Temptations of the social service field

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,^[c] your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eyes are unhealthy,^[d] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Matt 6:19-24)

Have been reflecting on how subtle the difference is between treasures on earth and treasures in heaven. For if we do "Godly", "holy" or "noble" things for ourselves, no matter how upright or "Christian" the cause is, it is an earthly treasure we are trying to store up - to get Man's praise and glory, which is temporal and will be forgotten. Heavenly treasures then, are not merely "noble" or "Christian" things, but all of life that gives praise to who God is.

Tim Keller had advised in his book "Every Good Endeavour" to be aware of the potential dangers of the field of our work; and that with each field the temptations are different in nature. Perhaps building our list of "great deeds" or "great counseling" for those in need is one of the greatest temptations in the social service field. While we can be thankful for success stories, we need to always attribute our gifts back to the Gift Giver and to the one who is ultimately sovereign over and ordering the lives of the poor and broken. 

No matter how noble our profession/job/role is, it doesn't define who we are and the object of our worship. Sure, we would certainly live our identity as children of God/believers of Christ differently in our different work contexts and we certainly must use our gifts/talents to the best of our abilities, but our identity always has to be rooted in Christ and not in our work. Our work may shape the way we think, feel and act, but we need to ensure that how we think, feel and act is of praise and honour to our King. 

Praying that I'll be more rooted in Christ and who He is, rather than solely being attracted to what the fields of psychology, counseling and social work have to offer. I honour my field, but God is still the owner and Master whom I must worship and love.