A Parable About a Guy Named Joe

 

Coming to God means letting go of everything we have otherwise put our trust in. Our jobs, bank accounts, place of residence, and our plans for survival are prime examples of things we must learn to leave behind.

Many of us speak as though we have let these things go, but there is a process we aught to be sure to consider. What does “letting go” really look like?

Let’s take a look at Joe. Joe has been happily employed with the utility company in his city for eight years. He received a promotion during his second year with the company and has been making enough money to comfortably support his family and establish a back-up savings plan. Joe is thriving financially.

Though Joe is thriving financially, he realizes that some element is missing from his home. Joe desires guaranteed security for his family for generations to come. How can he know that his sons and daughters will be able to care for his grandchildren the way he has cared for them? (He thinks.)

That is when Joe began to study about God, the creator of Heaven and Earth. Joe becomes greatly excited about the promises God gives to generations of families that follow His instructions. Therefore, Joe begins to carefully follow the instructions he learns of God.

Joe is on a role! “This stuff is so easy!” he thinks. “Why doesn’t everyone follow these easy instructions?”

As Joe continues to study and perform what he learns, he notices an instruction that is easy to do, but demands from his job conflict with this instruction of God. Joe is now faced with a choice he must make. He has already acknowledged the continuous blessings from God as he seeks His instructions and follows it. He has already experienced the Power that is a direct result of diligently adhering to the Lord’s instruction. Now Joe must choose to continue in the path of the Lord or choose to please his boss at his job.

Many of us, when we get to the place where Joe is, we choose to follow the boss at our job, or whatsoever else the thing may be. We want our parent’s approval, our siblings to accept us, and/or respect from the general public. We don’t want to disappoint younger ones that look up to us or elder ones that count on us to do certain things or to behave a certain way. The conclusion often comes to choosing between God and His Promises or some level of social acceptance.

So, in Joe’s case, he puts his head down and clocks back in to work with a discouraged heart. He feels powerless because his entire dream of having place in the Heavenly Kingdom seems to have been crushed and slandered with company policy from his job. The core desire of his heart has been pimp slapped with the demeaning term “religious views”.

But Joe remembers the Power of God that He has experienced and is experiencing. Joe knows that he himself is powerless, but God is All Power. Therefore, though Joe clocked back in to work feeling discouraged, his heart becomes strengthened in God and Joe declines to perform any activity that is against what Joe understands to be the Perfect Order of God. Today, Joe gets a verbal warning from his boss having a strong demeanor.

The truth is, Joe is afraid of his boss. Physically, Joe could beat the brakes off of his boss with one hand and comfortably eat a sandwich with the other. He’s not scared of his boss that way. He is afraid of the power that his boss seems to have over his quality of life.

For many generations Joe’s ancestors have been thoroughly convinced that if we do not labor for some employer or give orders as an employer, we do not eat. Joe thinks quick on his feet. He asks God to give him a new boss. Furthermore, Joe begins searching for a new job.

As Joe searches for a new job, he notices that many of the available opportunities include employer policies and job descriptions that would set him outside of the covenant of God, should he accept any of those jobs. Joe is ready to take a leap of faith and quit his job with no backup plan, just to stay committed to serving God. However, Joe asks God for a solution to keep him on the right path and looks for instruction.

This is a frightening step for Joe. As he is receiving instruction from The Most High, he is beginning to see that he will have to put his faith to work in the presence of his adversaries. His adversary, in this case, is his boss.

Overall, Joe’s boss is a nice guy and means well. He is an adversary to Joe because if Joe does not obey his orders at the appointed time, Joe’s boss will (however so gently) threaten Joe with reduced compensation. For the most part he and Joe have been comfortable with this, being this is common in employee to employer relationships.

Joe does not want his compensation to be reduced (or in the worst case, to be fired). Such a circumstance would dramatically depreciate the quality of life of his family- so it seems. But Joe has studied and is studying the Word of God and recognizes his circumstance as an opportunity to show himself before God that he is throughly committed to His ways.

