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UNDER ATTACK FROM
THE DEVIL? WHAT’ YOUR ADVICE? Joseph, a plumbing contractor has bid a job at a school
a couple counties away. He was low bid at $158,000. The next lowest bid was from a
minority contractor at $199,000. The minority Contractor threw a fit, and the bids were
thrown out. Joe told me about it (in the meantime he had some bad experience with some
other bids) and he said the lord was trying to tell him something, i.e. that He didn’t
want him in the business. I told him don’t jump to conclusions just yet…It could
be that he is just under attack from the devil. 2. Should he sue
the school district? 3. Should he just
take it that God doesn’t want him to have the job? |
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An interesting conundrum, and too close to issues I try to deal with on a daily basis for me to not comment.
The only thing that is clear to me is that Joe should not waste his time suing the school board, unless Joe believes that this is one of the 'great wrongs' in the world that justifies the devotion of several years of his life. Although it is philosophically an interesting reverse discrimination claim, it would be an emotionally and financially draining individual experience. Unless it is a 'cause' for him, he would have to spend a substantial amount of his time reliving the ills of the past instead of devoting his time to making the present better. Absent the ability to persuade a jury that reverse discrimination is in the current public interest, his damages are limited to the amount of time lost in preparing the bid. Further, school boards are notoriously under-financed and even if there were a judgment, it would not compensate for time lost to date, let alone the time and expense related to pursuing the litigation.
From my perspective, whether he should re-bid the job depends on what the inner voice says after he re-examines the facts. Sometime we are given obstacles to test our resolve and sometimes they are a message to consider alternatives. What Joe now knows is the he is dealing with a prospective customer who is susceptible to 'political' pressure, biased or corrupt, or a less dramatic version of one or more of these. If he still has the desire to do the job for positive reasons, in view of all of the other opportunities for work that are available (i.e. he still believes that this is the best use of his time), then I think he should re-bid and include a demand that if the job is awarded for reasons other than cost or quality, such criteria be made a matter of public record. This, primarily, to focus the school board on its responsibilities.
Although I am probably at odds with many as to my beliefs on the extent of the details of God's Plan, I am reasonably comfortable with the concept that hurdles exist as clues to seeking positive solutions, not as reasons to give up. If Joe, knowing what he now knows, does not see a path that allows him to forgive and accept the school board for who they are, and move on to a better opportunity, he does not yet understand the message and should continue the lesson. But this is a matter of inner conviction, which must come from Joe and not from others. The positive aspect, however, is that there is not a wrong answer. The path he chooses is just another chapter in whatever lesson he needs to learn.
From Frank:
If the same circumstances exist today as existed when he went into the business, and if he felt
the lords leading at that time, then he should not make a hasty decision about getting out of the
business. If he stays in the business, I think that he should rebid the job based, again, on the facts
that he used previously. God will honor his integrity in doing business if he takes the high road and
is doing it for the right reasons.
From DBW
I think the plumber should re-bid & let it go....... we shouldn't quit - we need to do our best, then let God take over -
He will choose the ones that we should have - No need to get upset, our witness is in the way we handle our business, bids, etc.
Blessings
DBW
From Charlie
Joe should ask God if he should be in the business before he jumps to conclusions. But, hopefully, Joe already prayed about it before he got into the business.
From David
If it were me I would say the Lord does not want me to take that job. I can already see trouble brewing.
From Ron
He should rebid the job.
From Rod
Pray hard about it, Re-Bid at 157,900. Investigate the reason for the rebid and get it in writing and seek legal counsel.
From Dano
Good Morning Randal,
It is interesting that you bring this up because I a currently under attack.
My answer is simply this: If Joe is not being led by the spirit to take on another challenge e.g. God has put another ministry in his path and funds to do it, then he should just view it as and an attack from the prince of darkness and work/pray his way through it.
ON THE OTHER HAND: If God has given him a new direction to go and He's closing doors on the old one, he should listen closely to the Spirit and not ignore Him.
Your Brother in Christ,
Dano
From Bryson
Question: Is God prompting you in any specific direction and can this be
confirmed as a wise decision based on His Word, His Body (Godly Counsel), and His Spirit
(Prayer)?
If God is not calling you or prompting you in any of these directions, continue to move
forward in both your relationship with Him and in your work (as unto Christ), making sure
that you have allowed Him to deal with anything inside that may be hindering your walk
with Him. If all is clear and your walk is pure, often times things like this are
His tools to build good things within us and cause you a greater appreciation for His
sovereignty.
Above all else, seek HIM and HIS wisdom.
Scripture on Competition
Prov 19:11
11 A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to
overlook an offense.
(NIV)
James 1:19-20
19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be
quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God
desires.
(NIV)
Eph 6:11-17
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand
against the devil's schemes.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil
comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the
gospel of peace.
16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you
can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God.
(NIV)
Isa 54:15-17
15 If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever
attacks you will surrender to you.
16 "See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into
flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to
work havoc;
17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every
tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is
their vindication from me," declares the LORD.
(NIV)