A friend who has been in the workforce a few decades was having a hard time finding a job. He ended up accepting a minimum wage job to get by, and fretted, “I’ve never worked for $7.90 an hour in my life!”
I could understand his frustration, but looking for a higher view, I responded, “Don’t see yourself as working for $7.90 an hour. See yourself as working for God!”
Working for God and working for $7.90 an hour are two opposite ways of approaching work.
Working for $7.90 an hour when one is accustomed to more, can feel limiting, depressing, even impoverishing. But working for God keeps thought open to progressive possibilities. It sees way beyond the $7.90 an hour to great potential yet to be tapped.
It doesn’t look down and see hopelessness. It looks up and sees opportunity and possibility for advancement.
One is s selfish woe-me attitude. The other is a “With God, all things are possible,” perspective that is patient while the full demonstration of profitable employment is made.
A worker is never limited by the wage they earn. They are prospered by the expanded spiritual view they entertain.
Work for God, not for a wage, and be ready to advance.
I suggest that Evan volunteer to exchange places with the individual in this article to walk in his shoes, experiences and background so as to better the explanation of his lofty approach to this person’s plight.
HI Bill,
I understand where you are coming from, but hope to lift thought a bit higher than feeling limited by a modest wage. I have walked in those shoes. I’ve worked for far less than minimum wage when getting my own business going, and for a few years. But I didn’t feel poor. I felt rich because I had love in my heart and gratitude for all the good I could see at the time, which was great.
Evan,
Thanks for replying to my post. I enjoy your articles and SpiritView and find it uplifting and spot on most of the time, just not this time. Thanks for your explanations and clarifications in your post that helped me understand your viewpoint better.
bill walton
Thank you for the reminder, Evan. I have seen many demonstrations of God’s goodness and supply when my family and I have focused on serving God. Thinking that our provisions come only through our employer is very limiting. When we work at any task with humility, joy, patience and diligence, we do see the love of God for us expressed in practical ways. And not just more income, but promotions and/or new ways to use and develop our talents arise. It’s fun to watch God work!
To Bill Walton – i think Evan’s point is that once the individual focuses joyfully on doing God’s work, and looking for ways to express God in his work, instead of seeing himself as simply “working for $7.90” an hour, limits will fall away and he will find lots of practical opportunities that meet his needs for supply. And I’m willing to bet that Evan HAS walked in his shoes – I’m also willing to bet that most practitioners when they first started out had to take a huge leap of faith and trust, not having a base income to rely on, but relying on God and doing God’s work. This post isn’t suggesting we limit ourselves and be happy with a deficit, but that we turn to God and experience abundance.
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I called a practitioner for help once and after relaying my problem to him he replied:
“But what are you holding in thought…that’s what is most important!”
No matter what situation we find ourselves in (in a fiery furnace, a lion’s den, nailed to a cross, etc.), it’s critical that we keep holding the truth in our thought. That is my take away from today’s blog and the associated comments.
If you find yourself having to work for minimum wage, which is the better approach…1) to do as Evan suggests in this blog and keep holding the truth in your thought, or 2) wallow in your misery? Which approach do you think might result in the situation becoming better? Do you think the miserable employee would be looked upon by his employer as someone deserving of a raise or promotion? Or would the employee who is cheerfully “working for God” be more likely to be chosen for those benefits?
Thanks Evan for this wonderful reminder to always keep the truth in our thought!
I think the purpose of this blog is to remind us not to focus on limitation and expect only to ‘get by’. That’s what the lame man did at the temple, he expected only “an alms” but was blown out of the water by the Christ (through Peter and John). (Acts 3 1-7)
I was born with Cearebral Palsy and came into C/S at the age of 26. At that time, perceive of any one having a handicap wasn’t fit to work. Getting employment was to me a gift from God and had nothing to do with an employer hiring me. Even the first C/S Practitioner reminded me of that; never think for a moment that a human gave me a job, God did. My career was in Photography and I enjoyed every moment of it.
