Thu 8 Mar 2007
Do I Have To Quit My Job - Part 2
Posted by Paul Ferree under First Thoughts , Getting Started , MoneyThe last article I wrote was a little controversial, especially in the audience of the American church.
I felt there should be a follow up with some of the more apparent oppositions or hesitations that the article was met with.
First and foremost, I should make this clarification. When I said that you may need to quit your job, I didn’t necessarily mean that you had to stop working. It’s more intended towards the people that are career driven instead of Kingdom driven. Those that are trying to climb up the ladder, trying to obtain the American Dream instead of the Kingdom of God.
The way God built this in me was that when I originally thought about quitting my job, I thought I was just going to get another one that was “christian based”. Then all of the sudden the Lord changed directions on me and told me never to enter the “career world mindset” again. All of the sudden, I was completely content on sacking groceries, flipping burgers, or being a janitor. My identity no longer came from my job or career, it was that I was a Kingdom servant ready to make my life as liquid as possible so I could do what Jesus wanted me to do at the drop of the dime.
With that being said, on to some specific objections:
-It’s Not My Calling:
The complete premise of this site is to awaken all believers that we are all called to follow after Jesus with all of our energy. I personally believe there isn’t a call to live for the world and for God. It’s one or the other. Hint: One way to find out which world you’re living for - look at where your money goes. Is it more invested in the things of this world – cars, houses, toys, etc – than the things of God? Your heart is where your treasure is…if all your treasures are here in this earth, your heart resides there and will die with it. Also, your heart is where you expend most of your energy…do you spend more energy on the matters of the Kingdom, or the matters of this world?
-You May Quit Your Job, But You’ll Just Rely On Other People And Their Jobs:
It’s thought that if you stop working at your job/career that you’ll automatically start to mooch and suck off of other people that actually DO have jobs. You’re not supposed to stop working and start living off of charity. You’re supposed to start living off of faith, truly living within the premise of Matthew 6:33. You may not be able to drop everything and run now, but you can certainly walk towards that and begin to greatly reduce your need for income by getting rid of the materialism fat that sits around us all.
Some people with jobs will give you things. It’s just what happens. But our hope and faith doesn’t rest on those things. We trust in the one that can multiply the loaves of bread and get money out of a fish’s mouth. Our provision isn’t based on our income or the income of those around us.
-If I Leave My Job, Who Will Witness To My Coworkers?
Actually, you leaving your job/career will give you more of an opportunity to witness and share the true gospel (freedom from the ways of this world – including financially) to your coworkers than you just being a bump on a log waiting and hoping for someone to ask you “What makes you different?” (Which, rarely happens.).
You quitting your job and telling your family, friends, and coworkers what you’re doing will open up a complete field of gospel opportunity. This is how it will happen:
“Why are you quitting your job?”
YOUR RESPONSE: I realized I was living and spending most of my time on a world that was broken and headed for a dead end. All the things I’ve been working for is a false sense of security. Jesus said, if we seek first His Kingdom everything we will need will be provided for us. He’s offered me an eternal Kingdom that is not subject to the ways of this world. I’d rather live for that.
“But, how will you pay for —–”
YOUR RESPONSE: Jesus told us to trust in our Father in heaven for the things we need. I am trusting Him and I’m walking in faith that He will uphold His word.
Do you see that? You’re not just giving them the run of the mill “Jesus loves you” speech. Your actually, in real life, by your actions, preaching to them the gospel…which is “Repent, trade your ways for God’s ways because His ways are better. And guess what? The Kingdom, God’s way of doing things, is here right now, available to us on this earth if we turn to Him. That’s what I’m doing”
And then they are completely captivated by your boldness and craziness to actually BELIEVE what Jesus said.
You want an opportunity to share the gospel with your coworkers? Tell them you’re quitting to become a missionary….there’s your door. You won’t believe the way they will open up and give you ways to tell them about the love of Jesus!
And if that doesn’t work, maybe one of those street preachers will be able to share the gospel with them when they get gas before they go to work :-).
Your coworkers aren’t an excuse to not serve Jesus with your entire life. If you’ve done your job and shared the gospel with them in honesty and they haven’t turned to God, it’s time to dust off your shoes and go to the next harvest field.
-How Are You Going To Feed the poor without money?
The same way Jesus did. He and the disciple’s clearly didn’t have enough money to buy food for the 5000+ people. What did He do? He blessed what He had, and expected His Father in heaven, who is rich beyond anything this world can offer, to fulfill the need. We don’t need money people!!!! We need faith. To take what we do have to the world and trust that our Father will meet what we have in the natural and make it SUPERnatural.
