Case Studies
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS FOR PETE
Pete had been feeling somewhat unsatisfied with his job as a CPA in an oil and gas firm. He had experienced several conflicts with his boss and had become somewhat disillusioned with the character of some of the executive staff as he worked at his job.
Opportunity
Knocks
One day a personnel agency called him and told him about another company
in town that could really use his skills and experience. So, probably
as much out of frustration as anything else, he went to talk to the people
at the agency about it. As it turned out, the person he talked to was
a Christian. Pete was very excited about that, and felt that he stood
a much better chance of a good career selection by going through an agency
run by Christians. He thought maybe that this might be a sign from God
that he was on the right path.
In addition, it seemed that the job matched up with his talents and experience and, in fact, was more challenging and offered more pay than his present position. He went home that night very encouraged and discussed it with his wife. She had been praying that Pete would find a job that would make him happier and more fulfilled.
Door Opens
The next day the personnel agency called and asked Pete if he could take
an interview that afternoon. Pete had been praying that if God were "in
this thing," He would very quickly work out an interview. Now, amazingly,
the personnel agency had called and suggested the interview!
One hurdle that he felt he would have to overcome, though, was to let his boss know that he needed some personal time that afternoon. His boss was commonly known to not respond quickly to requests for personal time. However, Pete went in and asked him, and it turned out that his boss was very glad to see him. He was very understanding, even though he did not know what Pete was going to do with the time. But he encouraged him to take some personal time. However, he did ask Pete to finish a project before he left.
Pete agreed. However, the tax form that Pete had to fill out took a little bit longer than he thought it would, so he left a few minutes later than he wanted to for his interview. He got in traffic, and it turned out that there had been an accident on the highway, and traffic was moving slower than normal. Pete began to pray, "Lord, if this is the job you want for me, please help me to get there on time."
As he prayed that prayer, a wrecker passed him. It arrived at the accident and was able to pull the wreckage aside, and traffic regained normal speed within moments. Pete wondered what all this meant but seemed to feel that he was on the right path.
When Pete finally arrived at the interview, he was introduced to Mike, a very warm, friendly individual who seemed to have a lot of care and concern for him. The two went into a conference room. Mike went through a long list of questions about Pete's professional qualifications and then turned to him and asked him what some of his social interests were. Pete mentioned something in passing about his church involvements. At that, Mike asked him which church, and it turned out that Mike attended a sister church in the same denomination.
The two traded questions about, "Do you know so-and-so?" and "Have you ever been to this conference or that retreat center?" and they seemed to really hit it off.
"What Does God Want Me TO DO?
Pete went home and considered what all the events in the last couple of days might mean: "Is this an answer to prayer? Is this what God wants me to do?" The next day he got a call from the personnel agency that said the company had asked for another interview. Pete went in and met another individual, John. Apparently John was Mike's boss.
Again a whole host of questions were thrown Pete's way, and he felt good about the answers he was able to give. John asked Pete if he would be willing to work for the company and offered him a salary that was about ten percent higher than at his present job. Pete faced an immediate dilemma. He blushed and began to perspire. He asked for time to think about the offer and discuss it with his wife.
John seemed just a little perturbed at his reluctance, but agreed and asked if they could get back together the following morning. Pete went home a little embarrassed that he wasn't able to be decisive on the spot. But after all, he really didn't know that much about the company, and he didn't even get a chance to meet the chief financial officer with whom he'd be working. On the other hand, he felt that the Lord might really be leading him this way, and who was he to doubt God's will? After all, he had seen so many answers to prayer, and circumstances seemed to line up in the right direction. Who was he to stand in the way of God? "We walk by faith and not by sight," he reminded himself.
As Pete talked it over with his wife, she thought the circumstances were so overwhelming that he would almost be disobedient not to take the job.
Discussion Questions
1. Pete is going through a decision making process. List some of the stages and elements in this process.
2. How effective do you think Pete's decision making process will be at helping him arrive at the right decision? Why?
3. Pete obviously wants to make a choice that will please God. But what things might be lacking in his approach that would be necessary to make a God-honoring decision?
4. Pete and his wife seem to place a lot of weight on circumstances. How would you evaluate their interpretation and use of circumstances?
5. How would you evaluate the significance of answers to prayer -- Pete's boss giving him personal time; the traffic accident being taken care of; and the interview being so quickly offered?
6. Have you ever been in a similar situation as Pete? process did you use to arrive at a decision? Why?
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