By Dr Bruce Woolard

Most people thing of a job in terms of an income. Getting a salary at the end of the month seems to be the main objective.

Work and one’s career includes fulfilment and a positive contribution to the society and community of which we are part.

We do not have to work for someone else to survive. If this were the case we would have always be dependent on someone else. The unemployed person cannot sit around waiting for something to happen. If you cannot find a job you have to create an opportunity to become self employed. You do not money to make money. Remember the story of the 3000 people who followed Jesus it is obviously clear that they were unemployed because they followed Him for three days and it would have taken them a further three days to travel home. Jesus fed these people with the fish and loaves made available by one boy. The Bible does not record this as a norm, in other words He did not feed them in this way everyday. How did they survive without employment?

In Acts 2:44 and 45 we have the model of communal life. The followers of Christ established a common community. They sold and shared their profits with each other as the need arose. I believe there are several ways to survive without employment.

1. First and foremost a personal relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
transforms our hearts and minds. He gives to us hope, courage and faith to rise
above poverty and unemployment. Without our faith it will be more difficult to live
without employment. II Corinthians 5:17 reminds us that we can become new creations in Christ. Philippians 4:5-13 reminds us that we can do all things through Christ and Philippians 4:19 reminds us that God will supply all our needs. (not our greed’s but our needs).

2. With a positive attitude and faith in God a community of people can call for a
meeting and establish a register with names of those who are prepared to work
towards a common goal of communal living.

3. The growing of vegetables in one’s back yard to sustain your family and 50% of the
produce may be sold to the public for financial benefits.

4. Recycling of second hand clothing for the registered members can become a means
of income if sold to the general public. This has to be well organised and monitored.

5. A plan of action in terms of feeding people can become a life long project. There
are many hotels, restaurants who do not utilise all their food supplies. Through
community organisation one can obtain good quality food to be sold at a reasonable
profit and to feed your registered community members.

6. You can turn unemployment into a positive by making your unemployed registered
members productive in being a Christian witness and serving each other.