Job dilemma

[Klang]

This issue must sometimes affect many Christians:-
Suppose you're unemployed and the Jobcentre tells you to apply for a particular job, but the work is against your moral/ethical/religious principles, what would you do?
Would you politely refuse to apply and carry on drawing dole money, or would you grudgingly apply even though you find the work distasteful?
I was placed in exactly that dilemma about 8 years ago when the Jobcentre "required" me to apply for a job in a local convenience store, so I toddled happily along for interview.
But when I arrived I saw the booze, tobacco, and porn mags on the shelves and began to have doubts and thought "I don't want to handle and sell that stuff!"
The manageress must have picked up on my lack of enthusiasm during the interview and concluded with "Thank you, we'll let you know", but I never heard from her again and breathed a sigh of relief.
PS- I've attached a poll to this post because polls are fun, hope I've done it right..

 

[Fish Catcher Jim]

Hello Brother Klang ,
This is a tough one to answer being on the out side. What I mean is, I have no idea what God has spoke to some one in a situation like this.

One hand we have our morals or convictions and on the other side we need to make sure God was not sending us there.

One thing I have learned is sometimes God will place us some place we would not have gone on our own for a purpose....His Purpose.

I have been in some pretty ugly situations in my life and for some time I could not figure out why God would put me in such a place But if we trust Him and walk in His ways which means not complaining and trying to get some place better then we will soon enough learn why.

I said all that to say this ... it is a good thing to stick to our convictions But we Must always seek God and learn His desire in it.

Blessings
FCJ

 

[Smiler]

Hello Brother Klang ,
This is a tough one to answer being on the out side. What I mean is, I have no idea what God has spoke to some one in a situation like this.

One hand we have our morals or convictions and on the other side we need to make sure God was not sending us there.

One thing I have learned is sometimes God will place us some place we would not have gone on our own for a purpose....His Purpose.

I have been in some pretty ugly situations in my life and for some time I could not figure out why God would put me in such a place But if we trust Him and walk in His ways which means not complaining and trying to get some place better then we will soon enough learn why.

I said all that to say this ... it is a good thing to stick to our convictions But we Must always seek God and learn His desire in it.

Blessings
FCJ

In my late fifties I constantly began to feel ill, upset in many ways, and wasn't the happy husband and father I had been. My Doctor didn't help by prescribing unsuitable medication, and eventually I put it down to a mid-life crisis, still in deep prayer.
Then I woke up to the realisation that the theme of my job had slowly changed, and I was designing goods which were anathema to me. I handed in my notice, and immediately felt better. After six weeks on the dole, I found a job in the local Hospital, mending people instead of killing them. The salary was only a third of what I had been getting for 35 years, but my wife and the children were so happy, and we all remained so for the rest of our time together.
At first all my friends thought I was mad, but they could see what a difference it had made to us all, and they have always been supportive, one of our church members later doing the same thing.
God is good. Praise the triune Saviour.

 

[Major]

This issue must sometimes affect many Christians:-
Suppose you're unemployed and the Jobcentre tells you to apply for a particular job, but the work is against your moral/ethical/religious principles, what would you do?
Would you politely refuse to apply and carry on drawing dole money, or would you grudgingly apply even though you find the work distasteful?
I was placed in exactly that dilemma about 8 years ago when the Jobcentre "required" me to apply for a job in a local convenience store, so I toddled happily along for interview.
But when I arrived I saw the booze, tobacco, and porn mags on the shelves and began to have doubts and thought "I don't want to handle and sell that stuff!"
The manageress must have picked up on my lack of enthusiasm during the interview and concluded with "Thank you, we'll let you know", but I never heard from her again and breathed a sigh of relief.
PS- I've attached a poll to this post because polls are fun, hope I've done it right..

1 Thessalonians 5:22....................
"Abstain from all appearance of evil."

 

[Klang]

..One thing I have learned is sometimes God will place us some place we would not have gone on our own for a purpose....His Purpose...

Yes, but on the other hand can Satan put us in places too, for his own sly agenda?
For example some years ago when unemployed I found myself placed on the Jobcentre's "Project Work" scheme, where groups of unemployed people were "required" to do community work like helping at charity shops, pruning overgrown woodland, refurbishing buildings and so on.
They placed me in a team that was due to begin refurbishing a local Hindu temple in Leicester (England), but I refused pointblank to go, so they reduced my dole for several weeks to persuade me to change my mind, but I stood my ground and they eventually gave in and assigned me to charity shop work instead.
Of course, if I'd felt it was God's will that I should help restore a Hindu temple I'd have gladly gone along to do it, but that's not what I felt at all. The problem for us all is therefore knowing whether God or Satan is sending us to places.
What would CFS members have done in such a situation?

 

[Cturtle]

What would CFS members have done in such a situation?

If I had prayed about it and felt that God was not wanting me there to help make the Hindu temple look good then I would have done what you did. But I would have to know for sure that it was God's desire.

