Career Lessons From St. John the Baptist
“He was a burning and shining lamp” (John 5:35).
These days, it seems as though everyone wants to have some sort of influence, especially in their professional career. Being an “influencer”—something that wasn’t even a possibility in the years before social media—has become a common aspiration in the digital world of TikTok and Instagram.
Influencers gain a social media following for being an expert in anything from humor to luxury travel to therapy or life coaching. Then, they leverage that exposure into a stream of income or prominence. The most successful influencers launch businesses based on the products they sell or gain partnerships with brands that want their “influence” to promote products to their audience. Never before has such accessible influence been at anyone’s fingertips. Everywhere you look, you will find tips for exponentially growing your career, bolstering your Instagram following, or promoting your blog or book.
Can I Have Influence and Glorify God?
Whether you are an official influencer or not, as a Christian, you may have found yourself wondering: Is striving to make more money, earn the next promotion, or grow my platform selfish or materialistic? Am I being too worldly by wanting to do well in my career and gain a good reputation?
How do we strike the balance of working toward personal milestones without getting caught up in the modern obsession with career development and performance optimization? How do we ensure our accomplishments always give glory to God?
A few weeks ago, I attended the Young Catholic Professionals conference in Dallas, where the speakers profoundly impacted me. My heart was most drawn to the message of striving for excellence in humility to glorify God. Our career success doesn’t need to be all for ourselves, and we also don’t have to feel guilty about wanting to do well in the work God created us to do. No matter what we do, even in our relationships, if we work at it “from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others” (Colossians 3:23), and remain in a humble mindset, we can rest assured that God will be glorified.
A First-Century Influencer
Who better to display the virtue of humility at work than Jesus’ beloved cousin John the Baptist? Prior to Jesus’ public ministry, John had a wide following as the Baptizer of the Jordan, his fame reaching as far as Herod’s court and ultimately costing him his life. He preached repentance, and his mission was to prepare the way of the Messiah, the One who soon would come and redeem the world. As arguably the most significant and well-known prophet, John gained a massive following, only to redirect them all to the One they were waiting for.
You could say John the Baptist was the ultimate first-century influencer.
John’s followers loved and revered him and at one point even confused him for the Christ. St. John’s “nonprofit mission” was flourishing, yet he desired none of the fame for himself. As a man who spent most of his free time alone in the desert eating bugs, he likely had no desire to be the center of attention. But think how easily John could have soaked up the glory and relished the esteem of baptizing thousands of people.
Even with his revered status, John removed himself from the center of the story and reminded the crowds, “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals" (Mark 1:7).
John’s humility purified and protected the intention of his mission: to make Jesus Christ known in the world and to give Him glory. By following his example, we can ensure we always strive for excellence in humility for the glory of God alone. In everything you do, as a friend, mother, wife, daughter, or worker, remember St. John’s mission statement: “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30).
Working With Humility Toward Excellence
As Catholics, our lives should look different from other people’s. Whether you run a successful company, write best-selling books, or consistently win employee of the month, if you work with humility people will know something is different about you. It’s hard to forget someone who is so genuinely humble amid success, and it’s intolerable to be around an arrogant person, no matter how successful they are.
St. John the Baptist had such influence because his humility allowed God to work through him. His followers couldn’t forget what he stood for and whom he was preparing them for. When the Messiah did come, John’s message burned in people’s hearts: to accept Jesus as the One he had been talking about. Jesus exalted John because he had humbled himself: “Among those born of women, no one is greater than John” (Luke 7:28). There is no doubt that in humbling ourselves in our work, the Lord will do the exalting for us.
As Catholic professionals, allowing humility to remain at the forefront of our heart and mind frees us to pursue our career while planting our success in the garden of the Lord. Consider meditating on St. John the Baptist’s example and how God might be calling you to strive forward in your daily work in perfect excellence and humility.
Mary Kate McNamara is a Jersey girl with a Midwest heart. She works at a consulting firm in downtown Chicago and is a proud Michigan alum (Go Blue!). While Chicago is her favorite city, she can still whip out an East Coast accent and Springsteen lyrics faster than a New York minute. Mary Kate is known for loving long, deep conversations that keep her friends up way too late. She considers herself truly blessed to be the daughter, sister and close friend of the best people she knows. Mary Kate has a life-long devotion to St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother, and is beginning to discover what it means to be friends with Jesus.