Possible new job problems

[joshringsell]

Hi all,

I’m looking for some advice. I’m a devout Catholic and am just finishing up my Theology MA. Essentially at this point in my life I’m looking to move on to something different and new, so I’ve applied for some jobs, and I have an interview this Friday as a sales executive for Land Rover, essentially selling cars in a prestige dealership. I’m slightly concerned that given the hours worked, the targets, the lucrative commission structure etc that I’m going to lose my way and fall into an obsession with money - this has happened before, and I end up briefly falling away from the faith. It’s a great opportunity, but for the last few years I’ve also been discerning monastic life with a traditional Benedictine community. I know they’re totally different things but as I said I’m looking for something new at this point in my life. I don’t want to get myself into a position where I’m neglecting prayer and my spiritual life in favour of money or anything similar.

In short, do you think I should look for more relaxed work that’s not essentially luxury sales? Perhaps I’m overthinking, but how is a Catholic who only has themselves to support supposed to act with large amounts of money?

Thanks

 

[Athanasiy]

Access to money is a wonderful journey into the world of a new struggle for a strong personality, a personality that should be able, like Jesus, to resist temptation through Scripture. We are all called to endurance and money is an important aspect in ministry as well.
I know some very rich great personalities in this world , they would nt be so great,bountiful and excellent without access to a big money.

 

[SeekSalvation]

I use to fall to the sins of Pride myself long ago. What I mean by that is that I placed Status, Power, and Wealth above everything. Pride is one of man’s greatest sin. If you recognize yourself being drawn in by the sins of Pride, simply humble yourself and be content with what you have. That’s what Apostle Paul tells us in his Epistles. It isn’t a sin to have wealth.

 

[edward_george1]

Two things:

1. Have you talked to your spiritual director about this? If you’re in discernment, you ought to have a spiritual director, and you ought to discuss this with him. This is especially the case if this has been a particular temptation for you in the past.
2. If this hasn’t been a particular temptation for you in the past, then I would say not to overthink it and worry about something that might not be. It’s better to focus on the present moment and what’s right in front of you, and doing that as best as you can so as to give glory to God. In the Screwtape Letters, one of the ways that Wormwood is instructed by Screwtape to tempt the young man is to try to either make him depressed about the past or anxious about the future, but in either case to prevent him from thinking about the present. The present is the only place where we can encounter God, since we are bound by time. God exists in one great present, so the present moment is where our reality meets God, and only there. The past is gone, the future has not yet been given to us, all we have is the present. So I would say unless you have very good reason to think that this is going to be a problem for you, simply surrender the thought to the Lord and do what is in front of you today as well as you can and don’t worry about what might be.

-Fr ACEGC