Married to your job

[ddc101]

I have had instances where the pride of life got ahold of me in a big way.I had to repent over it all.Its such an easy trap to fall into.First you go to college and get all this pride over accomplishment stuff drilled into you.Then you get the thing where people compliment you for a job well done.Finally the good raises come in or you are getting so low pay that it causes you to work all the time.But what finally ends up is that the stress comes on and you sink into the office or work place.This can cause us to have family problems and spiritual problems.Then many companies want so much out of you that they require you to sacrifice Church and family life for a career step.What can happen is a person becomes cold and physically exhausted.Then when they do come to church they are so exhausted that the phrase...."I get nothing out of service" comes to mind.
so for those who are in this trap give this to God.He can and wants to deliver you.For those who like the trap...you are deceived.For those walking anywhere near this trap...run for your lives.Put your priorities in order.Don't be devoured.We get our selfworth from God.lv sis.c

[Webmaster]

I know the lure of the business world is strong. Outside of the ministry, all I have ever known is retail management and sales. Long hours and family sacrifice as well as missing services is a part of it. I am involved in a service oriented business right now, and the demands on my time are a lot less than previously held positions. Of course, I own the business and write the schedule...hehehehe. I guess I do have a little flexibility.

We were involved with some apostolic folks that bought a business, and my wife even managed one of their stores for awhile. It became such a thing in their life, that it was more important to them than anything...friends, family, and although they continued in the faith, they were not as "gung ho" as they once were. Instead of going with most folks after service to McDonalds or wherever, now it was the country club. Nothing wrong with that as long as you don't start believing you are better than everyone else. And what is worse, it began to rub off on us.

We couldn't afford going to the CC alot, or other of the type of places they liked to go....but we thought we could. I was in management with a retail company making above 30k, but far less than 50k a year....my wife managing one of their stores for far less. House payment, utitlities, car payment....oh we were making it...but trying to live in the jet set you cannot save any money. And the worst part is, we started not seeing others as equals, but rather started to develop the same attitudes as those my wife was employed by.

Conviction began to settle in my heart. Was God pleased by my attitude? For one thing, we didn't have the same income as her employers. Keeping up with the "Smiths and the Joneses" involves a great cost, not only financially, but spiritually as well. Covetousness wrecks havoc with a heart that is tender towards God. And I realized no matter what we had, I was very unhappy indeed.

I live in a nice home, although not as nice as we had. I do not make the money I used to, and certainly cannot afford to go some of the places I used to go, but now that everything is in perspective, I am much happier indeed than before. I honestly believe if we would have continued down the road we were travelling, we would have lost all that we had. Thank God, HE moved on our hearts and we learned what is truly important....serving the Lord of Lords!

[In His Service]

Wonderful post!!!!

We call what you are speaking a portion of the "Keeping up with the Jones" spirit that get ahold of many. Our jobs and place in the business world can get to the point of becoming an idol to us. It gets most of our attention. Our time, effort, thoughts and goals are centered around it.

We must becareful what we "feed". Feed the covetness and it wants even more. So many are pulled away from God when caught in this cycle and all will be eventually if they do not step back an take a hard look at what is first in thier life. God, family and then everything else.

Thanks for the post,
Bro. Timothy

[Webmaster]

The saddest thing about it IHS, is that those employers.....long time friends stretching back years, now tell everyone we are failures and our priorities are not in the right place. I dunno.....I haven't missed any meals and the house payment is on time every month. No, I cannot go out to eat as much, and no, I do not get to play golf very often, but I am happier than I have ever been. Sometimes we struggle, but it is well worth the blessings God is sending us.

[In His Service]

Amen Brother,
They are not looking at the situation from God's viewpoint. Truth be known, you with your decisions are convicting them and they lash out at your decision because they have not been able to make that same decision.

