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Selfish husband who quits job because "God told him to"

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Hi,

This is my first post so please be gently.

I am not very articulate so will try and say exactly what I mean.

My marriage is in crisis. I think it was doomed from the beginning.

Before marriage

Hubby and I got married because we were told by a prophet in the church that God said we had to get married within the next 3 months. We had only been talking for 2 months prior to that and when I say talking, I mean meeting up sporadically and texting/calling each other. It wasn’t even a relationship, let alone anything serious but we came from a church where, if you even starting fancying someone, you were told to get married.

It was a charismatic Pentecostal church with several "prophets" (most of whom have now died or been struck with sickness now due to their false prophecies but that is just my opinion). Anyhoo, we were young and had no clue what marriage was and just went with the flow as we were excited. The church had a lot of influence over us and looking back, can only be described as a cult.

I was a young christian and wasnt spiritually mature enough to question what the prophet had said. I blame myself as I should have sort an answer from God myself but at that time, was so brainwashed by the church that I thought the only way to accurately hear from him was through a "prophet".

Fast forward, 10 years and the differences between us are very real and evident. Our personalities are very different, we hardly interact and when we do, it’s so awkward, there's no chemistry, we don't have sex (I can't stand him touching me in that way), we don't hang out or even talk. We are basically housemates.

People may ask "but you have been married 10 years…there must be something there?". No, there isn't. During those years, I have been just pretending to myself and to others. We don’t interact much anyway so I just learned to live with it, secretly dying inside.

Over the past year or two, I have come to see that what/who I was taught that God/Christianity is, isn't the truth. It’s been a wake up call and it's only now that I have mustered any strength to face up to my wreck of a marriage and leave, if necessary.

As the post title says, my husband quit his permanent job 3 months ago to become a contractor/self employed because God said it was the right time. There was no discussion between us about this. I was merely informed as according to my husband "we don’t need to agree on it because God told him he could quit". Don't get me wrong, he had been talking about it for a while and during this time, I implored him to try and secure a contract before he quit his job.

When I saw that he was willing to quit before securing employment, I suggested that we sit down and discuss tightening our budgets as he may not be bringing in money for a while. My suggestion was met with an angry husband telling me that I don’t have faith and that we don’t need to save/budget because God would provide.

Is this right? Can one of us just make a decision that will affect both of us and not obtain the agreement of the other, because God told them to do it? Don't ask me how God told him. Apparently, he felt it in his spirit that it was his time to quit.

I am not very sure of my communication with God and can't say if God did tell him to quit.

Anyway, fast forward 3 months and he isn’t making any money. We have large debts that need servicing every month and the rent is due in exactly 8 days and he has no money to contribute.

Last month, he informs me two days before the rent is due that he has no money so I paid all rent and bills. I am sick of bailing him out especially when I didn’t agree to him quitting his job. Yes, I know I sound like an unsupportive wife because that is exactly what I am. There's a lot of background to this.

He has done this exact same thing before...three years ago he quit a permanent job to become self-employed, he didn’t pay his taxes and work dried up and he had no money coming in for 8 months because he wouldn’t look for permanent employment. Why?....."because God hadn't told him to stop being self-employed and look for another job". Can you see a pattern here?

On top of that, he is selfish with his money and time, is emotionally unavailable, doesn’t help out around the house at all and I just generally do not like him. There is a lot more to it but I can't go into it right now.

I think he is taking advantage of me because he knows that I don’t like paying rent/bills late and I have the means to pay it.
I am thinking of just paying my half as usual and telling him to sort the rest out. If the rent is late or doesn’t get paid, then so be it.

I have always been the one to take the lead and I think this is why he has never learned to take responsibility in our family. I have allowed him to do as he pleases whilst I fix his mess ups.
 

Bear.Fr00t

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Wow, what a mess. I'm very sorry to hear about your predicament.

