ZIP YOUR LIPS


ZIP YOUR LIPS
                
The tongue is a powerful instrument. I have seen it make beautiful women ugly and ugly women beautiful. I have seen it build up, and I have seen it destroy. I have been built up, and I have been destroyed by its action. There is a saying that goes, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." There is no truth to that saying. Words can hurt much more than sticks and stones and they usually cause longer-lasting injuries. Following are verses from the Old and New Testaments warning us to zip our lips or tame our tongues.

Ex. 20:7 - ""You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name."

Ex. 20:16 - "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor."

Ex. 23:8 - Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.

Lev. 19:16 - Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the LORD.

Num 30:2 - When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.

Deut. 23:21-23 - If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the LORD your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin.  But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty.  Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the LORD your God with your own mouth.

Job 29:22-23 - "After I had spoken, they spoke no more; my words fell gently on their ears.  They waited for me as for showers and drank in my words as the spring rain.

Job 34:2-3 - Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning.  For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.

Job 38:1-2 - Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:  "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?

Ps. 5:3-4: - For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.

Ps. 5:8-9 - Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies-- make straight your way before me.  Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit.

Ps. 10:4-7 - In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.  His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies.  He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me; I'll always be happy and never have trouble."  His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.

Ps. 12:3-4 - May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue that says, "We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips --who is our master?

Ps. 19:14 - May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Ps. 34:13 - keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.

Ps. 36:3 - The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good."

Ps. 37:30 - The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.

Ps. 39:1b-2 - I said, 'I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.'  But when I was silent and still, not even saying anything good, my anguish increased.

Ps. 50:16-17 - But to the wicked, God says: 'What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?  You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.'

Ps. 52:4 - You love every harmful word, O you deceitful tongue!

Ps. 55:21 - His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.

Ps. 56:5 - All day long they twist my words; they are always plotting to harm me.

Ps. 59:12 - "For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. For the curses and lies they utter,

Ps. 64:3 - "3  They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows.

Ps. 94:4 - "They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting.

Ps. 101:5 - "Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure.

Ps. 120:2 - "Save me, O LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.

Ps. 140:3 - "They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent's; the poison of vipers is on their lips.

Ps. 141:3 - "Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.

Prov. 2:12-17 - "Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,  who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.  It will save you also from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words, who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God.

Prov. 4:24 - "Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Prov. 6:16-19 - "There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:  haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Prov. 7:4-5 - "Say to wisdom, 'You are my sister,' and call understanding your kinsman; they will keep you from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words.

Prov. 7:21 - "With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.

Prov. 8:12-13 - "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.  To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

Prov. 10:11 - The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life.

Prov. 10:19 - "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Prov. 10:20 - "The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

Prov. 10:21 - "The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.

Prov. 10:31 - "The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.

Prov. 10:32 - "The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.

Prov. 11:12 - "A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.

Prov. 11:13 - "A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

Prov. 12:6 - "The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.

Prov, 12:14 - A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth.

Prov. 12:18 - "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 

Prov. 12:19 - "Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

Prov. 12:22 - "The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.

Prov. 12:25 - "An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.

Prov. 13:3 - "He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

Prov. 14:3 - A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.

Prov. 15:2 - "The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

Prov. 15:4 - The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit."

Prov. 15:23 - A man finds joy in giving an apt reply-- and how good is a timely word!

Prov. 16:21 - The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction.

Prov. 16:23-24 - The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Prov. 16:27 - A scoundrel plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.

Prov. 16:28 - A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.

Prov. 17:4 - A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.

Prov. 17:7 - "Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool--how much worse lying lips to a ruler!"

Prov. 17:20 - A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.

Prov. 17:27 - A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.

Prov. 17:28 - "Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue."

Prov. 18:7 - A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

Prov. 18:8 - The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.

Prov. 18:13 - He who answers before listening-- that is his folly and his shame.

Prov. 18:21 - The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Prov. 19:1 - Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.

Prov. 20:15 - "Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

Prov. 20:19 - "A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much."

Prov. 21:23 - He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.

Prov. 23:9 - Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.

Prov. 25:15 - Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

Prov. 25:23 - As a north wind brings rain, so a sly tongue brings angry looks.

Prov. 26:20 - Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.

Prov. 26:22 - The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.

Prov. 26:24 - A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit.

Prov. 26:25  Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.