On your first post I have mixed emotions. Because I believe whole heartedly that we should keep our eyes and ears protected from things that can corrupt us....but I do agree with Jim that if it was God providing the job for you to bring light to the darkness...then that is what is to be obeyed.

Blessings

 

[Klang]

...the theme of my job had slowly changed, and I was designing goods which were anathema to me. I handed in my notice, and immediately felt better. After six weeks on the dole, I found a job in the local Hospital, mending people instead of killing them. The salary was only a third of what I had been getting for 35 years, but my wife and the children were so happy, and we all remained so for the rest of our time together..

Right, money's not everything..
For example I've helped at a dozen or so charity shops on and off over the years for no pay at all, and was never happier!
However Satan didn't want me there, so he slyly engineered things so that I'd walk out in disgust after just a few weeks, it happened at every place I was at, he usually inflitrated the minds of the managers/manageresses and other volunteers to create a terrible atmosphere that I found distasteful, I could tell you stories..

 

[Cturtle]

Right, money's not everything..
For example I've helped at a dozen or so charity shops on and off over the years for no pay at all, and was never happier!
However Satan didn't want me there, so he slyly engineered things so that I'd walk out in disgust after just a few weeks, it happened at every place I was at, he usually inflitrated the minds of the managers/manageresses and other volunteers to create a terrible atmosphere that I found distasteful, I could tell you stories..

That's when you stay and resist your fleshly responses and let your light shine for Jesus

God bless you

 

[Klang]

....but I do agree with Jim that if it was God providing the job for you to bring light to the darkness...then that is what is to be obeyed.

Good point, perhaps God wanted me to be in the Hindu temple so that my Christian presence would help "flush out" the demons in there.
But all I know for certain is that the idea of renovating the place was absolutely and totally repugnant to me, so rightly or wrongly I made the decision not to go, and have felt completely happy with the decision ever since.
PS- Another thing to consider is that if I had gone along to do the work, the local Hindus would have been encouraged and thought- "Look, Christians are helping to restore our temple, they obviously like Hinduism and think it's okay"

 

[Cturtle]

Good point, perhaps God wanted me to be in the Hindu temple so that my Christian presence would help "flush out" the demons in there.
But all I know for certain is that the idea of renovating the place was absolutely and totally repugnant to me, so rightly or wrongly I made the decision not to go, and have felt completely happy with the decision ever since.
PS- Another thing to consider is that if I had gone along to do the work, the local Hindus would have been encouraged and thought- "Look, Christians are helping to restore our temple, they obviously like Hinduism and think it's okay"

I think the biggest thing is that you had peace with the decision that you made.

 

[Klang]

That's when you stay and resist your fleshly responses and let your light shine for Jesus

Ah, decisions, decisions..
As I mentioned, the atmosphere in every charity shop I've ever worked at was great at first and I was happy for a while, but as the weeks went by, the atmosphere slowly became sour and oppressive, not aimed at me in particular, but seemed to permeate the whole shop, leading to petty bickering among the volunteers and poor management etc,(nearly all of them were nonchristians) so I felt I had to escape the bad vibes and walk out because I'd have served no useful purpose by staying, and would have become unhappy and spiritually drained.
"What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?..Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord, I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters" (2 Cor 6:14-18 )
"He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm" (Provs 13:20)
"Bad company corrupts good character" (1 Cor 15:33)
"If you hang around with losers you become a loser" (Donald Trump)

 

[Klang]

I think the biggest thing is that you had peace with the decision that you made.

Yes, and the funny thing is that whenever I've walked out of a job I've felt bad at first, (and on a couple of occasions near to tears) because it's such a major thing in anybody's life and you feel lost and lonely, but after a few days the feeling passes and you feel full of beans and ready for a fresh start and realise that walking out was a great decision..
"This is what the Lord says...
Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland"
(Isaiah 43:16-19)

 

[Fish Catcher Jim]

Yes, but on the other hand can Satan put us in places too, for his own sly agenda?
For example some years ago when unemployed I found myself placed on the Jobcentre's "Project Work" scheme, where groups of unemployed people were "required" to do community work like helping at charity shops, pruning overgrown woodland, refurbishing buildings and so on.
They placed me in a team that was due to begin refurbishing a local Hindu temple in Leicester (England), but I refused pointblank to go, so they reduced my dole for several weeks to persuade me to change my mind, but I stood my ground and they eventually gave in and assigned me to charity shop work instead.
Of course, if I'd felt it was God's will that I should help restore a Hindu temple I'd have gladly gone along to do it, but that's not what I felt at all. The problem for us all is therefore knowing whether God or Satan is sending us to places.
What would CFS members have done in such a situation?

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Well it comes down to learning to hear the shepherds voice and following Him.