I don't think I can help with the marriage, but I think I can help with the "God told me such and such" part. I don't believe God micro manages our lives. God sets guidelines on how we are to behave, what is good for us, and what is bad for us. You can view life as a path, and God is shedding light to show you how to walk and not stumble. But he doesn't direct each and every step.

I believe this is a common misconception among Christians today. Where do you stand on the Bible? If you believe the Bible is God's word, then this book might help:

James Macdonald: Way Of Wisdom

It offers a Bible-backed alternative to the "God has a plan for my life and I have to have direct revelation from God about every choice I make in life"

Instead, the book offers (using scripture) that God gives sound wisdom to make decisions, but does not micro-manage our decisions.

If you think about it, every God encounter documented in the Bible is 100% conclusive that it is God. There is no encounter in the Bible where the person "has a feeling that maybe God told me something" they are all slaps to the face, life-altering events.

Hope this helps a little.
 
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Tropical Wilds

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If it were me, I'd get a lawyer to protect your assets, less God tells him to clean you out, and leave. You don't like him, he obviously doesn't care about you or the marriage... Time to go before it gets really bad.
 
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Bear.Fr00t

I do believe in the bible but wont lie...my christian foundation has been shaken to the core. Sometimes, I feel angry with God but I know deep down that the church, my husband, the way people use God's name to force/brainwash people to do things, that is not God's fault.

My foundation was shaky from the beginning and it took/is taking a lot of strength to forget all the false teachings that I learnt in the church. Sometimes, i feel I am too weak.

I am so used to having someone telling me who/what God is/wants that I can't think for myself. Maybe it's safer that way.

Thanks for the book suggestion. I will look it up on Amazon.

thankful_in_VT

My husband recently agreed to couples counselling but I am not paying for this myself. He needs to contribute.

Also, to be honest, I want to seek counselling for myself first. I am broken. Literally broken right now. I have so many emotional problems that stem from not thinking for myself for so long. I feel like someone who has lived in a commune and only now has been allowed into the outside world.

I find it difficult to trust and interact with people. I cut off most of my friends when I got married because I was told to.

I am just learning to live right now. It has been a long process.

God bless.
 
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I told him that I wanted to separate to sort myself out. He then asked if that's what God tell me to do. How do I answer that?

If I say no (which is the truth), he just ignores me as God must guide us in all things. If I say yes, I am a liar.

Why should I lie? I am sick of trying to please people. I want to cry. I dont have the strength. The whole "you better not do anything unless God instructs you to or your life will be bad" comes from the church. They used to do that and I dont like it.

No, God didnt tell me to but I can't live like this. It has been going on for so long. I am dying inside. Then comes the guilt...."maybe its my fault..I am not spiritual enough....I dont pray enough...if I was holy, then I would know when God is speaking to me.

I havent read my bible for months now as I have become disillusioned with it all.

I think I need to focus more on God as opposed to other people who are supposed to be Godly.

I keep on repeating to myself "this is not God's fault. This my husband's"
 
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"If it were me, I'd get a lawyer to protect your assets, less God tells him to clean you out, and leave. You don't like him, he obviously doesn't care about you or the marriage... Time to go before it gets really bad."

and that is my problem here...I am scared of what else God will tell him to do that will affect both of us.
 
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DZoolander

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On a side note - I'd bet that with everything anyone has ever told you that has put you into this predicament - that they have a Biblical verse to back it up/make it sound like it makes sense, right?
 
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DZoolander

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"If it were me, I'd get a lawyer to protect your assets, less God tells him to clean you out, and leave. You don't like him, he obviously doesn't care about you or the marriage... Time to go before it gets really bad."

and that is my problem here...I am scared of what else God will tell him to do that will affect both of us.

As you should be.
 
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DZoolander

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I told him that I wanted to separate to sort myself out. He then asked if that's what God tell me to do. How do I answer that?

If I say no (which is the truth), he just ignores me as God must guide us in all things. If I say yes, I am a liar.

Why should I lie? I am sick of trying to please people. I want to cry. I dont have the strength. The whole "you better not do anything unless God instructs you to or your life will be bad" comes from the church. They used to do that and I dont like it.