Doesn’t that sound a lot more fun than the mundane, day in day out, 8-5?
[TAGS]quit my job,Jesus,ministry,street preaching,witnessing,evangelism,gospel,preacher,christian,christianity[/TAGS]


March 8th, 2007 at 11:00 am
Great post Paul.
I’d just like to share a testimony of when Sue and I moved from England to Scotland. We initially waited for God’s provision as a sign that we should move. But after a long time, we hadn’t got new jobs, and we hadn’t sold our house. But we KNEW that God had spoken, so, admittedly after much procrastinating, there was only thing for it.
I handed my notice in with no job to go to. I was working in a very highly paid, professional job with a lot of responsibility. My boss wanted to know why I was moving with no job to go to. I got to tell him about Jesus. My team also wanted to know, and ditto. I was fairly well known and respected within the entire organisation and soon everyone wanted to know and everyone seemed to be talking about God one way or another.
The very same day, I got a phone call from a potential employer in Scotland and before I had finished my notice with my English employer I had a new job to go to. My colleagues were blown away.
My wife Sue also had a professional job. I went to her leaving party and everybody was asking me about hearing from God, so He’s real then? and were we missionaries of some kind?
We’ve been in Scotland 9 years now and God has slowly helped us to be less interested in, and less dependent upon, our careers. I’ll spare you the details, but I think there’s a correlation between really coming into the things of the kingdom and coming out of the world’s mindset. It isn’t a matter of having to throw in your job, necessarily, just a matter of knowing where your treasure is and choosing what consumes you. We’ve followed every prompt He’s given us with excitement and expectation, even though we now earn way less than half what we used to.
Our lives are now so different, God is so tangibly close - and the journey isn’t over yet!
March 12th, 2007 at 7:02 am
Brother Paul The kingdom and are we a citizen?ambassitors,sojourners,bond servents and yes friends of the one who sits at the right hand of God the Father. in our kingdom there is a king who is Lord over all heaven and earth,having all power given to him by the Father. what joy to see your words that move or stop people in their tracks. god used words to creat, give law,show his love for his son. words make people think. thank you for your thoughts, keep up the good fight of faith. keep bringing the kingdom to the fore front.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
So, what you really did, was quit your job to work for yourself. I see that you are a website designer. So why don’t you say that you still have a career?
March 26th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
No, what I did was quit my full time job so that I can put more/most of my energy into fulfilling the call of Jesus.
Luckily, for me, I can do website design. This makes it easier for me because I am not confined to any particular location. I can travel, preach the gospel, and still work.
As I mention in the first few paragraphs here. The Lord put this thing in me where I didn’t care about how I earned money. That my identity didn’t come from my “job” or career any longer, I can sack groceries or work at a grocery store and be completely content because my real work is to proclaim the gospel. I’m not going to tie myself up in a career to the point where I have to choose between doing the work of God or my career advancement.
So, to answer your question. Website design is just a means of earning income so I don’t have to rely on other people for support. It’s not a career in the sense that I’m not trying to “build” my business, it’s just something I can do, like the apostle Paul was a tentmaker, I design websites.
My hope and future isn’t in website design, or any other job, it’s in Matthew 10:7,8.
I have to figure out how (or have the courage is more like it) to truly live in Matthew 6:33. I believe those passages in Matthew 6 are to free us up so we can fully serve God instead of relying on the world.
Does that clarify it a little more?
March 31st, 2007 at 3:10 am
Paul,
I sincerely respect you for taking Jesus’ words seriously. It’s great to see that there’s someone out there who hasn’t neutered His radical message to death. I’m considering participating in a journeyman program (2yrs of missionary work) and have been struggling with Jesus’ words in Luke 9:57-62. In it, a man approached Jesus and asked to be His disciple saying “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God”. I feel like commiting 2 years of full-time service and then leaving it for a normal life is “looking back”. If a man is rejected just because he wanted to say good-by to his family, what chance do I have? I want to take Jesus’ seriously without any compromise. I’ve heard plenty of American Christians tell me their opinions on this, but frankly, I don’t respect their opinions because if their view of Christianity was on target, the American Church wouldn’t be bleeding from a thousand places. However, I respect yours because you’ve left everything for His sake. So, what is your opinion on Luke 9:57-62? How do I apply it to my life?
March 31st, 2007 at 1:50 pm
My opinion (which is an opinion) is this: Why, if we have the true gospel of life, would we let it sit idle and build our own kingdoms (houses, cars, credit card debt, etc.) while the world around us is dying? That’s just ridiculous if you ask me. It’s the whole “don’t hide your light under the covers” basic Sunday school lesson.
