JAKE WRITES: I’m 17, and I was lucky enough to land myself a part-time job. However, I didn’t realize just how much time is taken away when you have school (I go to public school) and then a job starting right after, going late into the night.
I’m really passionate about working with my ministry — which I made into a nonprofit a year back — but now I have zero time. All extra time goes to homework.
Everyone is telling me how bad it is to quit, how important money is for college and the future, and that I can just focus on my ministry later. Even if my nonprofit is not profitable, I feel a deep calling to work harder in developing it. Suggestions?
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I don’t have a lot to say, but there is one really important point to keep in mind.
DON’T FORGET GOD!!! By which I mean, if your schedule is filling up and you are struggling to get everything done, don’t let spiritual things get pushed off. Your devotions and prayer time and going to church are what is going to help get you through each day. I usually can’t get everything done in a day between all the schoolwork I’d like to get ahead on and music practise and helping with the house… My solution: get up 2 hours before anyone else and use some of that time for bible reading. Throughout the day, I try to find Joy in what I’m doing, as opposed to constantly thinking about what I won’t get to do and want to.
With your situation, you have to pray and ask God to help you find the balance. God made us to work, and he gave us the ability to earn money. But he also said Do not worry about anything, either what you are to eat or drink or wear… I would say don’t focus on the money aspect. Focus on God’s will–he will provide what you need.
All I can say is trust and obey God. If God is calling you to quit your job, the obey Him. Then trust Him to provide all your needs. God has told some people to do pretty crazy things, just read Bible stories and missionary stories! Our job is to trust and obey him.
I agree with the other two. Ask God and don’t fear doing what’s hard, whether that be staying in your job or quitting. God bless, man!
a lot of people say: Go out to the mission field! well I reply, what If Gods mission field is where you live? or where you work? or even where you go on holiday! I think that if God is saying; Go out to the mission field! ask yourself… where is this mission field?
If all the christians in the world only talked about God in Church
How would the people who don’t go to church learn about God?
(now I’m only 13 so if you (Jake) feel that that’s not what God is saying don’t follow what I’ve said, for one reason: I am not God )
I understand the feeling, man. I started a part time job last year, and between that and an insane school load, I barely had time for anything else.
Remember that ministry is building up the body of Christ, not merely doing a nonprofit. A ministry is not a position or organization. Don’t think that you won’t be pleasing God if you’re not doing so-called “ministry” stuff. That being said, if you really do feel a prompting to focus more on your nonprofit, quitting your job and finding more efficient ways of making money (network marketing, eBay, offering your services, etc.) may just be the right way to go.
Look at your time. Often we have time when we think we have none; we’re just using it for things we don’t need to. And don’t undervalue the advice of others. I don’t think you’re in danger of doing so, but often God speaks to us through other people. Even so, if you truly feel God is calling you elsewhere, follow Him and trust in His provision.
Ask God what to do and give Him a chance to answer by reading your Bible. I agree with Nathan-look at what you’re doing with your time-although I totally get if you are slammed with homework. Also consider looking up the story of George Muller. I would say good luck figuring out what to do but luck doesn’t exist so GODSPEED! 🙂
Don’t just don’t forget God. I guess what I’m trying to say is don’t just build God into your life, build your life around God! 🙂
Very good question Jake! I am in the same boat and am asking those same questions right now. I have also had the same advice that you received, from people that I love dearly. It can be very confusing… Especially when my desire is to be involved in missions. But in the middle of the struggle, I have learned that while I am working and trying to figure out the Lord’s will for my life, the Lord has a purpose for me at my job and I am seeking to be a witness for my co-workers, along with other people that I come in contact with. Looking at it from that perspective has given me more of a reason and purpose to be at work instead of dreading it. My desire is to be a missionary either overseas or somewhere closer to home, but I cannot forget that wherever I am and in whatever I do, I am a missionary and a witness for Christ. Let the Lord lead you and trust Him to guide you in this descision (Yes, easier said than done I know. But God is faithful and He wants our sanctification and obedience to Him even more than we do!) I will be praying for you as you seek the Lord’s will in this. God bless you Jake!
~Sarah S
Can you delegate or share some of your nonprofit ministry obligations? The blessing of service is multiplied when you can get others involved.
Failing that, I would echo the other folks here who’ve said you need to focus on your relationship with God foremost, and allow Him to guide you to the next step. Sometimes balancing work and ministry takes a leap of faith that won’t make sense to anyone else. And sometimes, unfortunately, we can make an idol of our ministry and the Lord must pry it out of our hands before He can use us the way HE wants. If you’re still struggling, do seek advice from godly people with wisdom. “In the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”
Thanks for the advice–and you’re spot on that we may have more time than we think!
Thanks for the advice. Even with the job, it’s not like I’m skipping church or anything, but since schoolwork and work are first on the list, writing for my ministry gets kicked to last place. That’s hard for me. Though you are right in saying that I can still make time.
Hey, if you can write faith-building articles I’d gladly delegate to you! One of the hardest parts of my ministry is getting others involved, since few people enjoy Christian evidences and creation science or desire to reach out to Christians and non-Christians who need solid answers. So it’s tough.
Thanks for the advice though, and you are totally right about the leap of faith that needs to take place.
I totally get what you mean. I’ve been focusing my ministry locally (and online) and almost certainly my job can turn into a mission field. Still, however, I have another mission field I was called to years ago–so which one should be more important?
Thanks Sarah! I value your advice and it means a lot that you will be praying for me!
What is the ministry?
Note: I haven’t read the other replies yet, so I can’t plagiarize…
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My first thought when I read the title was, “well, why can’t your job be considered ministry?” Getting to know people and just being a Christian friend is great ministry right there, in my opinion.