Prov. 26:28 - A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Prov. 29:19 - A servant cannot be corrected by mere words; though he understands, he will not respond.

Eccl. 5:2-3 - Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.  As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words.

Eccl. 5:6-7 - Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?  "Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.

Eccl. 6:11 - The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?

Ecc. 9:17 - The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.

Eccl. 10:12-14 - Words from a wise man's mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips.  At the beginning his words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness--and the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming-- who can tell him what will happen after him?

Eccl. 10:20 - Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

Jer. 15:19a - Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman.

Micah 6:12 - Her rich men are violent; her people are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully.

NEW TESTAMENT:

Mt 5:33-35a, 37 - Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.'  But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool;..." "Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Mt 6:7 - "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words."

Mt 12:34-35 - You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.  

Matt. 12:36-37 - But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.

Matthew 15:11 - What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.

Rom. 1:28 32- Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.  They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.  Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Rom. 3:13-14 - Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.  The poison of vipers is on their lips. "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.

Rom. 10:8-10 - But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.


I Cor. 2:1-3 - When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.

I Cor. 13:4 - Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

I Cor. 14:9 - So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.

I Cor 14:19 - But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

II Cor. 12:20 - For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.

Eph. 4:15 - Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

Eph. 4:25 - Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body."

Eph. 4:29 - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Eph. 4:31 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Eph. 5:4 - "Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

Eph. 5:6-7 - Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.

 Eph. 6:4 - Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Phil. 2:14 - Do everything without complaining or arguing...

Phil. 4:8 - Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Col. 3:8 - But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Col. 4:6 - Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

I Thess. 4:11-12 - Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

I Tim. 4:12 - Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

I Tim. 5:13 - Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.

I Tim. 6:3-5 - If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

II Tim. 2:14 - Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.

II Tim. 2:24-26 - And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

II Tim. 3:1-5 - But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

Titus 2:7-8 - In everything set them an example by doing what is good.  In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

James 1:26 - "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless."

James 3:2-10 - We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.  When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.  Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,  but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.

James 4:1 - What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?

James 4:11a - "rothers, do not slander one another.

I Pet. 2:1 - Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.

I Pet. 3:1 - Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives...

I Pet. 3:10 - For, Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.

I Pet. 4:11 - If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.  If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.

II Pet. 2:18-19 - For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity--for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

I Jn 3:18 - Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Psalm 19:14 - Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. KJV

WELL SAID:
To speak kindly does not hurt the tongue.

Try to fix the mistake--never the blame.

A good listener is a silent flatterer.

Whenever you speak, your mind is on parade.

Talk is cheap, but you can't buy it back.

Gossip runs down more people than automobiles.

Those who think it permissible to tell white lies soon become color blind.

We have two ears and one mouth that we may listen the more and talk the less. 

I have one tongue, two ears, two eyes;
God created me that way.
So it must be, if I am wise,
I'll hear and see more than I'll say.

SO IT GOES...
Mrs. Brown:  "She told me that you told her the secret that I told you not to tell her!"
Mrs. Blue:  "That mean thing!  I told her not to tell you I told her."
Mrs. Brown:  "Well, don't tell her that I told you she told me."


POOR BUT RICH



POOR BUT RICH


My family did not have much money, but we were rich, nevertheless. We were not poor because my father was lazy. He worked long hours at hard jobs that were hazardous, physically demanding, and in all kinds of weather. For many years he received low pay. Low pay plus a large family often equals poor. God blessed us with other riches, though, that cannot be found in monetary things.

My parents had four small children, all girls, over a span of as many years. Even so, when the youngest (twins) were two years old, my parents were willing to take in my two young cousins, a boy and a girl, who had become homeless. They were the same ages as the two oldest of us siblings. A few years later, two more babies, a girl and boy, entered the family. They were two years apart. Mom and Dad were poor in cash, but rich in compassion and love.

We learned to have fun naturally and did not rely on the artificial fun that comes from things that money can buy, “canned fun,” or worldly activities. My mother played the piano by ear, so we would often sing church songs around the piano. She and “the twins” each had a great sense of humor, so there was much laughter in our house. They were also the best singers so would sing specials at church in harmony and with Mom playing the piano. We were creative in finding entertainment and adventure. Dad made our toys, which included stilts, a go kart, a marble game, cardboard sleds and kites. We were rich in fun days.