God has invested His life and light into hundreds of thousands of people in America, but the world can’t see it because it’s being snuffed out by a cubicle in full time job.
This whole site is based off of Luke 14:25-35, and Luke 9:57-62 fits right in. Luke 14:25-35 talks about the cost of following Jesus. That we all have to analyze the cost before we get started. And for those that thing the gospel doesn’t cost anything is in for a shock.
What Luke 9:57-62 does for me is tell me that my number one call is to follow Jesus…over and above all things in this world, regardless of it’s name, Jesus has to take precedent. It may sound harsh but there really is no excuse not to serve Jesus with your entire life. The gospels show this over and over.
My advice to you would be to first get the gospels completely engrained into your heart. Consume the words of Jesus until you get a very complete picture of His teachings and how He did ministry and expected us to do it as well. There are many ways to do this, but the Lord specifically gave me this method: http://www.howtobecomeamissionary.com/how-to-study-the-bible
You seem like you’re pretty serious…I would suggest assimilating the gospels(explained in the above article) 10-20 a piece. Doing this will establish a foundation and understanding of Jesus that no man can take from you.
Everybody will try to stop you from living for God, don’t let them, just go forward diligently. God will put the right people in your life at the right time that will help you on your path.
Please don’t hesitate to ask any other questions, I’d love to help out if I can.
April 7th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Hey, Paul. Good stuff!
I agree with you almost all they way through. I have one concern, however. I don’t think EVERY Christian should be quitting their job (I’m not completely sure that’s what you’re saying though). Isn’t it possible to do a full time job with the same heart attitude that you do web design? Isn’t it possible to have the same zeal for the gospel at your job?
I’m just not convinced that the “quit your job” advice is the right advice for everyone. In fact, I think some people are called INTO the marketplace to save it.
Don’t think this is about me not wanting to quit my job… I’m actually doing just that in June to go into full time ministry.
I posted an mp3 of a testimony from Chuck Ripka on my blog today (I’ve mentioned him before). You should give it a listen. It will clarify my position a little…
Chuck Ripka
April 7th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Ben,
I would say it like this, I don’t think every Christian should quit their job right now. I believe every Christian is on their own walk and process. However, where my point comes in is that I don’t believe a Christian’s destiny lies in working 40-50 hours a week under the world system. Working for things that perish ( http://www.howtobecomeamissionary.com/labor-not-for-the-things-that-perish/ ).
I believe that every Christian, at some point in his/her life will have to make a decision to pick up the full call to follow after Jesus (Luke 14:25-35). Not every Christian is at that point yet, but it’s not because Jesus isn’t trying to lead them towards it. Does that make sense? I’m concerned that some Christians don’t feel important enough that Jesus wants them as a worker for His Kingdom.
Somewhere in Matthew 6:19-34 is our freedom to fully serve the Lord without the fear and manipulation of money. I believe that’s where He wants us to live.
Believe me, if I didn’t have website design, I would be sacking groceries or something because I’m not living fully in the truths of Matthew 6. I’m in the process. The difference is this, I’m not sacking groceries in hopes of one day becomming a manager, or I’m not working at this corporate position in one day hoping to get that great office with a window. My main mission, passion and drive is for the Kingdom of God, not my career or the things of this world. I’m not working for the big screen TV, that new car, or house…I’m working for the Kingdom, period. That’s part of what the parable in Luke 16:1-13 has to do with I believe.
Here’s something interesting the Lord showed me. When I’m out in the streets preaching the gospel and I’m at a gas station, one man may be living in the slums and the guy next to him may be living in the mansion, but they both hear the same gospel. I’ll never be able to witness to the rich man in the mansion at his office but they all need gas :-).
Here’s a test for your heart to know whether you’re “called” to work at that fulltime job…would you do it for free? That question will tell you whether you’re serving God or money. If you feel God is calling you to work at a full time job, nothing should be in the way, it would be no different than someone called to Africa. Would you work part-time somewhere else so that you could work fulltime at a job that doesn’t pay?
Thanks Ben, (I’ll check out that Chuck Ripka mp3)
Paul
April 11th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
I see your point. Certainly, the majority of people out there are living for their career (though most would never admit to it). I know I’ve fallen into that pit a few times myself! It’s every Pastor’s frustration dealing with having to constantly compete against career’s for people’s time.
I think we both have the same heart in the matter. The place where we will have to agree to disagree is over whether or not a Christian can live their Christian life in the fullness of their calling while working a 40hr/week job. I guess really it comes down to obedience to the call of God. Whatever you are called to do, do it fully and without hesitation.
Thanks for the thought provoking article.
