by Roy A. Barnes

Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked–Psalm 37:16, NIV

I have done a lot of meditating on this verse, which has assisted me in taking the steps to pursue a freelance writing career.  I began this odyssey during the late summer of 2004.

In most conversations about career choice, the clear implication seems to be that the primary focus is on financial security. Yet God puts in each of our hearts a vocational calling that may not reflect society’s obsession with material security. Many times, the Lord’s direction for our lives offers the potential for other kinds of abundance, such as the feeling of fulfillment, along with the opportunity to edify Christian believers—and many others who might benefit from our service.

Think of those involved in full-time Christian ministry. Many could have chosen to work in the healthcare or technology professions, where the possibilities for higher salaries and material security are more easily recognized.

The Book of Exodus tells of Moses giving up elevated status and material extravagance, which would have come with being an integral part of Pharaoh’s kingdom.  Instead, this brilliant and talented man decided to lead God’s chosen people out of bondage—a thankless job with no material security, at least by human standards.

In Tune With God

If Christians are in tune with God’s will for their lives, the Lord will provide the material possessions that are needed. The prophet Elijah obeyed the Lord’s guidance to hide out from the vengeful King Ahab in a desolate spot near a brook called Cherith (1 Kings 17). God used ravens to provide Elijah with nourishment. Did Elijah argue with the Lord about retirement plans, stock options, or being taken out of a place where he was comfortable and at home? God doesn’t put directives in our hearts without the means of getting the assistance we need. This support may come in unexpected forms, just like Elijah’s ravens!

I have been employed in past jobs that gave me the security of a steady paycheck and decent healthcare benefits. Yet the money I’ve made from my writing feels more authentic to me. Previous career choices left me ultimately feeling out of place and empty within my soul. The writing profession is more compatible with my neuro-biological condition called Asperger’s Syndrome, which is a high functioning form of autism. This is because I don’t have to deal with people face to face all of the time, and I can do my work at my own pace and anytime during the day or night.

As I meditate on the 37th Psalm, I find it is easier to put faith in God to open the doors that will meet my material needs through my writing. Some surprising blessings have come from being in harmony with God’s direction for my life. I have received income from travel articles, personal-experience essays, works about the writing craft, and poetry. I’ve been able to take trips to different parts of the United States on “someone else’s dime.” But until I decided to pursue writing more seriously, none of these developments had come to pass.

  
From Intimidation to Independence

I had the same sort of experience when I decided to get serious about traveling independently. Having Asperger’s Syndrome initially caused me to be intimidated and overwhelmed by all the new surroundings that I encountered when I took my first trip to Europe in 1998, so I missed out on a lot that I could have experienced. Later, thanks to the help of a friend, I gained confidence in exploring the world on my own.

The writing profession has allowed me to participate in events that I would not have experienced otherwise. In 2008, I circled a North Carolina NASCAR track in a stock car at 185 miles per hour! The opportunity came because I had been commissioned to write an article on the subject. More recently, I was sponsored to cover a convention where I was able to record an interview with Hollywood star Linda Blair. I had to wait several hours, but I got the interview, and felt giddy for several days afterword.

If Christians will seek the Lord’s guidance for their lives, and not to be afraid to take a leap of faith in response to the convictions of their hearts, I believe they will be rewarded. What good is it to have all the material security that your limited mind could ever hope for, if you are out of tune with the will of God?

Freelance writer Roy A. Barnes lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  His travel articles have been published by Transitions Abroad, Live Life Travel, and other travel magazines. He has also written about the writing craft in publications such as The Busy Freelancer, and The InkSpotter News. His poetry and other articles have appeared in several other publications.