No, God didnt tell me to but I can't live like this. It has been going on for so long. I am dying inside. Then comes the guilt...."maybe its my fault..I am not spiritual enough....I dont pray enough...if I was holy, then I would know when God is speaking to me.

I havent read my bible for months now as I have become disillusioned with it all.

I think I need to focus more on God as opposed to other people who are supposed to be Godly.

I keep on repeating to myself "this is not God's fault. This my husband's"

Just out of curiosity, has God ever "told" you to do anything? Or has your life simply been you listening to other people telling you what God wants you to do?
 
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@ Ezoolander

No, he hasnt but maybe that's because I am not spiritual enough or I havent been paying attention. I just don't know. I am not exactly the best christian in the world.

Back in the day, I used to lie and say he had just so people would leave me alone to live. Simple things like going on holiday, moving home, etc.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying you shouldnt involve God in your life but for God's sake, I am expected to wait for months for an answer from God if I want to go on holiday next week?
 
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DZoolander

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Or maybe it's because things just don't work that way :)

Despite what your husband says, I'm pretty darn sure God didn't "tell" him to up and quit his job w/o having a backup plan. Truth probably is that he's simply doing what he wanted to do - and God "speaking to him" had no more merit than your saying God told you it was okay to go on a holiday.
 
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I agree.

He has made a very clear in the past that he doesnt like working for other people. When I told him that he is using God's supposed approval to further his own selfish agenda and that God didnt tell him to quit his job, he said "has God told you that he didnt tell me to quit my job? No? Well then go and pray and ask him."

Oh well.
 
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DZoolander

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Yep - round and round we go...lol Unfortunately you're in a bad position within a debate when some expects honesty out of you but is unwilling to abide by the same rules. It's simply a manner of manipulation.

If it were me, and this is just me, I'd tell him to bugger off. I'd make a clean cut financially, open up my own bank accounts in my own name and that's where my money goes, I'd leave, sue for divorce, and be done with it. No amount of counseling in the world is going to work with a schmuck that has it within him to play those kinds of games.

When he asks you stuff about your relationship with God - your answer simply is "My relationship with God from this point on is none of your concern, and my matters with Him are solely that. They are *my* matters with Him. From this point on you are no longer my intermediary - and no longer do you get to offer commentary on anything good or bad." - and be done with it.
 
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Avniel

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You two have been married for ten years, I if anyone know how the pentocoastal church can pressure you into things that really aren't for you. Your husband seems to have been spiritually abused and hurt people hurt people. I think that he needs counseling and you two need christian counseling to work things out in your marriage.
 
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ChristianGolfer

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I told him that I wanted to separate to sort myself out. He then asked if that's what God tell me to do. How do I answer that?

If I say no (which is the truth), he just ignores me as God must guide us in all things. If I say yes, I am a liar.

Why should I lie? I am sick of trying to please people. I want to cry. I dont have the strength. The whole "you better not do anything unless God instructs you to or your life will be bad" comes from the church. They used to do that and I dont like it.

No, God didnt tell me to but I can't live like this. It has been going on for so long. I am dying inside. Then comes the guilt...."maybe its my fault..I am not spiritual enough....I dont pray enough...if I was holy, then I would know when God is speaking to me.

I havent read my bible for months now as I have become disillusioned with it all.

I think I need to focus more on God as opposed to other people who are supposed to be Godly.

I keep on repeating to myself "this is not God's fault. This my husband's"


You are a victim of spiritual abuse.

It's time to get rid of the way of thinking that is keeping you trapped.

Quit asking God to speak to you. Quit worrying about it. (Remember Jesus said not to be anxious.)

You have already been given everything you need. You have a brain. You have a conscience. You have the Holy Spirit. You've read the Bible loads - you know what it says.

Now, it's time to trust yourself.

You KNOW that your husband is lying when he says God told him whatever.

You KNOW this because your common sense and the Holy Spirit are both telling you that what your husband is doing is wrong.