The love of money and the things that more money tickles our flesh with is a strong pull for many. You forget to see the little things as blessings. I am disabled now and we life on a very small income, me and my wife and now 5 children. God has yet to fail us. We have plenty of food on our table. He provides nice clothes for our back and has taught us to be very wise stewards in how we shop. My wife and I can be talking of something we need for the house or the children and we will find in the very next time,(even the next day) at the thrift stores we shop at. A great example is that my wife just had a baby and needed a pump to help her with nursing. We found one at a thrift store for 6.99. I found out online the are 259.99. Needed a new playpen, found two exactly alike for 9.00 each the same day. The examples can go on and on and on!!!! God is faithful everytime to supply all our needs and even throw in some great wants too!!!!!

When you have to rely on him you learn the greatest of all lessons and blessing. "He shall supply all our needs according to his riches in glory"!!!!

God bless,
Bro. Timothy

[ddc101]

My husband worked retail management for years.We barely saw him and when we did he was exhausted.Retail never gives enough employee hours so when they say manager they mean bondservant.It was such a relief when he changed jobs.
Just this year in management the Lord told him to quit his job and go into business for himself.He has a shop in the back of the church where he repairs and builds pc's.To be on site has been a great blessing.People walk in the door all the time and always ask about the church.One lady recently walked in with a crisis and received the Holy Ghost in the foyer.God is good and I can say he has never let me down.For two years I stayed at home not even working part time.Bro.C did not have a great paying job at the time.We never went without.In fact more than once money came in the mail from people we hadn't seen in years who said that in prayer God led them to send us money.amen.sis.c

[tufluv]

AMEN, Brothers, and teaching this to our children is a TOUGHLOVE act!! (stewardship)
Our children are the next generations of Apostolics, and if they don't learn to be frugal, thrifty, and to be an accountable steward of GOD's money and resources, there won't be any left for succeeding generations. That is part of the reason this world is in such a sad place, Wars are fought over material things.

People kill other people for THINGS, $$, or whatever their flesh desires.
As for workplace loyalties, I'm :beammeup: outta there!
I have long been disgusted with office politics, workplace 'ethics'?
Its all a LIE! I've been there, done that, and all it does is steal so much time that belongs to GOD and HIS work.
I may not have what I should by the world's standards, but what I do have that they don't I get to take with me - MY SOUL made righteous by GOD HIMSELF!

I'm happy whether I have a lot or a little, its still GOD that provides my every need! Halleluyah! and HE can be generous!
or NOT. HIS ways are not our ways, but they're still better than the ways of the world! That 'dog eat dog' world, IS for the dogs!
(they return to their own vomit, do they not!?) [no offense to my poochies... :D] or AK'S!

[Bro.Steingass]

who said Women can't preach??

[Webmaster]

When we left our retail positions, the Lord directed us to evangelize. We were severly criticized, and told it wouldn't work. But the Lord had spoken and we obeyed. We have a great pastor and home church that has been very supportive of our ministry. We travelled in our minivan, my wife, myself, our two daughters and all of our puppet equipment and instruments. We were at a church in Texas over a year ago and the Lord directed one of the members to donate a "car topper" luggage carrier to us. That made it a little easier to travel. Later the Lord provided as a brand new 4x6 equipment trailer for our things. In 2 1/2 years on the field we saw over 40 baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost! We would not have experienced all of this if we had stayed in our retail positions.

We are in the process of starting a home missions work where we live. We drive over 40 miles to get to church, and there is no independent or any organizational apostolic church here. The Lord has allowed me to start a business here, that while we will not get rich, the bills are being paid. We are making good contacts and will be having our first service June 1st. I have two revivals left on the schedule or we would start sooner. Please pray for us that we do a good work for the Lord.

[Hebrews116]

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

I'm sorry, I can't resist, but I have to play Devil's Advocate here.

When I read Scriptures like Ecc. 9:10, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." Or Colossians 3:22-24, "Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, AS UNTO THE LORD, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."

There is a plethora of other Scripture I could give, but what I read is that we are, as employees, instructed to be one of the best employees our employer has. We are to do our best for our employer, AS IF the Lord Jesus Christ were our employer.

