...just to explain myself, if I feel as though I have a "calling", i.e., something i should be doing with my life that has been ordained by the Big Guy himself. So the question is... what if I make less money doing it?
I have a wife and kids, so this is a bigger question than just me alone.
Do I tell God, "Hey, wait 'till I've saved some cash, buddy!" or do I go after it and depend on God to see my family through?
And furthermore, what if my wife divorces me if I pursue this Divine Direction?
And if she does divorce me, is that a sign from God that I went down the wrong path?
Or am I fooling myself alltogether... I mean, I could just stay in my carreer - and make a good living - and say "forget you, world!", and do just fine on my own....
Hmmmmm....... It is a puzzlement!
What do you think?
2006-06-20 08:03:09 · 22 answers · asked by Jason D 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Okay, everybody... sloooown down (you got two pedals, there). This is hypothetical. I wanted to get an idea of how many people would give up there lifestyle to answer Gods call.
I gotta say, I'm pretty surprised...
2006-06-20 09:43:36 · update #1
Well if you're looking to become a priest it might get really complicated. Plus if you were to go to a convent it would get even more confusing.
Catholic priests are not supposed to have a wife and children (no Christian is supposed to divorce, if the priest knows a person has been divorced he can not give them Communion). As for just a part of the basic clergy like an usher or a minister I'm not so sure on the rules but if you're looking to be a priest or have some position like it in the church it's probably not going to happen if you're Catholic.
As for what you should actually do, I'd say continue on with your basic life with your wife and kids. You can volenteer for lots of stuff at your church since there should be a lot of things going on (this is just from thoughts of my own church) and volenteers are always welcome. So basically I think you can fulfill this "calling" simply by keeping your basic life and just volenteering. I know you're sitting there saying "Wait, this looks too simple." Well in theory it's enough since service to God is a service that He will never forget no matter how much that service is.
2006-06-20 08:12:05 · answer #1 · answered by I want my *old* MTV 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are truly a Christian and you honestly believe that God has called you to do something, then money is not an issue. If this leaves you poor and destitute, your wife and kids leave you and you end up living in a tiny rented apartment so be it.
God allowed Satan to torture Job. God allowed his own son Jesus to be flogged to near death and then be nailed to a wooden cross until he died horribly. So God is unlikely to give a crap if you have to be poor for a while, or even forever. In fact the Bible clearly says that poor people are more likely to end up in Heaven.
So at the end of the day you have to decide if you want to ignore God and enjoy time here on Earth, or do what God wants you to do and maybe your life won't be quite so comfortable. It's all a matter of if you trust and believe in God. If you don't then you may as well stop wasting your time going to church and do whatever the heck you like.
2006-06-20 15:21:19 · answer #2 · answered by ZCT 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I will answer your question in the order of importance of each area according to the Bible.
1. If your wife divorces you, shame on her but if your wife threatens divorce on you, the Bible says, "If you cannot rule your own house how can you take care of the church of God." or something like that. So if your wife does, you must first influence her that (1) the calling of God is the most important thing in life and (2) you should remind her that God may judge her for holding you back from serving Him. The Bible says that you are not to get a divorce so whatever measures necessary, do not divorce her or her divorce you but heavy hangs on her if you are prevented from serving God because of her.
2. I personally believe that you should depend on God for your living because He has done it before. Check out on the Internet the biography of a missionary named George Mueller.
3. If you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God wants you to serve Him full-time and you don't, you will never be happy with any other pursuit. Serving God is not a waste of time at all.
tmth_04@yahoo.com
http://www.geocities.com/kjbbible
2006-06-20 15:13:45 · answer #3 · answered by John C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Answering a calling from God should never be about money. If you answer the call and are faithful to your calling God will provide you with all that you and your family need. I am a full time minister and I do not make a dime at what I do, yet God has found a way for me to live comfortably in a place of my own and away from the church grounds. I have faith that God will always provide for me. I have a 2005 full size Chevy pickup w/ bed liner that was given to me right off the car lot with 29 miles on it. I dedicated it to the church and it has never failed me. Commit your self to God and he will commit himself to you. You must take a leap of faith---you must take an action step if you are certain that God has called you to the ministry, else you will miss your opportunity to serve him. Trust me: once you begin to serve God full time you will never want to go back to corporate America or corporate whatever wherever you are. It will be hard at first, and you will always be required to make sacrifices, but nothing from God can be had without sacrificing and only the things from God are worth having. Jesus loves you. God bless you brother.
2006-06-20 15:13:32 · answer #4 · answered by Preacher 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This question reminds me of something a wiser man than I said. He said, "don't go into the ministry if you can avoid it. God will make it clear where he wants you. He can use your faith in Him and your zeal to live for him right where you are." By your question you have a far distance to go yet before God has prepared you for full time ministry. Until then live for Christ. Obey him and watch what God will do through you..
2006-06-20 16:02:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You've got to assess which is more important to you, money or this 'calling' of yours.
If you feel that you must follow the calling, then I suggest you get up and do it now, rather than procrastinate. If you start down the road to procrastination, you'll always find an excuse to stay on that road and never do what you've always meant to do in life.
2006-06-20 15:16:20 · answer #6 · answered by McGeezy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Slow down, pray...talk this over with your family, but serving God shouldn't be hung up on money issues. The disciples still had their side jobs making money.If your wife leaves maybe there is more in the issue then this "higher calling".
2006-06-20 15:08:05 · answer #7 · answered by candices1999 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hey what if this calling is like the story of job in the bible all these bad thing happened to him because he followed and obayed gods will but he got every thing back 10 times more. You should do it or you might end up like jonah in the bible losing everything and ending up in a big whale. You may not end up in a whale but you might end up with a worst case senario.
2006-06-20 15:13:40 · answer #8 · answered by speedy21 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're On The Right Pathway!...Remember, "With God, All Things Are Possible" (Matt. 19:26)...And Lets Not Froget (Phil. 4: 19) "But My GOD Shall Supply All My Needs According To His Riches In Glory By Christ Jesus" ............
2006-06-20 15:12:50 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are a whole lot of "what ifs" in your question! IF it is ordained by GOD, and saying "forget you world" should be one of the first things you say and do. Forget the worldly and what ifs. What if you had faith! God Bless You and he will provide you a lot better answers, through your faith that he will.
2006-06-20 15:13:39 · answer #10 · answered by L3 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