This was one of the biggest issues I had with this religion!!
I came into the religion as a young single woman with a full-time job to support myself, since money doesn't grow on trees! Over time, I came to be criticized because I could not be "spiritual" enough if I worked full-time.
I was ADVISED that I should quit my decent job (with benefits) and do housecleaning and pioneer. The thought was repugnant to me and made no sense. I was torn inside about this! So, one day I helped an older sister clean a house. It took several hours to do this (with two of us) and I was told I'd have to do two a day if I was to make enough money to survive, (not to mention strain on my back and knees from manual labor plus exposure to chemicals on a daily basis!)
I knew that this was NOT for me and I put the issue to rest in my mind. I also looked around the hall and saw that not all did housecleaning and the woman I helped was MARRIED and just did it for extra money. She was NOT supporting herself!!! I thought to myself that I'd have to be out of my mind to listen to these people.
The price I "paid" because I refused to pursue poverty was that I was viewed as "materialistic" and not "spiritual" and was not invited to special gatherings. But, the funny thing was, NO smart people in the hall pursued poverty either apparently. There were some affluent types..I got the sense there is a double standard for single women - and I certainly wasn't following it.
I have been out for fifteen years and I come here to see what is happening in the religion.
While I feel badly about the predicaments of the bethelites and special pioneers who are being let go, some bethelites have, in the past, made callous remarks about people like me who worked full time - well now they're going to learn what life in the REAL world is like....I am very glad I am not in the congregations now to have the hat passed around to me to contribute money (Imagine the nerve?). Nope!!....Let their so-called "spiritual" friends give them money! Good luck.