Financial woes

Ben Collyer said:

how do you determine that? God hasn't told me a blatant yes or no

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Well, in my experience, it's only the result of a true relationship with God and knowing His ways and His word. Everyone's life is very unique so God speaks to everyone in different ways. You would have to take that to the Lord and figure out how He wants to speak to you

Ben Collyer said:

how do you determine that? God hasn't told me a blatant yes or no

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I think God expects us to make a lot of desicions ourselves. He's got his ways of telling you if something is against his will. Is there a scriptural / moral objection for volunteering at the place you'll go to? Do you want to go there? Do they really need you? Will you be needed elsewhere? Those are some things you'd need to think about now and decide.

Ben Collyer said:

what do you mean its all in my hands?

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He means that as you make this transition into Manhood, you will realize eventually that God has appointed time for you to work to support yourself(and family?), and that there is a time and place for everything. And that without sound judgement ... you never know WHAT kind of fruit you're going to get at harvest time, no matter your intention

Ben Collyer said:

my voluntary work is 32 hours a week in the middle of nowhere and I have no car...and its shift work...so earning money while there isnt an option

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Have faith, Ben. Keep yourself focused on Jesus and maintain faith. The Lord will keep you on top of the water until you reach Him. It's all faith. This is an old man's advice, young brother. May God bless you in all that you think and do!

Hi there! I know what it's like being in a sticky situation. I think it is wonderful that you have this opportunity and if you feel called to this ministry than who is anyone here to judge you. I will pray for God to guide you in this decision. How long will you be there for? What sort of things will you do there? If you feel you need time to work and then come back that could also be an option. Don't be discouraged Brother. If it is where God wants you to be He will make a way to stay there

Ben Collyer said:

Hi all, I have quit my job in order to spend a year volunteering at a christian retreat/community. but my overspending habits have come back to haunt me as I realise I have very little savings...i'm 25 years old and feel very apprehensive about my future...

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Keep in mind sir, this is one of the only times you'll be able to do such a thing as dump everything material in your life and volunteer. Once you add in a wife, children, house payment, car payments, all the other bills, you get pretty locked into your lifestyle, and sadly time spent with God is usually what ends up suffering.

Take this year as an extreme opportunity that middle-aged folks like myself can only dream about, not as a threat to your financial future. Look forward to spending time that money cannot buy with brothers and sisters in Christ. Look forward to the amazing opportunity you'll have to spend tons of time in communion with God and The Holy Spirit.

This experience has the serious potential to be an absolute net positive for you. Don't let anyone or anything whisper doubt about worthless material things into you heart.

Ben Collyer said:

Hi all, I have quit my job in order to spend a year volunteering at a christian retreat/community. but my overspending habits have come back to haunt me as I realise I have very little savings...i'm 25 years old and feel very apprehensive about my future...

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HI Ben I remember some of your earlier posts about your struggles with a girl and now you have run off to camp and that is not working for you. You are a good young man with the same lifetime we all have in that we are eternal beings. Jesus says whoever loses his life for my sake finds it. This means that your future can be spent on your own pursuits or in pursuit of Gods will for your life. Jesus promised to give you the Holy Spirit who would comfort guide and lead you in this life. The character of God is found in knowing God through studying Gods word and prayerfully meditating upon it. I think if you put in some discipline to seek 1st the kingdom of God then all the other things in your life will take order. We are in uncertain times and money is not security. Your seem to have a good heart and some desires to make changes so change at the core of who you are by drawing close to Christ and see what he puts in your path along the way. There is no shortcut to spiritual maturity but many go their whole lives and never make much progress.

jimmyjimmy said:

Tell them you were wrong, and leave.

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A vow that is in some way unlawful or unbiblical is not binding. God commands each man to work so that he has something to share. This responsibility to God may be more important than the commitment you made to the retreat center. Don't disobey God in order to fulfill a foolish vow.

[for me anyway] with much adversity and perplexity I always remember Job, who though all that happened to him, he still trusted in God with saying "the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be the Name of the Lord", which by the way he said in his lowest moment, not knowing whether or not he would receive anything, any help, any comfort, any glimmer of better circumstances from the Lord again; just to say that he did not say "Blessed be the Name of the Lord" at a comfortable and convenient time. Moreover what comes to mind when I am under great trials is the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ telling us to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" and what we need will be added to us, in effect telling us to trust Him. For we know assuredly that His grace is sufficient for us, because His strength is made perfect in weakness.

Ben Collyer said:

Hi all, I have quit my job in order to spend a year volunteering at a christian retreat/community. but my overspending habits have come back to haunt me as I realise I have very little savings...i'm 25 years old and feel very apprehensive about my future...