I am in construction management. There is nothing more irritating than an employee who claims to be a born-again Christian, and he's one of the worse employees that work for me. They are habitually late, the first to hit the door to go home 5 minutes early, work only 4 days a week calling in sick once a week, have no desire to do a quality job, unknowledgable about how to do the job, etc. I once had a O.P. preacher work for me, and he was exactly that: one of my worse workers.

We as true Christians, work 40, 50, 60 hours a week for our employer. Those how ever many hours a week we work, should be amongst the best 40, 50, 60 hours that that employer gets.

We ought not be slothful on the job, get off work, then go do our hardest work in the yard, or that home improvement, at home.

We should give our best to our employers, whether they appreciate it or not. If we are unappreciated, then we are to rest assured that God will even the scales when we get to heaven.

God Bless!

[In His Service]

Hebrews,
I completely agree. We should do our best for any employer that one might work for. We can not do anything that would go against the Word but we should work our best for the wages we are paid.

We must always however learn to divide our thoughts of where we are to go in our profession personally from where God wants us to go. If we have to give so much time to the job that our family suffers from us not being there with them and it affects our time and work for God then our priorities need to change. We can make do with much less than we might think we can at any given point and time.

Bro. Timothy

[Hebrews116]

Greetings in the wonderful name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

IHS, I agree. However, that being said, consider the other extreme, of NOT WORKING, or NOT MAKING ENOUGH MONEY from one job. A husband may need to take on two or three jobs for whatever reason, in order to properly support his family, otherwise they suffer from having to choose between electicity or milk, eggs, and spam.

A man ought to seek a profession that thereby he may be able to support his family with one job, whether it be 40 hours a week, 50 hours a week, or 60 hours a week. He should seek the proper education he needs to be able to gain proper employment.

Too many times, Christians use their family's or their church NOT to do their best, to be lazy, NOT TO BE CONTROLLED BY THE LOVE OF MONEY, or any other plethora of excuses.

I work anywhere from 40 hours a week to sometimes 60 hours a week. I also have an hour's commute one way to and from work. When I am at work, I give it my best and my all. Then I get into my truck, and drive the hour home, do my unwinding in the truck, and when I get home, my family is my attention then. I don't talk about work or how it went "today", or anything along those lines, because I left it in my truck. I won't think about it again until I climb back in it at 4:20 the next morning.

I do what I do to support my family so my wife doesn't have to go out and get a job outside the home. I don't diversify and multiply my income by telling her she has to go get a job. She already has the hardest and most unappreciated, most unrewarded job in the country. That of being a wife and mother. Why should I add an out of the home job to her already long list of duties?

Anyways, JMHO...God Bless!

[Hebrews116]

I had another thought. (Yes it hurt; you should see the smoke billowing out of my ears :D ).

This is JMHO. I believe that everyone have different levels and degrees of talent and skill. Not everyone have the ability to be able to be a Corporate CEO. However, it is my opinion that if God has blessed someone with the skills and ability to be a Corporate CEO, that it is a sin for them to settle for being a hamburger flipper at McDonalds or a door greeter at Wal-Mart. That is what mediocrity is all about. Settling for less than what God made you to be.

JMHO...God Bless!

[In His Service]

Hebrews,
Is seems we pretty much are in agreement here. One has to be careful that we don't get caught up in having things and work those longer hours to have things we really do not have need of.

I applaud you on doing what you do to allow your wife to be a keeper at home!!!
God bless
Bro. Timothy

[pastorb]

The bible says that moey answereth all things and I believe we never receive into our spirits the true understanding of that scripture.

I grew up a very materialistic person unlike my wife (two different worlds).

Initially I was bogged down with bad credit and bad habits because I had not been taught the principles of budgeting and balancing.

Now that I have this understanding I don't see anything wrong with people working hard to reach the life style they desire as long as it doesn't interfer with God.

It has been said on this post that there are those who have a problem with big cars and large spending habits of others.

