Is
it just me, or have work ethics in the working and business world changed?
I first noticed it about eight years ago when I went to get my cell phone
upgraded. There were about three young clerks in their early 20s.
They were standing around talking, and seemed completely oblivious to the
fact that I was a customer standing there waiting for service. One of
them finally glanced my way, and I can tell you, they were not smiling, but
seemed rather annoyed that I had come in and interrupted their little visit!
Is this not cheating the company?
There
are many other instances where customer service has sadly lacked and employees have
been more concerned about visiting with co-workers than doing the job they were
hired to do. Perhaps part of the reason is that many young people (and
some older ones too) have not been taught to be industrious and inventive from
a grass roots level, or been given enough responsibility in their childhood,
along with discipline, to start and finish a job to the best of their ability.
In school, it is against school principle to even fail a child who has
not pulled their weight in case their feelings get hurt!
As
well, from what I've seen, far too much has already been done for some of these
young people, leaving them with little to nothing to do. This could be
partly because their superiors have done everything for them, and failed to
teach them responsibility and to do things on their own. It could also
have to do with our computer age, where computers do all the thinking for you.
You never have to pick up a pen or pencil and write! They don't even have
to pick up the phone to call someone; it's all done through texting. It
is no wonder many young people may feel bored or restless in their job when
they have not had opportunity to take responsibility or invent anything for
themselves -- it's already been done or already thought of.
Yet
for born-again Bible-believing Christian workers, at whatever age, there is a
very different standard that is required, and it is a high standard.
Firstly,
and most importantly, we are to work with an attitude of humility for the
Lord's sake since it is Him we are really serving:
Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all
things your masters
according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness
of heart, fearing God:
Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do,
do it heartily, as to
the Lord, and not unto men;
Col 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for
ye serve the Lord Christ.
We are to work wholeheartedly and put our utmost
efforts into it:
Ecc 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in
the grave, whither thou goest.
Perhaps this is one of the clearest, strongest, and
most deliberate instructions for Christian workers:
Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing,
but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Finally, one day we must all give an account before the
Lord for our actions, words and deeds:
2Co 5:9 Wherefore we labour,
that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear
before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he
hath done, whether it be good
or bad.
These Scriptures are not to be taken lightly. If
God has given us a job to do, then we must do it with all our heart, strength,
and mind. We must not cheat the company or organization with slacking
off, chatting with co-workers, taking too many mental health days, or having a
bad attitude towards our boss or supervisors. The workplace is often a
battleground because it is also a calling. To shirk duties is a sure way
to leave a very bad example to those that are unsaved. And if we do not
particularly like our job, then we must pray and ask God to either move us on
to another position, or give us the grace, humility and fortitude to remain
where we are, and make the very best of it until His will for and through us is
accomplished there.
