A person’s gift opens doors for him and brings him before the great. 
~ Proverbs 18:16 

Did you ever wonder how a summer of camp ministry is going to look on your resumé?

It’s easy to start thinking 10 weeks of dockside lifeguarding isn’t opening up many doors for your engineering career or small business networking. Maybe you’re already making plans for a more pertinent internship. One where you can gain relevant experience and actually make a little money. 

Not so hasty. 

First of all, lots of businesses and industries value religious and community service as reflected by your resumé entry: Summer 2026—worked at camp. That little statement carries a lot of weight. 

Furthermore, today’s verse from Proverbs brings a very different perspective.

Things can open up for you in ways that leveraging your skills and experience and hobnobbing with the right people won’t. God, in his sovereignty, can go before you with his plan, so that it’s not all up to your efforts and straining. 

Your career and your life are deeper than just branding a certain image. They go below the surface to what’s inside—your values, your character, your stewardship of the gifts God has given you, your trust in God despite difficulties, your work ethic, your treatment and care of people, your willingness to make sacrifices for the kingdom of God.

These are the kinds of things that are hopefully sharpened and heightened during summer ministry and should continue to be developed as you plug into a local church. 

This proverb says that, typically speaking, your internal character will form a reputation. Your reputation will run ahead of you. And it will open up doors that you could have never imagined or forced open by your striving. 

So, use your gifts in the body of Christ, whether anyone is watching of not. Focus on the depth of your character, not as a man-pleaser. Actively trust that God will take care of everything else. And, keep coming back to summer camp as much as you can!