If I can make $1,500 a week and my wife halh that why should I drive a yugo? I have no business living in an apartment. I shop a Robinsons May rather than Ross even though there is nothing wrong with Ross. My wife will go to Ross. I just like nicer stuff, I am not a jeans and t-shirt guy.

My job blessed me when I used to work on sundays they would allow me to stop in the middle of my shift, go to church and then go back to work after service.

The key is to always put God first, put God first. We want to teach prosperity and get made when they get a job and stop coming to church because we don't teach them to put God first.

You can have anything in this world if you put God first. Is my desire for the world no, but while I'm here i'm going to be as comfortable as God allows me to be and with all things in proper perspective I can do that and still wear this world as a loose garment looking for my Jesus.

[John Atkinson]

I agree that we should give employers 100%, provided they leave church alone. Employers often have a bad habit of wondering why you have to go to church 4 times a week and can't work when they want you too.

My philosophy when I had a job (secular) was that when Church time comes around, I don't care if the company is collapsing. I am going to church. There were times when I turned down opportunities for advancement and pay raises because it would have involved missing church. So God needs to be first priority. That not only includes church but the work of God in general.

When I was gainfully employed as a Tech Writer/Webmaster/Applications Engineer (small company, lotsa hats and long hours), I was making good dollars. I was also stressed and and burnt out at then end of each long day. Intelligent Motion Systems, Inc. had sucked my brain dry. Went I got home finally the last thing I wanted to do was sit in front of a computer screen and work on the church web site. So, though I was faithful in attending every church service, I slipped in my other obligations to the Lord.

I took a $30,000+ annual pay cut to run Apostolic.Net and the associated Hosting co. Things have been tight, but the Lord has provided every need. Dropping a hundred bucks on a meal out is now a treat rather than a weekly occurance, and some things have had to be cut back. But God's calling is being met.

In time I hope the Hosting co/ISP will bless us with more finances, and I believe it will. (That is a hint; if you use web services and enjoy these good things like the GNC, use ours instead of giving the money to some sinner, we are jsut as good, and in many cases better than the equivalent secular ISP/Hosting co.)

I have no problem with pastorb's stance. It is good to be able to prosper monetarily and have nice things.

My own goal is to be able to purchase a nice van, and move to a neighboring city (Colchester CT) where there is no church and start a home group there, and bus the homegroup 20 minutes to Norwich for services. I am certain God will supply that need. Plese pray with us on that.

End of my stance, a job should never take priority over God and God's calling. Often the call of God requires stepping out in faith, sacrificing solid and secure income, and following God. And sometimes it requires being the best you can on your job, and being faithful to church as a true withness to the people who work with you.

Wherever we work, God has us there for a purpose. We should never give less than the best. As a christian, I have never left a place of employment that wouldn't gladly recommend me.

[In His Service]

Just imagine that if we made the amount of money that pastorb spoke of and shopped at Ross and supported a missionary with the amount saved.

Nothing wrong with liking well made things. However most people are not paying the dollars for many clothing items that they are worth, but for the name that is on them. Many pay big bucks for the prestige of wearing designer items so others see.

I don't begrudge anyone who works hard for thier income and wants to live modestly. When some try to keep up with the Jones as the World does, that is when it becomes wrong. I have known people that would not buy a great name brand item second hand, same designer, because it was not new. If that is the case they are not buying for the quailtiy but for the prestige.

I think a great question we can ask ourselves is would we sell it all for Christ? Would we sell it all and have all things common like the early church? Are we looking down on our brothes and sisters who have less and don't wear designer brands? The Word spoke about how we view our brothers and sisters in reference to dress for a great reason.

Bro. Timothy

[Alesaggio]

In New Testament times extremely wealthy people would hire managers or stewards to oversee their financial affairs. These managers would keep the books, approve of expenditures, pay employees, and track loans. Today we call such people "financial managers." In the story of Luke 16 the manager has been caught "wasting" the owners possessions and so is told that he should get the books in order because he will be fired. The Hebrew word translated as "wasting" is the same Hebrew word used in the story of the Prodigal Son to describe his selfish indulgence when he "squandered his wealth." This lets us know that the manager was not just guilty of making some bad investments, rather he had misappropriated the owners funds to spend it inappropriately on his self. He was in charge of the money but had used it to indulge himself rather than to further his master’s purposes.