That is what this CFS member has come to do !!
Blessings

 

[Cturtle]

Ah, decisions, decisions..
As I mentioned, the atmosphere in every charity shop I've ever worked at was great at first and I was happy for a while, but as the weeks went by, the atmosphere slowly became sour and oppressive, not aimed at me in particular, but seemed to permeate the whole shop, leading to petty bickering among the volunteers and poor management etc,(nearly all of them were nonchristians) so I felt I had to escape the bad vibes and walk out because I'd have served no useful purpose by staying, and would have become unhappy and spiritually drained.
"What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?..Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord, I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters" (2 Cor 6:14-18 )
"He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm" (Provs 13:20)
"Bad company corrupts good character" (1 Cor 15:33)
"If you hang around with losers you become a loser" (Donald Trump)

I think for me...it's a.matter of drawing closer with the Lord and not allowing any of the outside things to affect me. I'm not perfect at it, but after 8 years of being in a difficult situation (and being corrected by God of some bad behavior and responses), it gets a little easier only with the Holy Spirit as my guide. One does a lot of praying in the spirit and whatever is necessary to walk like Jesus walked, instead of allowing the flesh to respond.

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
Galatians 5:16‭, ‬24‭-‬25 NLT
http://bible.com/116/gal.5.16-25.NLT

 

[Klang]

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Well it comes down to learning to hear the shepherds voice and following Him.
That is what this CFS member has come to do !!

Yes, the "learning" bit is the tricky bit for some people..
For example I know a middleaged christian whose life is an absolute mess, he's been divorced twice, he's been hauled into court twice for non-payment of his council tax, and he's had his phone and electricity cut off at various times for not paying the bills, and even rides around after dark on his bicycle without lights!
All that is because he's the "fatalistic" type of christian and believes that every thought and intuition he has in his head comes from God, and that he therefore needn't think for himself, and that whatever happens to him or anyone else is "God's will".
As a result he doesn't lift a finger to help himself or get some organisation and discipline into his life.
I'm not telling you this behind his back, because I've already told him to his face (more than once) to pull himself together and reminded him of this verse-
"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline" (2 Tim 1:7)

 

[Cturtle]

that whatever happens to him or anyone else is "God's will".

It truly is sad when people think this way...not realizing that there are a lot of things (dominion and responsibilities for growth and such) that God places into our hands.

 

[Fish Catcher Jim]

Yes, the "learning" bit is the tricky bit for some people..
For example I know a middleaged christian whose life is an absolute mess, he's been divorced twice, he's been hauled into court twice for non-payment of his council tax, and he's had his phone and electricity cut off at various times for not paying the bills, and even rides around after dark on his bicycle without lights!
All that is because he's the "fatalistic" type of christian and believes that every thought and intuition he has in his head comes from God, and that he therefore needn't think for himself, and that whatever happens to him or anyone else is "God's will".
As a result he doesn't lift a finger to help himself or get some organisation and discipline into his life.
I'm not telling you this behind his back, because I've already told him to his face (more than once) to pull himself together and reminded him of this verse-
"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline" (2 Tim 1:7)

Wow I can say I have met some folks right along that line. That is a most dangerous way to live because in all truth the devil has them on a leash and is leading them through life.
Keep praying for him and maybe one day the light might just get into that area.
Thanks for sharing
Blessings
FCJ

 

[HolyGround]

This is a difficult situation.
In a previous job, I sold alcohol, cigarettes and magazines; exactly the job you have just been for an interview for, however I don't ever recall selling a porn magazine.
The best thing to do in situations such as this is pray...pray and more praying. Perhaps God is sending you in this direction to test your Faith or perhaps it is the right job for you at the time.
I would ask God for guidance in showing you the path you need to take; I do hope that whatever comes along is more suited to your moral standings, however if it is God's will, there's not a lot I can do but pray.
I hope you find a satisfying job soon.

 

[Melizza]

On your first post I have mixed emotions. Because I believe whole heartedly that we should keep our eyes and ears protected from things that can corrupt us....but I do agree with Jim that if it was God providing the job for you to bring light to the darkness...then that is what is to be obeyed.

Blessings

That's what Missionaries are called for - but in some ways we can also apply this to ourselves e.g my new workplace has alot of non believers and I believe I've been put there for a reason - there's a group of us who meet up and have Devotions and we pray for them who are lost. It's a battle of the spirit indeed - some days I have them say "God doesn't exist" and that they believe there's no God. At the moment I'm holding my tongue and praying to God for a time (his time not mine) for when I can share with them about the Gospel - in saying that, it might not even be that I will have the opportunity to share with them - but God knows.

I have to be careful in what and when I can share with them as I don't want them to be put off the Gospel and close the door of Salvation - so I'm definitely relying and trusting in the Holy Spirit to lead me

 

[Melizza]

Good point, perhaps God wanted me to be in the Hindu temple so that my Christian presence would help "flush out" the demons in there.
But all I know for certain is that the idea of renovating the place was absolutely and totally repugnant to me, so rightly or wrongly I made the decision not to go, and have felt completely happy with the decision ever since.
PS- Another thing to consider is that if I had gone along to do the work, the local Hindus would have been encouraged and thought- "Look, Christians are helping to restore our temple, they obviously like Hinduism and think it's okay"

Or you could've flipped the script and go and pray for them and share the Gospel but if you weren't settled with Peace from God then obviously you weren't supposed to be there.

Blessings.