A Ramble About Jobs or Not Having One

There is a pervasive, destructive myth among American Christians. It's Americans in general, but when it comes among Christians it takes on a whole new meaning. That myth is that you and you alone are responsible for providing for yourself and your family, and if you don't have a paying job then you're less than and lazy or irresponsible.

This myth is especially destructive with today's economy being what it is. I have friends with sterling resumes who used to be able to snap their fingers twice and have a high paying job lined up in a day (not as much hyperbole as you might think by the way). These same friends have now been out of work for months on end, some up to a year or more. One good friend of mine who used to make nearly a hundred thousand a year is now unable to pay his bills, heavily in debt, and a few months from losing his house. He's put in resumes and applications, he's done the leg work. He's a crack salesman who could sell ice to an Eskimo. But in spite of all of his talent and effort, he's broke, and struggling to survive with his family.

I've struggled most of my adult life with finding and keeping work. I think the longest job I've had lasted for a few years, and those jobs I have had are nearly always on the low end of the pay scale. I have two associate's degrees and a bachelor's degree. I've spent more than five years in college and not because I was a poor student. But there has always been this perfect storm of circumstances every so often that knocks me back down, or keeps me from progressing. It's never been because I don't want to work.

I've learned several things from trying to keep my family together and raise my kids through these storms that I hope will help those who are like my friend, whom I pray for provision and blessing every day.

The first thing I've learned is that the myth I talked about is just that, a myth. Let me ask you this, who sends the rain and the sun for the plants to grow? Who allows them to grow and produce seed for the birds? It is God who does all this and more. A farmer or gardener can work all he wants in the hot sun, day in and day out, and his seed won't sprout or grow unless God wills it to, unless God sends the right amount of rain, and unless God allows the right amount of sun. The droughts in the southern US this year, and around the world the last couple of years, should have been evidence of that. It is God who allows the bugs to come and eat your plants, or sends their predators to keep them away.

It is the same way with us. It is God who provides for us. Yes, He often uses jobs and employment as a means to do so; but ultimately it all comes from Him. You lost your job. Does this mean that He is no longer in control? Does this mean that He no longer loves you? Does this mean that somehow He doesn't care? If any of these thing were possible than He would not be God. Losing our visible means of support is terrifying until we come to grips with this simple fact of God's love for us, and that He won't abandon us.

There are times when He causes us to lose that visible means of support intentionally. It's not punishment, but it is discipline intended to force us to acknowledge that it isn't the work of our hands that puts money in the bank and food on the table. It also forces us to start stripping away all the things which we become attached to instead of Him. We start using our possessions, our employment, the relationships around us for our security blanket instead of Him and this simply can't continue if we intend to pursue the path of Jesus Christ. So, He removes them because He loves us and because like any good parent would flush drugs they find down the toilet, He removes the dangerous things from us. He's more concerned about the health of our union with Him, than He is about our financial health. If we look to Him He will provide regardless of our financial state. Probably not in the way we would like, but what good parent ever gives his child every toy his child begs for?

Second, all too often Christians are beaten over the head with “if he doesn't work, he doesn't eat.” This is from 2nd Thessalonians 3. It was dealing with a situation at the church in Thessalonica where people were just living off of the dispersals at church and not contributing anything, spending their days getting into everyone else's business or doing the functional equivalent of playing video games all day and gossiping. St. Paul's concern wasn't about how much money the person was bringing in, but about whether or not he was being productive and able to contribute to others, since the path of Jesus Christ is about loving the other person and letting go of your self and your own things.

Volunteering at church or a non-profit, picking up the slack at home to help out your wife and kids, helping your neighbor out with work he or she may need done, spending time in prayer with God, these are all constructive, productive uses of time and contribute in a way which is consistent with the teaching of the Church and of Holy Scripture. In fact, these are more productive “spiritually” than trying desperately to make a bigger paycheck. The point isn't necessarily what you do as much as why and how you're doing it.

“But I need to support my family (and you do too)!” If God has prevented you (or me) from being employed in the traditional fashion then it's pointless to fight it for the moment. It's time to take a step back, take a breath, clear your mind, and focus on Him. You're not going to get another paying job unless He decides it's time for you to do so. Until that point in time, do what you can when you can, and instead of wasting all of your energy on panicking about where your next job will come from, spend it wisely on focusing on Him, trusting Him and recognizing that He is the one who provides for you. Yes, you have to swallow your pride and ask Him for help. This is fundamentally important. You can't just do this in secret. You have to be honest with Him, yourself, and others about this.

Third, how much is too much and what are your real priorities in life? Generally, people who seek to acquire large amounts of possessions and money do so because they're insecure about whether or not they'll ever have enough to be comfortable. They use it to shield themselves from facing the reality of life. If you have made the commitment to follow Jesus Christ, you can no longer do this. Wealth in general is dangerous spiritually. Poverty is a better financial state to be in for spiritual growth because it forces you back to reliance on God for your needs, and the less you possess, the less you have to be addicted to or attached to which can and will interfere with your relationship with God. There is a reason why Jesus told the rich young ruler to give up everything He had in order to achieve eternal life, and why it was common in the Apostolic Church for its members to sell everything they had and give the money to the Church for everyone to use.

Think about this very carefully. The Scripture is clear, friendship with the world is enmity with God. Jesus was pretty clear what He thought of the person who stored up possessions for his own retirement. If you choose to truly follow Him, you cannot climb the corporate ladder. There really is no middle ground, as much as many would like to pretend there is.

In the end, for those who follow Him and place knowing Him as a priority above all others it makes little difference whether you have a paying job or not. Every circumstance you are placed in is treated the same way: it is God who provides not you, your focus in life is loving others not securing your financial future. He loves you dearly. He loves your family dearly. If you wouldn't let your kids go hungry, why do you think He would?