The company that I work for is shutting its doors. Having been employed there for nearly seven years, I am quite comfortable with my job, and the thought of having to find another one is very disheartening. Being 55 years old doesn't help my prospects as a potential candidate for employment elsewhere.
Although my spouse works nearly full-time as a caregiver, the loss of my income would present difficulties that would ultimately end up in catastrophe, should I not find employment quickly. The thought of not having a primary source of income steadily coming in is very disturbing.
Upon first hearing of the shutdown, there was a lot of anger and cursing from my co-workers. Most had given their best efforts for the company, and now-a “pink slip”. Even after the mandatory10 percent paycut last year that was supposedly needed “to keep the company alive”, many still went beyond what was needed to see the company get ahead, sacrificing family time and personal vacations and working longer hours.
Needless to say, I got carried away with all the “sour grapes” and bitterness that was oozing from everyone who was breathing, and found myself focusing on the injustice and forebodings as much as anyone else.
A few decades ago, I was living in a Christian commune with about a hundred other folk. It was an offshoot of the Jesus People movement that struck California in the seventies, my being on the tail end of it. I remember much of what the founder and pastor of that group spoke, since it was “coffee-house” preaching, not doctrinal blather, and it entered into my thirsty spirit readily. There is one story in particular that remains firmly in my mind to this day.
The property that was leased to the commune was an abandoned lighthouse on the northern coast of California, not used for decades. After settling in and making use of what livable space there was, a garden was started. When that was done, the idea of restarting the derelict chicken coop was floated, so there would be eggs and meat at low cost. Good idea, but nobody was interested in going in there and cleaning out piles of droppings and tons of insects and spiders to make it ready. Since it was based upon who was willing, and not on anyone demanding it, it looked like it wasn't going to happen.
Finally, a couple of brothers determined that the “sisters”, whose idea it was, were important enough to respond to, and off they went for the next week or so, making ready this filthy, bug infested, stench- filled chicken coop for them to raise their chickens in. They succeeded, and the whole community benefited much through their willingness to endure the hardship involved.
These two men later became “church-planters” in other parts of the world, and leaders in the groups they were involved with, becoming strong in the faith and useful in service to the Body.
All that to say this, that faithfulness before the Lord does not go unnoticed by men.There is a reward for those who humbly submit themselves for others needs.
A few days ago, after finding that story occupying my thoughts during this period of chaos, my boss approached me and assured me that, while the company would shut down as planned, a new owner would be taking over, and only those who were deemed useful and needed for the reopened facility would be brought back to work the next day, and that I would be one of them. He even offered to phone my distressed wife, to assure her as well of me retaining my job. And though I do not know what the terms of employment will be, the continuation of wages is there. For now, anyway.
And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]?
And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?Lk 16:9-12 (KJV)
Doing all as unto the Lord has been a refuge and a protection for me, whether I am being assualted by the Adversary, my co-worker's venomous remarks, or an unjust boss. Even in my own soul, where I should be delighting in God, there are episodes of tantrums and rebellion that cause me to fail to walk in faithfulness, and focusing on the small stuff.
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Phl 2:4 (KJV)
I know fully why I am listed as one of those needed ones for the new owner to retain. It is my attitude of recognizing Who it is I am truly working for, the Lord Christ Jesus. And all the characteristics that flow out of that realization; the punctuality, accountability, and respect for authority, are seen and admired by all men everywhere, whether they attribute it to God or not. It is the proof to me that He is working in my life to conform me to His Son's image for that future time when I, along with the rest of His Body, carry on the ministry of reconciling the universe to the Father of All.
When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Col 3:4
And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, Eph 3:9,10
Although my spouse works nearly full-time as a caregiver, the loss of my income would present difficulties that would ultimately end up in catastrophe, should I not find employment quickly. The thought of not having a primary source of income steadily coming in is very disturbing.
Upon first hearing of the shutdown, there was a lot of anger and cursing from my co-workers. Most had given their best efforts for the company, and now-a “pink slip”. Even after the mandatory10 percent paycut last year that was supposedly needed “to keep the company alive”, many still went beyond what was needed to see the company get ahead, sacrificing family time and personal vacations and working longer hours.
Needless to say, I got carried away with all the “sour grapes” and bitterness that was oozing from everyone who was breathing, and found myself focusing on the injustice and forebodings as much as anyone else.
A few decades ago, I was living in a Christian commune with about a hundred other folk. It was an offshoot of the Jesus People movement that struck California in the seventies, my being on the tail end of it. I remember much of what the founder and pastor of that group spoke, since it was “coffee-house” preaching, not doctrinal blather, and it entered into my thirsty spirit readily. There is one story in particular that remains firmly in my mind to this day.
The property that was leased to the commune was an abandoned lighthouse on the northern coast of California, not used for decades. After settling in and making use of what livable space there was, a garden was started. When that was done, the idea of restarting the derelict chicken coop was floated, so there would be eggs and meat at low cost. Good idea, but nobody was interested in going in there and cleaning out piles of droppings and tons of insects and spiders to make it ready. Since it was based upon who was willing, and not on anyone demanding it, it looked like it wasn't going to happen.
Finally, a couple of brothers determined that the “sisters”, whose idea it was, were important enough to respond to, and off they went for the next week or so, making ready this filthy, bug infested, stench- filled chicken coop for them to raise their chickens in. They succeeded, and the whole community benefited much through their willingness to endure the hardship involved.
These two men later became “church-planters” in other parts of the world, and leaders in the groups they were involved with, becoming strong in the faith and useful in service to the Body.
All that to say this, that faithfulness before the Lord does not go unnoticed by men.There is a reward for those who humbly submit themselves for others needs.
A few days ago, after finding that story occupying my thoughts during this period of chaos, my boss approached me and assured me that, while the company would shut down as planned, a new owner would be taking over, and only those who were deemed useful and needed for the reopened facility would be brought back to work the next day, and that I would be one of them. He even offered to phone my distressed wife, to assure her as well of me retaining my job. And though I do not know what the terms of employment will be, the continuation of wages is there. For now, anyway.
And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]?
And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?Lk 16:9-12 (KJV)
Doing all as unto the Lord has been a refuge and a protection for me, whether I am being assualted by the Adversary, my co-worker's venomous remarks, or an unjust boss. Even in my own soul, where I should be delighting in God, there are episodes of tantrums and rebellion that cause me to fail to walk in faithfulness, and focusing on the small stuff.
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Phl 2:4 (KJV)
I know fully why I am listed as one of those needed ones for the new owner to retain. It is my attitude of recognizing Who it is I am truly working for, the Lord Christ Jesus. And all the characteristics that flow out of that realization; the punctuality, accountability, and respect for authority, are seen and admired by all men everywhere, whether they attribute it to God or not. It is the proof to me that He is working in my life to conform me to His Son's image for that future time when I, along with the rest of His Body, carry on the ministry of reconciling the universe to the Father of All.
When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Col 3:4
And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, Eph 3:9,10