Though some treated us as if we were bad and looked down on us because we were poor, we were good people – Christian people. God showed His love for us when He carried us through several traumas and much adversity, including the suicide of dad's oldest sister, the mother of the two cousins that came to live with us. He sent his angels to protect us when we had a car wreck that involved all ten of us, and in which my mother’s shoulders were crushed when she and my baby brother were thrown from the car. That is a story in and of itself. Through all of our trials, God was our hope and our sustainer. We were rich in God’s love and care.

The poor are not to be despised. Christians are to look at no one from a worldly point of view (II Cor. 5:16). Our commission is to help the poor, including the fatherless, the widows, and the aliens who have no one to help them. Paul told Timothy in one of his letters to command those who have worldly riches “to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share” (I Timothy 6:18).

In order for Christians to share their greatest riches with the poor, we must first try to understand them. If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?" We must go where they go, do what they do, and feel what they feel. If we really want to make a difference in their lives, we will share the riches of our time, energy, and expertise. A hands-on visit is worth more to them than a handout, though occasional handouts relieve some of their stress. We can also point them in the right direction and offer them encouragement. Bear in mind, the poor can increase our "riches," too, for there is as much or more to learn from them as they do from us.

We can be confident that God can restore the poor. He has a special place in His heart for them. God chose those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom. He promised that to those who love him (James 2:5). To those who say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing” He says, “realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (Rev. 3:17). So the question is, who is really rich and who is really poor?


--Becky L. Wall
beckyowall.blogspot.com

THE TERMINATOR AND THE TERMINATED


THE TERMINATOR AND THE TERMINATED
by Becky L. Wall


Firing an employee and being fired:

Since this article is Bible-based, I want to focus on the issue of firing employees of a church or church-related organization. Within these entities a great number of people, most of which are ministers, have been dismissed. The principles within scriptures outlined here also apply to other businesses and organizations.

Many of the people who were fired never emotionally (and sometimes financially) recover from this devastating experience. Being fired is one of the highest occurrences on the stress scale. Those doing the firing often agonize over how best to proceed. So, my intention for this Bible-based article is to educate those doing the firing, to help firees heal, and to help other church members determine the wrongs and rights of the situation.

Being Fired

Firing and being fired dates back to the church’s infancy. Mark, also known as John Mark, one of Jesus's followers and helpers, was fired by the Apostle Paul for not showing up in Pamphylia (Acts 15 37-38). Paul eventually came to appreciate Mark so much that he asked for him specifically at a later date. (II Timothy 4:11).

Everyone knows someone fired by the church, usually a preacher. The following statistics compiled for Christianity Today (Christianity Today.com April 16, 2006) reveal the high number of ministers who have been fired or forced out:

“7. During your ministry, have you ever been fired or forced to resign? Fired: 6 percent; forced out: 19 percent. (Since some had experienced both, the combined tally came to 22.8 percent; still nearly 1 in 4 pastors have been terminated.) We also asked ‘Who forced you out?’ and found the biggest single culprit was "a small faction’ of about 10 people.”
“8. [Of those forced out:] Was the church told why? 63 percent of the time, no.”
“9. [Of those forced out:] To your knowledge, had the church forced out other ministers in its past? 62 percent of respondents said yes, meaning that roughly 15 percent of 
Protestant congregations are, in writer Dave Goetz's term, ‘repeat-offender churches.’”

Being fired doesn’t affect just one person. There is damage on every level of the person’s being when fired, including emotional, physical, financial, employability, social and possibly spiritual. I will touch on each of these factors.

The Emotional Factor:The grief and sense of loss over the termination are so intense that it takes many months to be able to function at all. Yet the one fired is expected to find another job and perform well. The grief may be the same as from divorce and right behind death. The stress of it all will subsequently affect the health of the person who was fired. It also affects the family and sometimes the marriage.The person who was fired may have to give up his or her home, pull the children out of the school in which they are rooted and where their friends are, give up friends and familiar surroundings, and relocate. Relocating generates another set of stresses.

The Physical Factor:That employee may develop heart problems, high blood pressure, anxiety problems, depression, digestive ailments, etc. But the former employee will have no health insurance including for their spouse and children.

The Financial Factor:Financial loss includes the obvious loss of income, loss of health and dental insurance, loss of savings including savings for retirement while seeking new employment and possible loss of a home. A pastor will surely lose his home if the church provided a parsonage while he was employed.