Joe then asks God to receive him as His servant and that God would be his boss instead of his current employer. God hears Joe and grants him his request. Joe now works for God.

What does this mean for Joe? How does Joe work for God? Is it a literal job and can Joe pay his bills this way? Does he get a real paycheck?

Okay, first of all, let’s be sure not to have thoughts toward God that might be insulting to Him. Out of every being known to existence, the One that can always be trusted to keep promises is God. Remember that God rewards all who are diligent in seeking Him. Oh yeah, and God is not cheap, either. So, yes Joe’s bills are covered and all his needs and desires are met.

Now let’s look at how Joe is working for God and what type of work he is doing for Him. Joe is doing whatsoever the Lord God asks of Him. God is now communicating with Joe by dreams. This is how Joe is receiving his instructions from God.

Since Joe has been studying so well, God starts Joe off with documenting and filing. God instructs Joe to document his studies and keep a file of the documents. Joe receives this instruction and follows it. He’s been studying quite a bit, so this will keep him busy for a while.

Meanwhile, Joe is still clocking in to work because God has not ordered him to stop working at his current place of employment. When Joe clocks in, however, he still refuses to perform any tasks that are contrary to the ways of God. Joe’s boss is becoming less and less cool by the second. Joe gets written up, but he’s still joyfully adhering to the policies of his new employer- which is God.

It was Monday morning. Joe was up bright and early, documenting and filing his studies as he had been instructed by God to do. Afterwards he would go and clock in to his other job (that seemed to had been fading away). Suddenly part of a scripture comes to Joe’s mind, “You cannot serve two masters. You cannot serve God and mammon”

This scripture had been in Joe’s mind before and at times a focus topic during social occasions. But this day, this particular Monday morning Joe receives understanding in his heart about the words of the scripture. He sees it so clearly now.

Joe considers his two employers and sees how he has been trying to serve two masters. Howbeit, there are many people that have multiple employers. What’s the difference between them and Joe? The difference is that most people, though with multiple employers are serving mammon. The employers are also serving mammon. Joe is learning to turn away from serving mammon and to serve God.

What is mammon? According to Google, mammon is defined as devotion to wealth and referenced as the “devil of covetousness”. Moreover, Joe looks up an older definition of the word mammon in his grandfather’s very old dictionary. The very old dictionary defines mammon as “the god of money getting”.

Therefore, when Joe clocked into work for mammon, he was not moved (at all) by any of the stern looks on the faces of any of his so-called superiors. When a host of HR representatives, his boss, and the company owner called him into an office meeting to demand his signature on his final write up, he kindly thanked them. He thanked them truly from his heart that his soon to be past employer added clarity for Joe concerning the direction of his life.

The “superiors” that met with Joe in the office were confused. They were sure the conversation would be much more difficult, even dramatic. But Joe was too excited about God, his new employer. Yes, Joe is anticipating the termination of his old employment with excitement!

Keep in mind, Joe is but a man. He does have moments of weakness to endure. These moments often come about late in the night. Joe, at these times, wonders if he is doing the right thing. He has no sustainable plan of his own about how to continue to feed his family once his employment with mammon is terminated.

Remembering what he has learned from his studies, Joe begins to mimic the prophet Daniel, kneeling in prayer three times per day. It was during one of these daily moments of prayer that Joe asks God to confirm for him that he is on the right path and that it is okay to lose his job. God answers Joe in a dream that same night.

In the dream, Joe saw many study documents that he had prepared and would continue to prepare. A lot of carefulness and focus had gone in to these certain documents. Furthermore, Joe receives additional instructions from God. God tells Joe to offer to read His Word to others as a service, saying, “Offer reading services to them.”

When Joe wakes up in the morning, he feels like he has his second wind. Filled with gratitude that he had received an answer to his prayer so quickly, Joe’s heart is comforted. He immediately gets started on his new project that God gave him (…and oops, he forgot to go clock in today, so that’s the end of that job- no call no show).

