I Need A Job, But I Need Something More

I do not have a job. This puts me in good company with millions of other Americans. The last job I had was six days a week for the princely wage of $225 per week. I loved the work, was not thrilled about the pay. Now my unemployment check is about the same size as my last paycheck. Not thrilled about the check, or the lack of work. Again, I suspect there are no few others out there in similar circumstances.

For a variety of reasons I have had the opportunity to investigate some business opportunities, as well as simply look for a job. The funny thing about the business opportunities is that I can't help feeling that someone is trying to give me what we used to call, "the business." It seems the current economic climate is very friendly to things that rhyme with "spam" but have a 'c' in place of the 'p'. Every week I get several invitation to attend a meeting, or call an 800 number to find out how I can get rid of my timeshare. They promise they'll save me money by giving me the opportunity to make them money upfront. Well money is tight, so I think I'll hold onto the little I have for now.

No few of the businesses have the old familiar ring of the multi-level-marketing schemes that I have always loathed. Every time I hear about one of them they talk about putting me in a place where I'll be able to help other people, and make myself fabulously rich at the same time. Hmm, it has always seemed to me that the people MLM systems are designed to help are the ones in the system being helped by taking money from others lower in the system than they are.

And, while I wouldn't mind owning a new boat, a car less than 11 years old, and have the money to go on a cruise, I actually believe I can live happy and fulfilled without any of those things. Oh, there's some temptation there, but I am really on my guard not to push the "greed" button. And cut through all the talk about being in control of your own time and money, being your own boss, enjoying the "lifestyle you've always wanted" and it comes down to playing on our love of money. Now I forget a lot of things, but I do remember the Bible's caution that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Nothing wrong with money in itself, it is pretty useful. But making the making of money the focus of your life is a bad choice, and I don't care how happy the people in all the glossy pictures look on their yachts!

Actually, I believe one of the greatest, probably the greatest, certainly more important than financial security, reason to work is the sense of self-worth it gives you. Regardless of what you earn for your work, that fact that you earn anything says something about your worth. Not working, not having a job, can make you feel pretty worthless. Of course, given the state of the economy, there are a lot more unpaid and underpaid jobs out there than before. The bad thing about being a volunteer who is valued, or an underpaid worker who is valued, is that you might get to do something worthwhile and still lose your house, or not have health insurance.

And let's face it, financial security, if that's all you have, is no security. It doesn't matter how rich you are, you can lose it all, or have it stolen from you, and then where are you? In the end, the poorest refugee in Darfur can be infinitely far more secure than the world's richest man. Because, while money is important, the one thing we all need isn't a thing at all, but a person--Jesus Christ. Health, wealth, even life itself can be gone in an instant, without there being anything we can do about it. Doesn't sound like security to me. But with Jesus Christ, there can be the assurance that, whether you are down to your last dollar or have a couple of million of them in the bank, whether you are fit as a fiddle or sick as a dog, whether you have many long years ahead of you or your next breath turns out to be your last, He's got you safe in His arms now and forever.

Actually, admitting your lack of real security and great need of Him is the big step we all need to take. One of the worst things I can imagine happening to someone who buys into one of the scams currently preying upon the desperate unemployed is that they work out and someone does make a lot of money, and starts enjoying the lifestyles of the rich and famous, because they will very likely arrive at the opinion that they don't need Jesus at all.

You know, the Bible doesn't teach us that Jesus ever earned even so much as one shekel. And His apostles all walked away from their former lives, some of them relatively poor some of them quite comfortable, to embrace a life full of sacrifice and worldly risks. But, with the exception of Judas Iscariot, they all received eternal security.
Well, I just pray I'll be able to stifle the impulse to grab for some high-sounding "life-changing opportunities" that are out there, and hang in with the Lord come what may. I've got to tell you, the Revelation 22.14 lifestyle can't be beat!