Am I living in sin by not having a "real" job?

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this has been bothering me for some time and I just wanted to get some clarity on it. I am 23 years old and male and I live at home with my parents, I am currently taking courses through the Catholic Distance University for a Bachelors Degree in Theology. I can only take two classes at a time, but I work on it nearly everyday to get it done as soon as possible. I would say that I probablly spend an average of three hours a day on school work during the week (monday through friday).I don’t work outside the home, but I have made a deal with my parents that I would take over all of the cleaning responsibilities of the whole house so that they would not have to hire someone to do it, which would cost about $500 a month. I also sometimes do yard work and drive my brother when he needs a ride somewhere during the day. My question is: do you think I am fullfilling my Christian obligation to work by doing these things, or do I need to find a “real” job somewhere? I know the bible says that if a man does not work then neither should that man eat. It seems to me that as long as my situation is ok with my parents that it is not sinful, do you agree?
 
Nick,

It’s really between you and your parents. What do they say? If they can see that you’re contributing to society, then they might see that putting you up is also their contribution.

Ask yourself this, at what point do you cease living in their house and they begin living in your house?

Why do American’s see it as awful if an adult child lives with his parents. But think nothing of it if the parents live with the adult child?
 
Black Jaque:
Why do American’s see it as awful if an adult child lives with his parents. But think nothing of it if the parents live with the adult child?
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hahaha, this just reminded me of someone who might say “I got him right in the fist with my face !”
 
Why do you only take two classes at a time? I would stay being a student is work- but I’m a full-time student, and raising three kids too. I don’t think it’s a sin to live with your parents, at any age, as long as they don’t mind - but if you’re feeling guilty, like perhaps you could be using your time more productively, that could be a prompting from God. I wouldn’t think it’s neccessarily about having a “real” job, so much as being productive and using your time well. (something I should think about when I spend so much time on CA forums :eek: )
 
I agree with Black Jaque. As long as you are contributing to your family’s needs in a way agreeable to all, you are not sponging off them. Of course, when you do get employment you should either pay rent or find your own place. Yes? 🙂
 
the school that I attend (the Catholic Distance University) only allows you to take 2 classes at a time. Why? I don’t know. But I work on school as much as I would if I were taking 4 classes in order to get it done quicker. So I take 2 classes every two months which comes out to 4 a semester anyways.
 
hahaha, this just reminded me of someone who might say “I got him right in the fist with my face !”
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:rotfl:

Or how about the one where a nun was walking down the street and caught a man with a rosary in one hand and a bottle of scotch in the other.

The nun proceeded to chastise him, “How dare you drink while you’re praying the blessed rosary!”

The man replied, “I’m not, Shishter. I’m praying the roshary while I’m drinking.”
 
  1. You are working. You’re studying and cleaning the house and if your parents don’t mind putting you up then that sounds fine.
  2. I’ve never seen it written down that it is a sin to not work anyway. I kept asking about this a while back and no one could give me a good answer. Apparently there’s such a thing as a sin of omission but no one has yet explained it to me. I’m a full time uni student but every summer we get three months off. I did pretty much no work this summer and I don’t feel guilty about it.
 
A wise man once said, “as long as you go to school, you’re never a bum.”
You’re building up your future right now instead of making a perpetual $7/hr from whence thou shalt never return. Adding to that, in my experience, working and school = B’s & C’s, or worse; concentrating exclusively on school = A’s.
 
Flopfoot, I think it is definitely a sin if you are able to work and choose not to, and therefore become a burden on society. In Mere Christianity CS Lewis talks about the obligation to work as necessary to provide for the poor and to use your talents to give glory to God. The obligation to work is an essential element of Catholic social teaching. However, in your situation (which seems to be similar to mine) as long as we are in school and plan to one day have employment than I think we are ok.
 
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Nick:
this has been bothering me for some time and I just wanted to get some clarity on it. I am 23 years old and male and I live at home with my parents

I don’t work outside the home, but I have made a deal with my parents that I would take over all of the cleaning responsibilities of the whole house so that they would not have to hire someone to do it, which would cost about $500 a month. I also sometimes do yard work and drive my brother when he needs a ride somewhere during the day.
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This sounds like a sensible arrangement.
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Nick:
My question is: do you think I am fullfilling my Christian obligation to work by doing these things, or do I need to find a “real” job somewhere?
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You are doing real work. Where do you get the the idea that you don’t do “real” work because you do unpaid work?
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Nick:
I know the bible says that if a man does not work then neither should that man eat.
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But it says nothing of getting paid money, or what the work should be, or whether it’s done in or out of the home. You are being paid in trade: room & board in exchange for cleaning, cooking, yard work, and taking your brother around.
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Nick:
It seems to me that as long as my situation is ok with my parents that it is not sinful, do you agree?
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Yes.
 