April 12th, 2007 at 2:42 am
“Whatever you are called to do, do it fully and without hesitation.”
That’s exactly right. That’s where we rest, period.
Listen, I’m young, I’m inexperienced and I’m zealous…It’s a triple threat. I can’t honestly say that nobody (sorry for the double negative) can fully follow Jesus while working a fulltime job. Every person has to fulfill their measure of faith they’ve been given and that they’re operating out of at that particular time. I’m not trying to condemn the humble servant in the workplace…I’m trying to rattle the cage of the slumbering servants of the Kingdom. It’s no great revelation that there are destinies (is that spelled right?) of nations in the heart of men and women who are squandering the call and giftings of God in their life…that’s who I’m after.
I don’t want to sound so stubborn or arrogant…this is honestly the way I received the revelation. I was a slumbering servant and I found a way out and I just want to show others a route I found.
Thanks Ben,
Paul
April 19th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Yep, we’re on the same page. And I fully agree: much of the church is asleep. Living life with the cruise control on never stopping to consider that we left Jesus at the last turn.
Don’t lose your zeal either! God may temper us with wisdom, but He never wants to kill our zeal! I come to this blog because each time I read you, I catch a little of what you’ve got. That’s a highly valuable thing.
April 28th, 2007 at 4:54 am
My husband and I have three boys(early teens) I spent ten years at home with them while my husband worked very hard to provide a secure life for us. Two years ago we both started a buisness, he has been working 50hrs outside the home, and apx. 20 more in his shop here. Last week he quit his “other” job to be self employed. I (two years ago) bought a 5 chair salon, with a rather large lease payment on top of the purchase, and have been trying to be a light in my workplace. With all the work that we’ve been doing I’ve felt like I’ve let my children down by not being there for them. With my husband at home, that will now change. As I was reading responses to your article, one thing stood out to me. You said “would you do your job for free?” My answer is yes. I love what I do and I struggle with charging people, I almost never charge them what the true price is, and whem I do I feel guilty and give them product to make up for it. I am there to talk about Jesus and how he’s changed my life, and to minister to the people I employ. BUT! My contract is up in August and I don’t feel like renewing it. Another thing you said is sometimes you have to knock the dust off your feet and move on. I can’t seem to find help I have 3 employees, but my chairs are rarely full, and they don’t want to more hours and I pray and put adds in the paper and no one responds. I end up covering all the hours, and I am physically worn out, and now it is affecting me spiritually, I want to fire one of the girls, she’s giving me so many problems, and I feel like if things keep going the way they are, all the seeds that have been planted will be distroyed. The Lord knows that if he sends my help I’ll know that it’s from Him and I will sign. A part of me wants to be a workplace that takes a stand for Jesus, and the other part thinks it’s not Gods plan to continue.
I feel like I’m writing too much but if your going to pray for me you have to know what to pray for, so I’ll continue.
You see my husband and I, since Jesus changed us,7 years ago now, we love to tithe and give. I believe it is a gift. And he has blessed us to be a blessing, and we love it. A year ago January, we went to Africa on a missions trip, fell in love with missions, we are now helping to support a labratory,(hospital clinic) and when that is done we would like to introduce our boys to missions. Last month my husband went to Cambodia, and taught about Jesus and salvation to about 3000 students. Only 2% of the population is Christian, the majority of the people you meet have never even heard of the name Jesus. There is so much work to be done there, they need bible teachers, a two week trip isn’t enough, they need someone to be there and teach and encourage them to grow and stand. The warfare is nothing like we’ve ever known here in America. Outside every public building there are “spirit houses” where they bring offerings to the spirits. So you can imagine how open they are to the spiritual relm, and I’m not refering to the Holy Spirit.
Well we’ve had some friends talking about letting everything go and moving. My husband and I would both love to do it also. (My children are for it too.) We would be so Jealous! and jealous isn’t something that we ought to be. So the question has been asked, Why not go? It’s in all of our hearts, My husband has a strong gift of discernment, and I have a gift of teaching, I teach an adult Sunday school class, and have a home group of over 50 people in my home, my husband teaches the teens. I can see that God has been preparing us, soooooo How do you know what Gods plan is, don’t tell me pray, cause we’ve been. I think the reason I can’t see the answers, is because I’m standing too close to the questions, so here’s the information, give me some brotherly counsil. Oh, and if your wondering how my pastor feels in all this, he said we’re ready to go.
I know I’ve written a “book” but thank you for your time.