The manager realizes that he is in a great deal of trouble because he will not be able to get another job managing money, he is too old or to weak for manual labor, and too proud to beg. How are his needs be met in the future? He does not ignore this dilemma but prudently considers his future well-being. In the process he comes up with a plan to secure his future needs. He decides to use this last opportunity as the owner’s legal manager to help others by reducing the debts they owed to the owner so that they will show him a favor when he is in need. As a result of using the owner’s money to help others he rightfully expects that "people will welcome him into their houses."

This parable has a conclusion that is unexpected and bewildering. In verse 8, Jesus says that when the master found out what the dishonest manager had done he "commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly." The thing that confuses people is that a crook would be praised, but if you look carefully at the story it is not the manager’s dishonesty that is commended, rather it is his shrewdness, i.e. his prudency and wisdom in planning for his future well-being.

Some people just cannot accept that Jesus would use such an unscrupulous character to teach a spiritual lesson, but keep in mind that Jesus used the story of an unjust judge and an uncaring friend to teach the disciples about the value of persistent prayer in the parable of the "Friend at Midnight" and the parable of the "Persistent Widow."

After telling the parable, Jesus then exhorts his disciples, who are called "people of the Light ", to be just as shrewd or wise in using money for eternal benefits as the "people of the world" are in using money for temporal benefits. This is the main point of the parable. Christians should use the money they have now wisely, in a way that will honor God and benefit themselves. How do Christian use money wisely?


1. First, to use money wisely we need to recognize that we are managers and not the owners of money.

2. To use money wisely we must use the money we have to help people.

3. Third, to use money wisely we must choose serving God as our highest priority

Jesus notes that what is highly valued among men, and by this he means the accumulation and use of money for selfish indulgences, is "detestable in God’s sight." I hope you will value what God values. God values faithfulness, helping others, generosity, and sacrifice.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75 percent in the world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, or spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8 percent of the world’s wealthiest people. I think that this would include most of the people on this board. You and I have more money and possessions than 92 percent of the people in the world today. How we use this money? Will you use it wisely or foolishly?

[John Atkinson]

Bro Tim,
I must admit that I buy big name clothing myself and find nothing wrong with it. After all, you can't get a much bigger name than "Walmart" :D

[BroDane]

Well, I was poor without Jesus and unhappy, now thats changed, I am More poor and VERY happy with Jesus! :yeah:

And I wouldnt change this Peace, & Joy for Nuttin, but, I am working on the poor part!!

Ahhhhuummmm.... :bow: Wallyworld!!

[John Atkinson]

I am working on a web site for a brother who teaches financial stewardship seminars, not so much as a name it claim it thing, but from a Biblically sound stand point. As in you give, you get, you have more to give.

When I have more materials and have studied more into it myself I ill post the link. Perhaps I will email him and invite him to the GNC to join the discussions.

I believe God wants us to prosper in everyway. Spiritually, mentally, physically and materially. But in our prosperity I don't believe in laying up treasures for ourselves. I believe if the Church has a need, or a family in the church has a need, and I have it by me, then I have no business whatsoever sticking it in my stock portfolio, where terrorist attacks, wars and economic downturns will just corrupt it anyway.

[John Atkinson]

The formal term for what happened to this thread is called "Hijacking" it went from "married to your job" and was hijacked to "Stewardship".

Good topic though.

[In His Service]

Bro. John,
Amen to post about not laying up treasures for yourself if there are others in need. There is very few things in this world that makes one feel as great as helping someone in need and seeing the smile upon thier face.

Thanks
Bro. Timothy

[Sandy]

31. Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32. (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33. But seek ye first the kingdomof god, and his righteusness; and all these THINGS shall be added unto you.
34. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

So if one is doing this, I really do believe that our Father will take care of us as he chooses to as well, whether the "things" happen to be many or not. We should be content in either. I think that Paul said he had been in both, and was content in either.

