What to keep when you lose your job
Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 11:55AM “and we call upon you, brethren, to abound still more, and to study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands.” 1 Thessalonians 4:10-11 Young’s Literal Translation
When we lose something, particularly something as big as our livelihood, we think we have lost everything. This can easily lead to inactivity and economic passivity. Hard economic times are nothing new. There were recessions in Bible times, and key characters in Scripture lost their jobs. What can we learn from them about what to keep when you lose your job?
1. Joseph—Keep perspective
You may not be blessing the person who fired you right now, but remember that God is sovereign. Joseph said to his siblings, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20
2. Samuel—Keep praying
He was an advisor to a king, the transition prophet who installed Saul. When Saul lost his job Samuel did not stop his. “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you.” 1 Samuel 12:23
3. Elijah—Keep resting
Give yourself downtime between your last job and your next exploit. 1 Kings 17:3 “Leave here…and hide at the Kerith Ravine…I have ordered ravens to feed you there.” God had a recipe for Elijah—eat and sleep.
4. Elijah—Keep open
So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.” God may want to provide in a very different way, so don’t chase away God’s provision, even if ravens are not your favorite birds.
5. Shadrach, et al—Keep true
Stick by what you know is right, even if the reason for your lay-off was wrong. “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18
6. David—Keep community
You don’t always get to choose your community when you are out of work, but you can choose to be in community. “David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.” 1 Samuel 22:1, 2
7. Paul & Silas—Keep praising
The great church planter was in the slammer—that could interrupt a career. It reminds me of our of our rēp clients who was put in jail. After five months he told us, “Stop praying that I will get out prison—I now have a church of 340 people in prison.” In Acts 16:25 we read, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Keep singing.
8. Joseph—Keep working
The signature on his paycheck shifted from Potiphar to Prison Warden, but it did not stop Joseph’s work. He had favor, and eventually he was running the prison. “So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.” Genesis 39:22 God is not a big fan of self-pity or idleness. Find some work, even if you don’t get paid for it. Busy people get given jobs…use this time to serve, not to self-indulge.
9. Timothy—Keep hoping
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” Paul gave this advice to Timothy in 1 Tim 6:17. Hope…but hope in the right things.
10. Elijah—Keep moving
1 Kings 17:7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the LORD came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.” We need to know when to rest, and when to move. When God says ‘the move is on’ then be willing to move. Taking a new job might be exactly what he has in mind, even if it means moving to a new city.
I do not know which of these is harder for you—trusting for finances, staying positive, working even when there is no paycheck, staying true to your God and your calling, keeping connected even when you don’t feel worthy of community…each of us is different. We do know, however, that unemployed people should not be idle. This lengthy quote from the working person’s epistle sums it up.
Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22
Reader Comments (2)
Very timely
Excellent meditation material
2 Chron 20 grabbed my attention recently, providing a model on how to approach these times. It has been very helpful to me each day as I look for my next place of employment.
a) Recognize who God is - He is sovereign (v6).
b) Remember all He has done in my life (v7-9).
c) Let Him know what I am dealing with right now (v10-11), even though He already knows.
d) Admit there are dynamics beyond my control and choose to keep my eyes on Him (v12).
e) Stand before the Lord (v13) and Listen (v15) as He reminds me that I'm not to be afraid or dismayed because the battle is His, not mine (v15 & 17).
f) Choose to Worship and Praise Him (v18-19).
g) Walk in obedience to His direction (v16 & 20).
h) Walk in faith each day praising Him as I go (v20-21).
Though it's not perfected in my own life, God is building me and my family up in this time as we learn how to apply this passage in our life.
Blessings!
Joe Stephens