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What your doing might be a good thing, you have to decide.
Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 13
Has not the LORD Almighty determined that the people's labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?
Jeremiah chapter 51 verse 58
This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Babylon's thick wall will be leveled and her high gates set on fire; the peoples exhaust themselves for nothing, the nations' labor is only fuel for the flames."

Ben Collyer said:

Hi all, I have quit my job in order to spend a year volunteering at a christian retreat/community. but my overspending habits have come back to haunt me as I realise I have very little savings...i'm 25 years old and feel very apprehensive about my future...

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Recently you wrote about wanting to quit and go do volunteer work. Before that you were going through a breakup with another girl friend. I advised against you quitting to go volunteer. I am 58. I was homeless off and on during part of my 20's after dropping out of college. I walked many lonesome miles. In those days it was easier to bum a ride. I used to share some of my possessions with other poor strangers. I was not getting out of poverty. Charity begins at home. First make sure you are not reduced to begging before you try to help others. Make sure your family is fed, clothed and sheltered, if you have a family. Later I became reformed and worked more steadily, went back to college and completed a degree with financial assistance from parents. You might want to quit and find a paying job, temporary job, seasonal work, etc. If you are strong and can follow orders, or have work skills, someone might pay you to work. Jobs are listed in Indeed.com (advanced search). Later you might be able to do part time volunteer work or send a fraction of your paycheck to a charity to help poor Christians.

Jesus taught about a prodigal son who spent all he had on wasteful living in a foreign land. Flat broke, he got a job feeding pigs that paid so little, the pigs were eating better than him. He remembered his dad paid better wages; at least they had food to eat. The son returned home to seek employment from his father.

If you like doing volunteer work and exhausting your savings, that is your business. Am not sure the people using that retreat will be able to help you buy new shoes or pay a medical bill if you slip and fall. It is one thing to volunteer to help the poor; volunteering to help the rich is not as glorious.

Ben Collyer said:

Hi all, I have quit my job in order to spend a year volunteering at a christian retreat/community. but my overspending habits have come back to haunt me as I realise I have very little savings...i'm 25 years old and feel very apprehensive about my future...

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Mate, you are 25. The world is your oyster. If you need to find work for money then go and do it.

Ben Collyer said:

I have no expenses there, all my accomodation and meals are subsidised for me

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Man, you've got it sweet.

Ben Collyer said:

how do you determine that? God hasn't told me a blatant yes or no

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The Bible says if a man does not work then he should not eat. But if your work means that you cannot eat then maybe you need to find a better employer.

Ben Collyer said:

Hi all, I have quit my job in order to spend a year volunteering at a christian retreat/community. but my overspending habits have come back to haunt me as I realise I have very little savings...i'm 25 years old and feel very apprehensive about my future...

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Why do you worry about not having cash at this time - if you'll have free accommodation and meals?? Or will you be in need of "pocket money" for certain expenses like cell phone or Internet or traveling or whatever? If you've overspent, on what exactly? Do you own stuff? Can you sell it to raise some cash?

I'll just leave this story here since its close to the subject at hand. I know someone very close that is a missionary over seas (again I know thats not what you are) and they were legitimately called by God to be a missionary. However over the years suddenly things have become hard. They are running into all kinds of issues from accidents, expiring visas, running out of money and so on. To me when things are going down hill all the time in these sorts of situation (volunteering too), then maybe God is telling this person (or you) your time is done as a missionary for now and you need to go back to a normal life.

After all those who are called to do such things will be supported by God and to some degree shouldn't be having so many problems. In the persons case I know, someone else I know gave them some money and was like "See, I was meant to help them! Its God providing!". And while its hard to argue against that logic, at what point of non-stop issues does someone say "I think things keep going badly for a reason, maybe I should take a break!".

I'm not trying to discourage you of course, just throwing out some advice to see what you think. After all only you can decide whether or not you think God is calling you to still do certain things or not. Though I will add be sure its God speaking and not yourself. Sometimes we interpret our own thoughts as being God and it can make things worse for us.

NothingIsImpossible said:

running out of money

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Financial support drying out? This is the problem. Those so-called "missionaries" must never rely on support from abroad. Not a penny. Only self-supported locally. No other way. It's a grave sin to be parasites on sending churches or organization.

Ben Collyer said:

Hi all, I have quit my job in order to spend a year volunteering at a christian retreat/community. but my overspending habits have come back to haunt me as I realise I have very little savings...i'm 25 years old and feel very apprehensive about my future...

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You weren't aware of your savings (or lack there of) until after you quit your job?

Maybe I don't understand.

Maybe you can fit a very PT job in that schedule. Might work, especially since so many ppl will be hiriing soon for the holidays.

Ben Collyer said:

Hi all, I have quit my job in order to spend a year volunteering at a christian retreat/community. but my overspending habits have come back to haunt me as I realise I have very little savings...i'm 25 years old and feel very apprehensive about my future...

Click to expand...