimate source of our worth comes not from what we do, but from whose we are.
**I. The Desire for Validation**
The desire for validation is inherent in human nature. We long to be seen, acknowledged, and affirmed, especially in the areas where we put in time and effort. In our modern society, career validation has become a dominant factor in how people view themselves and each other. How many of us have asked, "What do you do?" as an icebreaker at a gathering, as if one’s profession is the key to understanding who they are?
From the time we begin our formal education, we are set on a trajectory where success in our careers is seen as a defining characteristic of our lives. In many cultures, the job we have, the company we work for, or the title we hold directly correlates with how others perceive our value and significance. Career success can bring financial stability, respect, and a sense of achievement—things that are highly regarded in society.
However, this pursuit of validation through career success comes with its challenges. When success is elusive or when we face setbacks in our work, it can lead to feelings of inadequacy, frustration, and doubt. In these moments, we may question our worth. If we tie our identity so closely to our careers, what happens when the career is no longer there?
**II. The Danger of Seeking Validation from Career**
While careers can provide many blessings—purpose, financial security, and opportunities for growth—there are dangers in placing too much of our validation in our jobs or professions. The world around us often measures worth by the tangible outcomes of our work: profits, productivity, and visible success. However, Scripture warns us about building our lives on anything other than God, for worldly validation is fleeting and unreliable.
In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus instructs us:
*"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."*
When we place our validation and identity in our careers, we are essentially "storing up treasures on earth." These treasures are subject to the uncertainties and challenges of the world—economic downturns, layoffs, changing job markets, or unforeseen personal crises. If our sense of worth is tied to these transient things, we can quickly find ourselves disillusioned, anxious, and insecure when those things are threatened.
King Solomon, in his wisdom, speaks about the fleeting nature of earthly pursuits in Ecclesiastes 2:10-11:
*"I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun."*
Solomon’s reflection highlights the emptiness that comes from seeking meaning and validation solely in our achievements, including career success. If we view our job as the ultimate source of our identity and purpose, we are setting ourselves up for a life of continual striving with little fulfillment.
**III. The Biblical Understanding of True Validation**
So, where can we find true validation? The Bible teaches us that our worth and validation come from God, not from our careers, titles, or social standing. The Creator of the universe, who made us in His image, values us intrinsically, regardless of what we accomplish.
In Psalm 139:13-14, David declares:
*"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."*
David’s words remind us that our worth is not found in what we do but in who we are—God’s creation. We are precious to God, and our validation comes from the fact that we are made in His image and loved by Him. No achievement or failure in our career can change the fact that we are beloved children of the Most High.
This truth is reinforced throughout Scripture. In Romans 8:38-39, Paul writes:
*"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."*
This passage tells us that nothing can separate us from God’s love. Our careers, successes, or failures are not the determining factors of God’s love for us. Our identity is not bound by our achievements but by God’s grace, which is unchanging.
**IV. The Example of Jesus**
The ultimate example of finding validation in God rather than in career success is found in the life of Jesus. Jesus, though He was the Son of God, did not seek fame or approval from earthly authorities. He lived a humble life, working as a carpenter before beginning His public ministry. His ministry was not about accumulating wealth, recognition, or status. Instead, He sought to do the will of the Father and to serve others selflessly.
In John 5:30, Jesus says:
*"By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me."*
Jesus lived with a deep understanding of His purpose and identity. His validation came from fulfilling God’s will and loving others, not from worldly success. He demonstrated that true greatness in God’s kingdom is measured by humility, service, and obedience to the Father, not by career status or external achievements.
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus invites us to come to Him for rest and true validation:
*"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."*
Jesus offers us rest from the relentless pursuit of career-driven validation. When we find our worth in Him, we no longer need to prove ourselves or live in constant fear of failure. Instead, we can walk in the peace and security that comes from being accepted and loved by God.
**V. Finding True Validation in Our Work**
Does this mean that our careers don’t matter or that we should quit striving to excel in our work? Absolutely not. The Bible encourages us to work hard and do our best, not for the sake of gaining validation from others but as an act of worship to God.
Colossians 3:23-24 says:
*"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."*
Our work should reflect our devotion to God, not our desire for external validation. When we find our identity and validation in God, we are free to work diligently and passionately without becoming enslaved to the need for recognition. Ultimately, our true reward is not in earthly accolades but in the inheritance we receive from God.
**Conclusion:**
As we navigate the tension between career success and our identity in Christ, we must remember that true validation comes from God alone. Our worth is not based on our achievements or failures, but on the fact that we are beloved children of the Creator. Whether we are climbing the corporate ladder or facing unemployment, we can find peace and purpose in knowing that God values us and that our ultimate identity is in Him.
Let us seek validation not from the fleeting success of our careers but from the eternal love and grace of God. And as we work, let us do so with all our hearts, knowing that our labor is an act of worship to the One who has already validated us through His Son, Jesus Christ.