However, that probably isn’t especially helpful, as it sounds like you started a ministry of your own and just want to keep it operating. I don’t really have advice for that (well, good advice, anyway), because I just don’t have experience with that type of situation, but I’m sure others will!
Hopefully someone else will have advice for you that’s actually helpful…
I don’t know what your specific situation is, so I can’t tell you what is best. For some people, the job is more important; for others, what God wants them to do is quit and work on their ministry. All I can say is, I’ll be praying for you.
Oh yeah, I forgot to add that I’ll be praying for him, too. 😛
That’s what I’ve been wondering!
It’s called Creationist Company. Check it out: http://www.creationistcompany.com.
Empty web domain. I tried to take a screen shot and upload it but I’m trying to figure out a new laptop… lol Did you have the wrong link?
Yes, I see it. It’s the right link. Another thing on my plate. I just transfered my web domain to a different host to edit the site on WordPress and I was expecting no problems. 🙁
Excellent point, Josh.
Sorry you’re having problems. 🙁 I’ll pray for it!
I fixed it. The link should work.
I fixed it! Try going to the site again: http://www.creationistcompany.com
I’m interested in helping out. How?
And the link works for me 🙂
I like! Thanks!
I’ll be praying that He show you what to do.
You know, you are hands down my favorite mime!
Creationist Company is a database of information, mostly written work, about the Bible being the ultimate authority for history, science, morals, religion–the whole works. It’s for Christian teens who doubt or those that just have questions. It’s for non-believers who think Christianity is a bunch of fairy tales. If you are inspired to write anything on something relating to this, send it off to me and I’ll slap it up on the site! Think of the target audience–and help them answer questions or get the inspiration they are looking for. That’s what we do. Or you can help edit articles or something like that. We also have been trying to launch a video or podcast series.
Send articles (that’s what you mean, right?) to you where?
I love editing!
I don’t know anything about videos or podcasts.
And thank you for the compliment 🙂 We’re all around the country actually – you might know one of us.
Quick edit for you – on the home page on your site, in the second paragraph you say “You’ll discovered…” It should be “You’ll discover…”
My Dad read us this Scripture tonight and I just thought I would share:)
“7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.
Psalms 139:7-12
He will lead us and His right hand will hold us till the end.
Email me at [email protected]. And if you’re interested in editing, perhaps I can send you some of the things I’ve written to be looked over.
Jake, this is awesome! I can’t really give any advice about your main dilemma, unfortunately…. but this site is wonderful! It’s nicely set-up, and the content, as far as I’ve looked, is great! I am so totally sending it to a friend who likes this kind of stuff – science, faith, theology/philosophy/apologetics etc. (Not that I don’t… it’s just not exactly my forte.) He might be interested in contributing some stuff.
I’d like to help edit or something… but my workload will be pretty heavy when school starts again for me in about three weeks. I could manage something every few weeks or so (how often do you try to publish something?). And I should probably mention, I’m not exactly a fully trained editor or anything. 😛 Oh wait, but I know someone who works part-time as one! OK, here’s the deal: if you want me on board with editing or something similar, let me know. And if you want me to ask my friend if he’d get on board as an editor, let me know.
Keep up the awesome work, Jake!
@trent_blake:disqus You’ve written apologetic stuff, are you able to get on board? (You don’t have to, of course, I just thought of you when I saw this.)
I actually just contacted Trent about getting on board not long ago!
I don’t need skilled editors, I just need someone to fix the mess-ups I didn’t see. We don’t publish as regularly as we’d like, so it would probably be once or twice a month. I wouldn’t mind if you jumped on board, but you can certainly ask your friend about editing!
Hey Jake, I hear what you’re saying. Obviously, it depends on what God wants you to do. But, if you ask me–like you indirectly have–I would give your ministry priority. This is not the right thing for everyone, but you said that you feel a deep calling to work harder on developing your ministry and that you’re passionate about it, so I could believe it if it would be God’s will for you to focus more on that ministry. Another thing, if you are ever too busy to have a healthy quiet time, then then you are too busy, period. And then there’s your family; they’re important too and you need to spend time with them. Plus, all this talk about saving for college. Thought: what if it’s not God’s plan for you to got o college? What if He wants to send you to a seminary or Bible school or some other Christian training center? Or none of the above? Only God knows the answers to all these questions, but I just wanted to get you thinking and encourage you to step out in faith if you’re ever in a situation where you feel like God is calling you but others are giving you the opposite advice. Godly counsel has it’s place and is important, but God has the final say. Just make sure what you want to do is truly God’s will, and then go right ahead.
Alright, well, I’ll ask my friend, and I’ll tell him to email you if he’s interested with the editing. And in case you want to send me anything in the future for editing, I’ll shoot you an email with my email address (I’d rather not put it here).
Blessings!
pray about it. When I started my rebelution group in my church and quit my job I prayed a lot. One day I prayed that God show me if this is what he wants me to do and I suddenly felt the urge to open my bible, so I did. The first place I looked said “Yes says the Spirit”! I knew that it was what God wanted me to do.
There are actually many organizations that do that same you do. To name a few:
AnswersinGenesis
Creation Ministries International
Institute for Creation Research
You’re absolutely right Liam. CMI is personally my favorite resource out of that list. My ministry, Creationist Company, was founded because I felt the need to specifically reach young people and provide information that wasn’t dumbed down to toddler level, but wasn’t at the level of a PhD. scientist. I think it’s great so many creationism ministries exist, and they each have their value.
I am not a working student but in my personal opinion I think you should ask God this question not us. Listen to God on what you feel. After all if it’s God’s will he will provide for you even if you do quit.