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Nick:
this has been bothering me for some time and I just wanted to get some clarity on it. I am 23 years old and male and I live at home with my parents, I am currently taking courses through the Catholic Distance University for a Bachelors Degree in Theology. I can only take two classes at a time, but I work on it nearly everyday to get it done as soon as possible. I would say that I probablly spend an average of three hours a day on school work during the week (monday through friday).I don’t work outside the home, but I have made a deal with my parents that I would take over all of the cleaning responsibilities of the whole house so that they would not have to hire someone to do it, which would cost about $500 a month. I also sometimes do yard work and drive my brother when he needs a ride somewhere during the day. My question is: do you think I am fullfilling my Christian obligation to work by doing these things, or do I need to find a “real” job somewhere? I know the bible says that if a man does not work then neither should that man eat. It seems to me that as long as my situation is ok with my parents that it is not sinful, do you agree?
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Well as you are still young and attending school, that would be fine to work for your parents and what not. As you finish your degree then a job you’ll have and then you wont have to worry about it. You are doing something for your future job and that takes place of needing to really work.
 
Now those women who go to college and just get married, have children, and not work. They are committing huge sins…if you listen to the right feminists.

Work does not only mean ‘a real job’ where there is money exchanged. It seems we have been indoctrinated to think this way.
 
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Nick:
this has been bothering me for some time and I just wanted to get some clarity on it. I am 23 years old and male and I live at home with my parents, I am currently taking courses through the Catholic Distance University for a Bachelors Degree in Theology. I can only take two classes at a time, but I work on it nearly everyday to get it done as soon as possible. I would say that I probablly spend an average of three hours a day on school work during the week (monday through friday).I don’t work outside the home, but I have made a deal with my parents that I would take over all of the cleaning responsibilities of the whole house so that they would not have to hire someone to do it, which would cost about $500 a month. I also sometimes do yard work and drive my brother when he needs a ride somewhere during the day. My question is: do you think I am fullfilling my Christian obligation to work by doing these things, or do I need to find a “real” job somewhere? I know the bible says that if a man does not work then neither should that man eat. It seems to me that as long as my situation is ok with my parents that it is not sinful, do you agree?
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You are fullfilling your obligations by doing everything you do to help your parents. Do worry so much. Your parents are trying to help you finish college.
 
Who’s paying for the classes?

Are your parents wealthy?

Just how big is this house?

I think you need to clean the house and do the yardwork to help cover room and board, but I think you need to get a job to pay for the classes as best you can. You’re a grown man going to school part-time.
 
If my daughter was living at home, and studying at home full time,
and I could afford to pay for her schooling, then I would not mind
doing so. If your parents are paying for your education, then consider yourself very fortunate. I do think your doing your share of the responsibilities by cleaning, ext. That is to me, earning your keep. Now if your parents couldn’t afford to put you through school, then it would be the right thing to get yourself a job to pay for your schooling. I wish i could’ve afforded to put my daughter through college! She wanted to be a veterinarian, or a cartoon artist. She is very very good with cartoon type art. She works long hours at a job she doesn’t really like doing, and not even considering going to school, and she is 23 as well. She is only earning enough to survive. Yet, she still does her drawings, ext. I want to keep encouraging her to go for her dream. But she wants to earn it for herself. That is a very respectable attitude. She was practically spoiled her whole life by her aunt and her grandma, and she doesn’t want to take money from others, and wants to do it on her own. It took her a long time to develope real independence
but she did. Iam very proud of her to say the least! I see nothing
wrong in your situation. It is nice that your studying and cleaning the house, ext. Sounds to me like your a very nice person, and I wish you all the best with your studies! please, persue your dream. But remember, keep God first at all times 🙂 As for you living in sin about this? No. your working at home, and earning your keep, so how could it possibly be construed as sin?? Hardly.

:blessyou:
 
You do have a real job, you are going to school! There is nothing wrong with that. If you had a job you might not get what you need to out of your studies. Plus, you help out around the house. Don’t worry at all!
 
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Nick:
this has been bothering me for some time and I just wanted to get some clarity on it. I am 23 years old and male and I live at home with my parents, I am currently taking courses through the Catholic Distance University for a Bachelors Degree in Theology. I can only take two classes at a time, but I work on it nearly everyday to get it done as soon as possible. I would say that I probablly spend an average of three hours a day on school work during the week (monday through friday).I don’t work outside the home, but I have made a deal with my parents that I would take over all of the cleaning responsibilities of the whole house so that they would not have to hire someone to do it, which would cost about $500 a month. I also sometimes do yard work and drive my brother when he needs a ride somewhere during the day. My question is: do you think I am fullfilling my Christian obligation to work by doing these things, or do I need to find a “real” job somewhere? I know the bible says that if a man does not work then neither should that man eat. It seems to me that as long as my situation is ok with my parents that it is not sinful, do you agree?
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your working on a degree is your work now for the moment. most of the jobs you could get without a degree are bs jobs that dont mean anything in the grand scheme of things any way, I know Ive worked lots of those jobs. when you get your degree if you use it for what it is meant for, you will have a much more meaningfull job that most of us.
 
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