As he scratches his head, Joe is thinking, “Hmmm…offer reading services. How do I get started with this?”

Thankfully, Joe was not a stranger to starting a new project from scratch. He had acquired a variety of skills throughout his life that he had used to serve his previous employers. Joe decides to direct the use of his acquired skills to God- the best employer ever.

The first skill that Joe knew had to be used was his “lead generation” ability. Many people that have sales experience may be familiar with the term. But just in case; lead generation is the communication of a product being sold that produces (or generates) a potential buyer. A lead in a sales environment is a potential buyer. Potential buyers or “leads” are generated by marketing techniques. Marketing techniques can be widely ranged; billboard ads, you tube commercials, t-shirts with signage on them, or any method of communication can be used as a marketing technique that may generate leads.

The oldest, truest and most common method of lead generation is the “word of mouth” method. This is when simple person to person conversation is used to generate leads. Joe then proceeds to approach his new project using the “word of mouth” method.

Having a lengthy background in sales, Joe remembers things he learned about lead generating in the past. He has learned well that lead generating should start with one’s immediate social circle and then extend outward. Therefore, Joe begins to contact his friends and family asking them to listen while he reads the Word to them.

There was something different about how Joe read the Word. Because the Word had become the love of Joe’s heart, God blessed Joe to orate his Word in a highly compelling manner. Many of his listeners were eager to hear what was happening next as he turned the pages.

Notwithstanding, Joe LOVED IT! He could feel a soulful sensation as he became every character he read, carefully and accurately delivering the context of the Word to any who would take the time to hear it.

Moreover, the more he read to them, the more he learned. He studied all the questions of his listeners with them. He experienced all of their breakthroughs, laughed with them, cried their tears with them, absorbed their anxieties and their angers over many issues, loved them, and of course, Joe prayed for them.

Some of the listeners weren’t too easy on Joe. But Joe knew that if they would call him back or answer him again to listen to him read that understanding would come. With understanding comes peace. Because of this, Joe was willing to suffer with anyone who was willing to suffer with him.

With what seemed to be a full schedule of reading every week, Joe still continued to generate leads. Within every conversation of any substance, Joe would be sure to offer reading services. Though, most of his conversations were now taken with those that were reading with him. (Listening is reading too.)

Do be mindful that not every person that was offered reading services from Joe accepted the service. There were some that would say, “No, I don’t want to do that.” These were a little awkward, but short and each person would move forward in a polite manner (no biggie).

There also were some that did not want to be read to, but did not want to hurt Joe’s feelings (or maybe they didn’t want to say “no” about the Word). At any rate, for one reason or another (who knows why?) some said yes to Joe, but they really wanted to say no. Joe could tell they wanted to say no because they would not get very far in the reading of the Word at all.

So, God set a daily routine for Joe, which began with an hour and a half workout at the gym before sunrise. After the gym, Joe would race home to prepare for his first appointment. Joe would address the needs of his household between appointments. Howbeit, many of the appointments ran concurrently.

After his job was terminated, Joe made use of a savings account that had accumulated enough money to take him through the year. The year was just about ended. Joe had no idea where his family’s necessities were going to come from in the matter of two months, according to his calculations.

Joe sought council from God concerning the anxiety that he was feeling about his financial status. He started browsing at jobs online. “It doesn’t seem right anymore.” So he said in his heart. Joe knew that if he were to seek for safety from an employer, he would be leaving many behind that have turned a listening ear to God’s Word. Now Joe realizes this is the time to exercise faith in God before God. God has given understanding to Joes heart.

It's 4:30 in the morning. With less than two months-worth of money left to his name, Joe gets up and gets ready to go to the gym as the Lord God had instructed him to. He will then proceed to engage his first listening companion of the day with a reading and an enactment of the Word, as he pours out his heart before the Lord.

He tries to ignore the feeling of adrenaline urging him to want to stop what he’s doing and seek employment from a man like everyone else on the earth. If anyone knew what he was sacrificing right now and why, they would count him as the craziest decision maker they ever witnessed. But Joe knows that what he is experiencing with God is real. He holds true to knowing this even if there are no supporting witnesses. The approval of supporting witnesses is not needed with God. God is All Power.