I know what that says is a promise.

[pastorb]

Sister Sandy,


I'm going to ask you to exegete your own scripture becausae I want to understand your full intent in writing it.

This is so easy to be taken out of context so that one would believe I don't need insurance, I don't need to go grocery shopping, as a matter of fact I should just be content with the way things are because with all that i don't have and all that i'm capable of I'll just be content the way I am, cause I got Jesus.

I can have nice things Drive a nice car, commit to excellence on a job for monitary gain and still put God first and still honor God first and trust that if I do my part in lining up with his work, then you're right eating tomorrow won't be a problem because I have met the principle requirements of God to insure that I'll have a meal tomorrow.


How? What soever your hands find to do doit witrh all your might.

If a man don't work he don't eat.

Seed time and harvest time

Thusbandman must be first partaker of the fruit or harvest.

David said I was once young but now I'm old and I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread. Becaus ethe righteous know how to apply God's word so that they won't go hungry.

[Bro.Steingass]

If you want to truly be blessed, put your wife's needs ahead of your own once. Just like Jesus did for you

[John Atkinson]

I miss Sis Alvear, she could have added to this discussion. Anyone heard from her?

[tufluv]

Again, I will reiterate what I said in another post:
"wise brother, that Steingass"!!! :D

I just heard a teaching on this very subject, of matrimonies, and it was very eye-opening (I phoned my husband to tell him to tune to it) that as the LORD provides for his 'church' (bride) a husband is to put himself AFTER his wife...etc.etc., I liked it not so much because I am a woman (whom by the way has never been 'supported' solely by a man) but because of the type-ing that it does, or metaphor-ism of our relationship to JESUS.
GOD IS SO WONDROUS.

BRO.JOHN:
You're funny, (hijacking!) and correct!
[does that mean its okay to do this on other threads?thanx! :D]
Is that guy you're talking about Larry Burkett? on the radio station I listen to he has a daily show called 'money matters']

I have another question that someone, anyone, may address:
Why is it considered good to be up to your necks in credit?

I can understand some things are vital, such as a roof over your head, but cars? I've never understood how its good? to be making payments on a car of the year (shoddily made to boot) that once it is paid off (assuming it is) breaks down? These new cars fall apart easily when & if hit by another car; and what about the 'lives' in those cars! I am appalled at the smallness of most expensive cars, how they would protect anyone in the event of a wreck is beyond me, I'm always pointing that out to my sons.
(just go visit an auto salvage yard sometime).

CREDIT may be another good thread, and all these topics are well related to 'investments' or 'gambling'? and even this thread on married to your job...in order to have any of the above questions, you must first have the JOB to get any money to do any of those. Being 'married' to a job is essential to acquiring those things that so many are so fond of.
I agree with IHS in being 'thrifty' buying things second hand, or doing w/o. Goodwill has good clothes, cheap (most times) or even Wal-Mart which is OUR name brand here as well! :D

Its all about priorities. The more we save, the more we have to give! All points here made so far all have some validity, except for, IMHO, buying the 'BEST' money can buy, thats "vanity" in my book, sorry if any are offended. :shrug:

...and speaking of GIVE, would anyone care to sponsor me in our upcoming walk-a-thon for missionaries? Its a 5mile walk, if so, please PM me! THANX, GOD BLESS!! ;)

[Bro.Steingass]

Sister,

I'm not wise, I'm just trying to live Pro 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

If I ever get wise, it'll be because I listened to wise men........And, i've made most of these mistakes already.

[John Atkinson]

No, Tuf,

Larry Burkett is a trinitarian, this Brother is Apostolic.

[tufluv]

YOU know, I was going to include that, but did not want to offend if indeed he WAS your friend, or of whom you spoke. Comprende?
:D
p.s. I kinda figured as much, since you won't find nary an Apostolic doing any programs on radio, or even t.v.