Employability Factor:Being fired marks a person for every potential job. In every interview the question is asked, “Why did you leave your last job?” The application form may also ask, “Have you ever been fired or have you ever been asked to resign?” Both questions are asked to weed out those who present a risk. But the applicant may be completely capable of filling the position.Asking a worker to resign is a common practice. But if the worker tells a potential employer he resigned, the truth would eventually reveal itself and the person would be seen as deceitful at best and a liar at worst. Also, when a person has been fired from a church or church-related organization or business, potential employers may think the fired person must have done something really terrible for a church to fire him or her, such as steal tithes or have an affair with a church member or leader. The potential employers would expect a church or church-related organization to bend over backwards to try to work with a person.

The Social Factor: Many people treat a person who has been fired much like they treat a divorcee. Some don’t know where to place fault, so they wonder whether to offer an arm around the worker's shoulder to comfort the firee or to give that person a dirty look. Other people do not know what to say so they shun the person. The firee also shuns people because of possible embarrassment. A formerly employed person might have to answer the question, “Are you still working at (fill in the blank)_________ ?” That’s when the firee begins to stutter, the person's face turns red, the eyes look downward and embarrassment sets in, along with the feeling of being a failure while everyone else seems to be a winner.

Spiritual Factor: The most important spiritual factors within a church where an employee was fired, usually the minister or song leader are: Those upset with the church leaders may find another church home or the church may even split. Still others will lose respect for church leaders and some who stay may lose their spiritual fervor. Fired pastors may give up ministry altogether, as may any person who has been fired from any type of ministry. New or weak Christians in the church may drop out. And the children who are paying attention are upset and are drawing their own conclusions or are getting false information or hearing gossip. They remember it the rest of their lives if it was someone they liked. They often see the big picture whereas many grownups don't. 

Dismissing someone does not always edify the church. In fact, if the church is practicing Biblical principles, the leadership would avoid causing such destruction and pain in a person’s life. Yes, Christ wants the church to grow and the church leaders may feel the one fired is failing in that area, but does the end justify the means? Isn't it just as much the church leaders and members' responsibility to grow and nurture the church? Are they failing? Do the church leaders fall in the category of the Pharisees in the Bible who saw themselves as having no faults and refused to see truths?

How to Fire an Employee:

I realize there is another point of view, the view of the ones doing the firing. Some people do deserve to be fired. But when that must be done, every consequence should be carefully considered. Those who do the firing ought to consider the following suggestions before terminating someone:

The questions that should be asked are, “How would Jesus do it,” “What would He say?” and “Does firing the employee edify the church?”

Before acting, read I Corinthians 13, the love chapter, then examine yourself. Have you been patient with the employee? Have you kept a record of wrongs? Have you been easily angered or self-seeking? Read also Matthew 23 and make sure your actions and words do not mimic those of the Pharisees, who Jesus chastises.
 
Consider the verse from I Thessalonians 5:11 which says "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." Ask yourself, were you building the employee up? The message is meant for Christians but should extend past the church doors. We're not to be one way at church and another in the secular community.
Consider the employee’s circumstances and how much damage would be done to his or her life by your action.
 
Make every effort to work things out, if possible, the key word being “every.”
Assume the role of a humble servant. Do not have a “Big I, little u” mind-set.
Pray before you act, but know that praying doesn’t always make the action the Lord’s will. That person may be in that position by God's design for reasons unknown to people.
Don’t have a stance of “My mind is made up; don’t bother me with the facts.” Better yet, talk to the person about his or her actions and gather the facts before making up your mind to fire that person. Things aren't always as they appear.
 
If the employee is doing no work at times or if the employee is loud and/or hurts morale, consider I Thess. 5:14: "And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone." The Bible tells us just how to treat employees and bosses too. Criticism should not occur weeks or months after the infraction. It is better to not let anger build. It could be that a simple explanation gathered at the time of the incident will resolve the problem. Use straight talk when telling the employee why he or she is being fired.

If honest communication is not present from the beginning, the employee will be unable to perform effectively and their job loss may be inevitable. That would make superiors and/or co-workers as guilty of poor performance as the one being fired.

Consider that though constructive criticism hurts, it doesn’t hurt as badly as losing a job.

If pay cuts become necessary, they should be pro-rated among employees from the highest to the least on the pay scale. Needed funds should never be taken first from the pocket of “the little guy.”

Employees should not be treated rudely or made to feel unwanted so that they will leave on their own.

