Are you living paycheck to paycheck based on poor income producing choices?
For many of us the job situation we are in is a result of choices made in the near and distant past. This scenario combined with poor spending choices can often result in a double whammy!!
Are you living a life beyond your means just to feel good about yourself or to impress your friends or business associates?
Are you playing the victim and saying you deserve whatever it is you want with no regard to the consequences on your financial well being and/or your family and/or businesses/people you will not be able to payback?
WAKE UP, GET A GRIP, GROW UP, and BE A RESPONSIBLE ADULT!!! Stop trying to keep up with your friends and the people who ‘like you.’ Stop whining about not having a VP title, a corner office, a fancy car, a big house full of furniture, going on vacations, or whatever else you feel/the world says defines success (Phil 4:10-12)! Getting off the hamster wheel is a choice you have to make, but checking your social media ego/pride at the door and dealing with the hand dealt to you is the first step. Don’t be surprised of the consequences if you continue to choose the self-focused path of unrealistic expectations leading to more pain, setbacks, and suffering.
Some of you are out of work by no actions of your own (laid off, illness, etc.) Look forward with a positive perspective and hope in Jesus!! Not blaming others or having a pity party!!! Seek God’s guidance for wisdom and discernment (James 1:5; Ps 111:10; Prov 2:6).
To be clear, this isn’t quitters message…it is just the opposite. You will have hope by lifting your burdens up to Jesus, seeking peace and contentment via the Holy Spirit, trusting God to lead you through the storm, and committing to making the right choices going forward relative to personal finance management (live within your means) and being a productive member of society (Col 3:23). Don’t simply give up saying life isn’t fair, the deck is stacked against me, or nobody cares about me.
If you are up against the wall or down and out, please consider doing the following:
1. Pray first – seek peace and direction from God (1 Thes 5:16-18)
a. Wake up every day thanking God for his blessing, mercy and grace
2. Reassess your job skills and gifts relative to the current marketplace
3. Make connections with anyone who might assist you in securing work
4. Don’t sit around waiting for the perfect job to fall into your lap (ego check)
a. In the near-term accept a position even if for menial work in order to generate income, establish/maintain a daily routine, and demonstrate to your next employer that have you have initiative and humility.
b. If the temporary job is not demanding then spend off hours volunteering in your community/church
5. Trust that God has a plan for your career, so keep searching for a better position and be patient (extremely difficult and humbling but God will provide for your needs)
Throughout my life of ups and downs I have been grounded in a solid work ethic passed down to my parents and grandparents. Choices they made had a positive impact on me (and my kids). I then had to make my own choices with resulting good and not so good consequences. My family and I have truly been blessed, but it has been a rocky road at times. We believe the blessings result from seeking to live in God’s will and being content with our position in life. We all have gifts and talents we can choose to utilize, but if you didn’t have this type of upbringing you can’t simply play the blame card for other peoples choices that have impacted your life. Make the choice to seek God’s will for you, be content where you are, and move forward with hope not blaming others.