Believe it or not these 12hundred words have been highly condensed (so at the most a 10minute read).
I feel the need to state that below is simply me expressing some thoughts about work, time and money, and my hope is that it will help the reader gain a better understanding of where I am coming from and what I value.
I have experienced extreme hospitality so many times while in a forgin land.
It is common, Women and men, young and old, taking their personal time to walk you to the correct bus or train stop. Not just quickly shrugging you off and saying “that way” but escorting you.
And I am thinking, don’t these people have somewhere to be? Won’t their boss care if they are late? Or if they are doing an errand, don’t they have a limits because they only have but so much time due to all of the things they are involved in with their life?!?!
Well that is me viewing the situation from my American lenses. These people, clearly have different values as a whole.
Hospitality is something we, as Americans should practice. And as Christ followers, even more so. Because there are at least 20 old and new testament passages that mention it. Here are a few:
Contribute to the need of the saints and SEEK to show hospitality. Romans 12:13
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers…. Hebrews 13:2
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor AS yourslef. Galations 5:14
Many Single Americans fill their time working, shopping, eating and doing it all over again. (including myself) The people who are working 40 or more hours per week out of necessity are also likely in debt.
Westerners, as a whole, choose a monotonous and grinding lifestyle because we are constantly acquiring more stuff for our happiness and living in more luxury or more convenience than we actually should be. Saturated in consumerism and materialism. Its what is pushed on us, and its the way things are.
This is why for most of my little working life I have worked under 30 hours a week. Because I really value time.
To some this may seem like a lazy philosophy. Working 20 or 30hours and living a “lower” lifestyle.
But it’s really about what I am spending my time on.
What one spends thier time on is literally equated with mental, physical and spiritual health.
And freeing up more time/space in life provides a way to SERVE others. (If you WILL it.)
It’s hard to find people who diligently work at a skill or serve others well with their “off time.”
Most people use their time outside of work to entertain themselves and indulge. (me included.)
BUT I love to be open to being available to others. But if I am struggling/tired from working to buy things I don’t need or pay unnecessary bills, how can I love others AS myself. That is not even loving myself. Its being caught in an un-Godly cycle because my attention is not set on loving/serving God and loving His children.
I am not saying that working for someone else is THE problem, because even if you have all the money and free time, its still easy to be self-focused. My wonder is why we feel the need to work (for money) so much?
Over the years I have surely spent time unwisely, but I have also, because of my ideas about work have had A LOT MORE TIME THAN MOST and been able to: volunteer in the Chalreston greenhouse, work at 5 urban farms, serve at a homeless shelter, giving people in need rides and prayer when I see them (because im not rushing everywhere), making food for people at house churches and gatherings, serving in various food organizations and volunteering with a human trafficking organization. Oh yeah, and then I had the privilege to serve people in many nations in their own country last year. WOW.
All of the above is WORK.
It’s not work for money,
but it’s getting closer to what He has called us to do.
Be his hands and feet. (Titus 3:14 & 1Corinthians 12:27)
The definition of work is To be engaged in physical or mental activity in order to achieve a purpose or result.
And when I decided to follow the way of Jesus and drew closer to Him, my desire for serving, sharing and community grew.
God cares about lifestyle. He cares about stewardship.
I personally, highly value a tapered down lifestyle. (The God of the universe already said don’t worry about food and clothes…. or even your life (Matthew 6), and He already has called you and me to know and do His will (Not everyone who says to me “Lord Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in Heaven). Do we trust what says? Or are we more comfortable staying worried about jobs/money.
Obviously, you don’t have to give your time at a shelter or official organization Or drop out of modern American life and live in the hills. But I know being fruitful and growing definitely involves a perspective shift and stepping out of your comfort zone at times. It could mean spending more time with the people directly around you. Your family, friends, community. Giving to people who ask of you (Luke 6:30-32) Creating something beneficial for those around you. One who is connected to the Vine can serve in any place or circumstance (John 15).
I am so sure that if I took less time to work for a company/retailer, I could spend more time in Intimacy with God, Community and living out Missionally. Even learning new skills to bless people with. Building something of meaning, not something that rot and dust destroys and thives brake in and steal.
In the verse in 2nd Timothy 3:10 talking about how if a man does not work he should not eat, it is referring to lazy people who do not do for themselves and are not WILLING to work for their own.
There is not a noble standard ammount of time God said we would have to toil.
Sometimes there are seasons in life that call for you to push and give a lot of time to the man. But that life is not sustainable for growth. Unless your only goal is to climb the ladder in the company.
Growing food and cooking for many people is work. You can work on so many things and cut the “tool” we call money out of the equation. Changing your neighbours oil is work, volunteering is work. You can make the kingdom work your job. If we want be successful we are going have to go after it with boldness like it’s a job. Even if we dont immediately see the fruit.
I have lived the past 13 years of my life, not in the absence of money, but mostly doing things to bypass the tool itself and get directly to the source of what I need or what I want to build on.
To sum it all up, all I really need is more of is Jesus, and I got Him. And when I continue to reach for Him and learn from Him, and follow Him and Know Him, all the perrifreal things will be taken care of. (there is matthew 6 again)
So, I am not going to let others opinions about money and lifestyle hinder what I am supposed to do. Because NOW there is no condemnation for those who are in Chirst (and walking by the spirit). And… one of my favorite scriptures concerning WORK…. Each person must continue to work out their salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).
If I am to seek Him with all respect and seriousness I will also be provided with more wisdom about how to conduct my time. Because the Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