Many years ago, I did temp work after finding myself as a single parent. I was working in the basement of a large soft-drink company typing (yes, that long ago!!) purchase orders. There were no windows, the work was boring and very low paid. After the first day, I was miserable and called a family member who asked if I was expressing gratitude. What a thought! No, I hadn’t been grateful, but rather complaining, and I finally awakened to the thought that “gratitude is riches.” My prayer and thought changed that night. After two days, the HR department contacted me and asked if I’d be able to fill in for an executive secretary who was going on maternity leave. I went from the basement to the top floor in those two days after realizing what I needed to learn. The remainder of my corporate career, until retirement, continued to be an “elevator” ride from clerk to management as I learned gratitude was the important ingredient. Thank you Evan for these valuable messages!!! I’m grateful.
This is an inspiring story. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much Evan for the reminder and to all the commentators including bill walton’s, it is an opportunity to keep reflecting God’s love. I want to share here and not to boast that I used to earn $17.50 an hour but now I am earning $0.00 everyday because I can only do household chores in a wheelchair. With this experience it really is strengthening me to trust God as the source of supply, satisfaction and gratitude. This time I have more time communing with God-learning my true selfhood and relationship with Him. There’s a lot of unChristlike attitudes that have been transformed and my growing understanding of God’s goodness and love is meeting all my needs and that makes me even richer than $17.50 per hour.
Thank you Evan, The ideas you shared certainly proved true in my experience. Some years ago, our family needed additional income and it was necessary for me to go back to work. There was a recession and few jobs available. One day an acquaintance called me and offered me a job in a new specialty cake shop that was opening. I thanked her, but let her know that I had a college degree and was hoping to find a job in my chosen field. She called me several times, and I finally decided this was an answer to prayer. I took the job, and, yes, it was minimum wage, but it was one of the most fun jobs I ever had. I met wonderful people and can honestly say I loved the job. I worked at the cake shop for two years. One day, one of the owner’s of the shop offered me a job as a receptionist in an insurance agency they also owned. The job was full time and included benefits. I gratefully took the job which eventually led to management opportunities. During my career with the agency, it sold three times, and I ended up working for a large national corporation that offered many opportunities and benefits. I have always been grateful that I listened for God’s direction and was willing to humbly accept the minimum wage job offer, as it led to wonderful possibilities.
Thank you for this timely reminder Evan. And thanks to all of the inspirational responses. So many good points brought out…………points I will take with me to my interview tomorrow. It is so important to recognize that with God, all things ARE possible. We are all employed by God and I know that gratitude, humility, and as one responder mentioned………”holding the truth in our thought” is the key to demonstrating the truth about employment or any other challenge we might be facing. One thought I have been working with over the last 8 months is…….what can I give back (to a potential employer), not what can they give me. What can I add to their experience. Selflessness rather than selfish motives is key to demonstration. Supply and abundance are there and come on a daily basis since God is supplying his ideas to us day by day. I just need to listen, follow and be grateful. Thanks again Evan.
Thank you all for the flood of inspiration. Does anyone remember Neighborhood Youth Corp?
That job was so rich with the target population, in Michigan, preparing and finding jobs for 16-20 year olds.
I was the “shared office manager” with Job Club, Weatherization and NYC counselors, NOT a counselor. We were under the umbrella of the local Community Action Agency, in Michigan, surrounded by automobile manufacturers.
Tough economy, tough clients, tough job skills required for employment. Loving to Love, I was hit by accusations of discrimination, then led to take on a new job title, and a salary raise to over $8.00 an hour. After all the growth, small steps to learn to love every one of God’s ideas, and to reach out, unselfishly, I learned to Love myself, and I left the job, to move west alone, in a van.
As the light of being grateful for all the love unfolded, small jobs, but lovely opportunities unfolded, over and over again.
Nothing minimum about having no wages at all, but letting the Divine guide my employment.
Thank you all for the gratitude.
This was such a great article.The timming could not be more perfect .I have be unemployed for a while and no one has called me .I know that god is my employer and he will go job hunting with me in the morning.
Thanks for this discussion! I did well in work because of focusing on always doing the best I could at whatever I was doing – expressing God’s gifts, no matter the job! This led me to do a wide variety of things, especially when I was between full-time positions. I have not worked in a number of years due to health issues, but keep praying and working to find ways to express God and help others in any way I can. I am reminded of the Bible story of the servants given the talents, needing to use them – and the one about not keeping your light under a basket. I am still hoping to work in my church’s Reading Room, either as a volunteer or as the librarian, but for now I am continuing to pray daily, and appreciate the opportunities I have to help others, express God, and spend extra time in spiritual study.
That said, I am still for increasing the minimum wage.