Article March 13, 1989 Issue

"Plenty of employment"

We're never out of work when we're about our Father's business.

Thomas H. Fuller, Jr.

"Better get your résumé in order. In ninety days you'll be on the street hunting for work."

In just about so many words I was given notice of my boss's decision to fire me for what he termed "unsatisfactory job performance." I was shocked and angry. It seemed deeply unfair. Although we didn't see eye to eye on many issues, I found no justification for such a sudden end to what had been a very satisfying position with the firm.

In this situation, as a Christian Scientist, I naturally turned to God. I had to admit that there had been many instances in the past of God's government and constant love extending to every part of my life. This was certainly true of job-related activity. At one time, when my efforts as a salesman had thoroughly failed and improvement seemed urgent, I decided to go ahead with plans to attend an important church meeting that would take me out of the territory for a week. I felt clearly that—regardless of my sales quota—I had no more important business than attending that meeting. In his Sermon on the Mount, Christ Jesus commanded, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."^{Matt. 6:33.} That was certainly my first responsibility, and I silently rejected the notion that this devotion to God's direction could jeopardize my job-related duties. By the end of that month I had sold 150 percent of my year-to-date quota—entirely making up for six months of no sales—and I never fell below 100 percent during all the years I was a salesman.