Alright, less about Joe. Let’s dig into the topic of salvation. Howbeit, Joe has now crossed over into the beginning of the salvation of God. He will no longer be under the thumb of the demands of the authorities of the earth because he chose to serve God instead. Just like that.

Once he had put his trust in man for the provision of his necessities and did obey the workforce. Now Joe understands that putting his trust in God means to look to God for his necessities. He also sees that this is how God saves us from our oppressors- by providing our needs.

Our oppressors are the people that appear to have the upper hand over us. The people that we must report to daily. If we do not report, pay the fee, show up, and/or do everything they ask of us with precision (which is for their gain), we will die in the street without food or clothing. But if we do well, we’re tossed a bone or two. That is the reality of every corner of the earth we live in.

Salvation became the hope of my heart as I continued in my studies. What is salvation? The dictionary definition of salvation is: the act of saving. Biblical examples of salvation usually include God kicking someone’s butt to save his innocent people.

When Ishi the Master, the Most High God ends the hardships of life for a people or for a person, that is salvation. No more stank attitude bosses at work, no more clocking in to work, no more mean old land lords, no more rent. The list can continue for a long time. What about the children’s salvation? No more confinement in classrooms all day, no more being yelled at and embarrassed, no more having to accept the worst of everything while watching the enjoyment of the grownups.

Many of us need to acknowledge a truth that is becoming more and more taboo: Nobody loves their job! Stop it.

There are things about a job that can be enjoyed- agreed. There are jobs that are far less preferred than others- agreed. Retired people that have worked for over 25 years might miss their job- agreed. There are plenty of positives that can be focused on concerning jobs. Positives need to be the focus in order to get through these days. Good job.

Why do vacations feel so good? What is the excitement all about? We want to explore the goodness of the earth that God created. That’s what’s deep in many of our hearts. We want to experience goodness. No one would show up to the Mandatory Overtime Labor Crunch Resort Hotel- especially if the place holds true to its name.

To vacate is to leave. Why do we get so excited to leave where we are? Is it because we are not happy here? Would we not rather be some place else, doing something else?

What amount of time is too long for a vacation? Who would turn down a fully funded twelve-month long vacation with a spending allowance? Who would turn down a fully funded vacation that lasts forever? Would you? Will you? We hope not. We really hope not.

Well, that’s what salvation feels like; a vacation that lasts forever. It begins when one calls out to God from their heart. When we acknowledge that we’re in a hot mess in this earth and have no concluding answers but that God delivers us from terror.

Oh, not scared? Of anything? Everyone is afraid to not show up for some kind of money-making job. Who would leave their place of employment or place of business to stop making money and instead be a zealous witness for Jesus, saving the souls of people?

Did Jesus not tell his disciples to follow Him and be fishers of men? Did they not leave their employments and businesses and go to work for Jesus? Did anyone lack anything?

The only way someone can really love their job, is if you’re employed by God. How can you love your job when Satan himself sits at the seat of the benefits of your labor? But we think if we don’t labor under his umbrella, but labor for God only, that we will starve to death.

Stop thinking God is so messed up that if you follow Him, you might be displeased. Be willing to separate from anything that is contrary to His ways. Be willing to appear to be standing alone in the midst of a multitude.

It’s gonna be great. Don’t worry. He won’t let you fall. He will catch you. Yes, every single time- He will catch you. Yes, for eternity.

And remember, I told you what to do when you see Jesus. Do you remember what to do? Okay, I will tell you again, but next time I will test you, so please, be ready. Remember to do these three things when He lets you BEHOLD HIM:

Step1# Smile

Step 2# Bow Down

Step 3# Put your face all the way to the ground.

When He lets you BEHOLD HIM, this is what you must do so that you LIVE. Yes, every single step is enormously important so that you live. Don’t try to take a peek at Him. Remember Lot’s wife.