So it's time to be strong and act on your convictions.

By staying with this guy, you're just enabling him to use you and to continue to be a FALSE PROPHET (someone who claims "God said" when God didn't really say is a false prophet).

I think EZoolander's advice is wise. Time to start putting your money in your own account, at the very least. Tell your husband "if you don't work, you don't eat." If your husband's choices really are God's will, then God will provide for him, won't He?

If it were me, I'd be looking for an apartment and talking to a divorce attorney yesterday.
 
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DZoolander

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You are a victim of spiritual abuse.

It's time to get rid of the way of thinking that is keeping you trapped.

Quit asking God to speak to you. Quit worrying about it. (Remember Jesus said not to be anxious.)

You have already been given everything you need. You have a brain. You have a conscience. You have the Holy Spirit. You've read the Bible loads - you know what it says.

Now, it's time to trust yourself.

You KNOW that your husband is lying when he says God told him whatever.

You KNOW this because your common sense and the Holy Spirit are both telling you that what your husband is doing is wrong.

So it's time to be strong and act on your convictions.

By staying with this guy, you're just enabling him to use you and to continue to be a FALSE PROPHET (someone who claims "God said" when God didn't really say is a false prophet).

I think EZoolander's advice is wise. Time to start putting your money in your own account, at the very least. Tell your husband "if you don't work, you don't eat." If your husband's choices really are God's will, then God will provide for him, won't He?

If it were me, I'd be looking for an apartment and talking to a divorce attorney yesterday.

Exactly.
 
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I am going to cry.

I am too weak. Its my own fault. I rely on my emotions too much and am always tossed too and fro. I can never make decisions. If I leave him, God will punish me. He is going to punish me anyway right?

I have turned into a monster these past few months, full of regret and resentment.

Do I even have the holy spirit? Maybe he left me because of my less than christian behaviour these last few months; swearing at my husband, not wanting to have sex. I am just so confused right now.

Its all come to a head because I have realised that this (our marriage, the false church) isnt God. I have been fooled and some of my siblings continue to be fooled.

I cant shake the feelings of guilt and spiritual inadequacy.

I have my own bank account and job. That isnt a problem. Thank God we dont have kids. Do you why we dont have kids, because we had to wait until God showed my husband that we could have them. lol

Ten years we've been married and we couldnt have children. It broke me because he would try and put it on me. "Has God shown you that we should have kids? No? Well, I am not having them until he shows me".

It had nothing to do with God. It was because he didnt want to be responsible for us and have to look after anyone but just himself.

Pray for me please.

I am so damaged, it's unbelievable. I cant even think straight.
 
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DZoolander

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I am going to cry.

I am too weak. Its my own fault. I rely on my emotions too much and am always tossed too and fro. I can never make decisions. If I leave him, God will punish me. He is going to punish me anyway right?

I have turned into a monster these past few months, full of regret and resentment.

Do I even have the holy spirit? Maybe he left me because of my less than christian behaviour these last few months; swearing at my husband, not wanting to have sex. I am just so confused right now.

Its all come to a head because I have realised that this (our marriage, the false church) isnt God. I have been fooled and some of my siblings continue to be fooled.

I cant shake the feelings of guilt and spiritual inadequacy.

I have my own bank account and job. That isnt a problem. Thank God we dont have kids. Do you why we dont have kids, because we had to wait until God showed my husband that we could have them. lol

Ten years we've been married and we couldnt have children. It broke me because he would try and put it on me. "Has God shown you that we should have kids? No? Well, I am not having them until he shows me".

It had nothing to do with God. It was because he didnt want to be responsible for us and have to look after anyone but just himself.

Pray for me please.

I am so damaged, it's unbelievable. I cant even think straight.

Why do you feel God would punish you?

Isn't your being a "monster" the natural consequence of a lifetime of spiritual abuse you've undergone, and continue to undergo?

I think you're relying far too much upon what other people have told you about God, both in that church you go to and by your husband, for their own selfish agendas.
 
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