Jilleen
May 5th, 2007 at 6:49 am
Jilleen,
Thank you so much for spending the time to share your story. It’s a pleasure to read about how God is moving in other people’s lives. I apologize for not writing sooner but things have been very very busy for me lately (on all fronts) and it’s been difficult to find some time…so, now I’ve finally found it. Who would’ve guessed it was at 1:20am?? Go figure.
Anyway Jilleen. I have a desire to give you advice based off of my own understanding, but I feel God has really slowed me down and stopped me before I replied. So I asked the Lord to give me a word for you, or about you, whatever you want to call it. A lot of times He gives me pictures or images that help me understand what He wants to share with people. I try not to analyze them too much or try to figure it out, I try to let the Lord speak as He wants. So, you can take this in anyway you want to. Take it, leave it, it’s your call.
When I asked the Lord to give me something for you, He showed me a curling iron. And then I saw this woman using a curling iron on another womans hair. She curled the hair, and then she would brush the curls a bit to soften the look and make it look more acceptable.
I ask the Lord, “What is this supposed to mean for her?”
Hair retains shape. It can be manipulated into taking a certain form. A curling iron is meant to take straight hair and shape it in curls. It does this by applying intense heat for a short period of time to force the hair to curl.
Our souls retain shape. Our soul (mind - thought life, will, emotions) can be manipulated into taking whatever form desired.
The Lord has a baptism of fire that forever manipulates us into a shape that will retain form. The form of a son of God. Once we encounter and submit ourselves to the intense heat for a short period of time we will be forever shaped to that form.
I feel the Lord wants to put an iron to your soul/life. He wants to wrap you around this iron and hold you there for a short period of time so that you will retain the shape of His son. After this process He will brush you out to soften you and make you more formable.
I see it as a 3 phase process. 1st phase is being as you are now. 2nd phase asking for the baptism of fire from the Lord to form you more into the image of the son. 3rd phase is a “brushing out” that will soften everything up from the 2nd phase.
This may be completely ridiculous to you. But it’s what I feel I should tell you.
I understand that you don’t want another person to tell you to pray. But that’s the only place where you’ll receive real God answers. Do you hear God speak to you? Do you know the language of His Spirit? If He was a real live human being in your life, what would the relationship look like?
Your answer is in the presence of God. That’s where you must go to find everything you need. Don’t enter into His presence for something that is tomorrow, or in the future. Enter into His presence for the very moment you’re in. Don’t worry about tomorrow because tomorrow isn’t guaranteed to you. Simply enter His presence for NOW and everything you need for right now will be there.
If you have difficulty or haven’t had “training” in hearing God’s voice, I would suggest you listen to some messages of Gary Carpenter’s (http://www.garycarpenter.org/WalkingInMaturity.html). There is a good message there called “Good idea or God idea?” That will really speak into your situation I believe. But all those messages are incredible revelations.
Also, I have written a revelation on the subject that the Lord gave to me that might help you as well “Hearing The Voice of God” http://www.howtobecomeamissionary.com/hearing-the-voice-of-god/
I’m sorry I can’t answer your questions more fully. God is interested in your heart and your relationship with Him more than He is in your service for Him. Enter into His presence and ask Him for this baptism of fire and you will get it.
Be blessed,
Paul Ferree
October 18th, 2007 at 5:20 am
I have been cutting my living costs for a while.
Here’s some things I’ve done:
1. Sold an expensive car, bought a cheapie. It also uses less fuel.
2. No TV. Although that doesn’t cost money.
3. No Internet (I can use basic Internet at work and at friends places).
4. Buy cheaper clothes and only buy the basic. Surprisingly, I still get complimented on my dress sense by guys and girls alike.
5. I’ve stopped collecting CDs and DVDs. I have sold all of my collection except some Christian stuff (praise/worship songs).
6. I am selling my expensive drum kit and buying a cheap acoustic guitar. I don’t recommend this if God is calling you to play drums for your Church. However, when I am in the jungles of Burma, an expensive studio drum kit is not useful.
7. Moved out of an expensive apartment into cheap on-base military accomodation.
8. Paying off my personal loan as quickly as possible (now down to $3k, from about $25k 2 years ago).
9. Eating cheap nutritious food.
10. Sold lots of other things I own.
I am leaving my job soon to do overseas missions full time. When I get back, I will probably look at doing school teaching and tutoring part time to earn money. However, I would have no problem selling burgers at a fast food place. That’s quite a change from my cutting edge, corporate, government, high salary career. I just don’t want my job to consume my life and distract me from the work Jesus has set for me.
October 20th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Luke,
Man! That’s awesome, and encouraging!! I can’t wait to hear more updates.
Thanks for listing the things you’re doing, it will help us check our own lives for areas we can improve on!
Paul