The amount at which the person is hired in should not be begrudged so much that some involved in the hiring do not agree with the new hiree's salary make it their mission to look for fault in the person. It is best that all involved in the hiring are on board. Otherwise there might be an internal "war." Don’t look for fault in the employee if you did not agree with the hiring of that person.

The employee should ask if everyone on the board was in agreement to his or her being hired and with the amount they would be paid. If not, give careful consideration to accepting the job because that one in opposition to a person being hired may look for his faults, real or imagined, or create alleged faults for that person in hopes of making him want to quit.

If a person is hired away from a previously good job, that person should not be let go from his new position when it is determined that his or her pay, or a portion of it, could be used elsewhere. Don't put the employee in a financially distressed situation, especially if the employee was hired out of a comfortable job. Shorting the power company or the utility department what is owed is never acceptable. What is owed an employee should never be shorted either. Behave justly. Don't oppress workers who are desperate for a job.

A fired employee should be assured that every effort will be made to find him or her another job. That promise should be followed up with action. Firing a person without helping the person find another job is comparable to the situation in James 2:16: " 'Go in peace, keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?" A person needs a job to provide for their physical needs and the needs of their family.

When giving a recommendation for the employee, assure the potential employer that the employee is highly recommended and that he or she has good work ethics, is easy to work with, and has impeccable moral character (if all are true). Every effort should be made to protect the employee’s work reputation. It is the law that no negative recommendation be given.

The employee should not be terminated, then forgotten. Church leaders/shepherds and all employers have a responsibility for the welfare of the ex-employee until that employee has a new position.

In a church situation, don’t say that because the ex-employee chose not to stay with the congregation, the leadership is no longer responsible for the person. Usually the firee does not stay because of the embarrassment, humiliation, rejection, emotional pain, and feelings of being unloved and unwanted. Love and concern should not cease, or your responsibilities.

Also in a church situation, fellow church members should be informed that the ex-employee was not immoral. When there is silence, the people in the congregation will come up with their own ideas or story/gossip as to why the person is no longer employed by the church, thus injuring the employee’s reputation. Still others will add fuel to the fire. It is wrong, but church people aren’t perfect.

Don’t ask the employee to resign to avoid having to answer questions from others about why the person was let go. For the person to say he resigned when he really wanted to stay is, in effect, a lie. If the employee chooses to resign knowing he isn't wanted there, that resignation isn't a lie but is the result of coersion. Purposely making the employee miserable at work so that he will leave is passive aggressive and does not portray Christian behavior and is unacceptable. If money is an issue, just say so.

If the employee has been accused of a major infraction, he or she has a right to meet the accuser and address any negative comments being made about him or her. Too many decisions are based on misunderstandings, misconceptions, half-truths, gossip, and even lies. Follow the principles of Matthew 18:15-16: "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'"

Ask yourself if you are trying to take the splinter out of the employee’s eye when you have a plank in your own eye. Do the ex-employee’s faults seem worse than yours?

Consider how you would want to be treated and what damage would be done to you and your family if your own job were on the chopping block.

Do not single out an employee simply because that employee is the least on the prestige or power scale, "the low man on the totem pole."

Final Thoughts Concerning the Church

The church is not a business any more than a family is a business. Church members and workers are family and should treat each other as such. Every effort should be made to work together in love and harmony, allowing for differences in personality types, strengths, weaknesses, energy levels, life experiences, spiritual maturity and opinions. The “divorce” of a person on the church payroll should be an option only in extreme cases such as ongoing immorality, preaching false doctrine, or defiant “dereliction of duty.” Consider that God Himself may have placed the person in that position for a reason, or as the book of Esther says "for such a time as this."

--Becky Wall
beckyowall.blogspot.com

A BIBLICAL GUIDE TO THE EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP


A BIBLICAL GUIDE TO THE EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP
by Becky L. Wall

Some may think the Bible has little or nothing to say about the employer-employee relationship but, in fact, it has plenty to say. It is a matter of substituting the word “master” with the word “employer” or “boss” and substituting the word “servant” or “slave” with the word “employee.” Some verses already use the word “workers” so no substitution is needed there. The Bible addresses such issues as: What should be the expectations of both the employer and employee? What constitutes a ruthless boss or “taskmaster?” What makes for a lazy or insubordinate employee? What wages should be paid to employees? What attitude should bosses have toward workers and vice versa. Most importantly, should God be a part of the work force as the ultimate CEO. For the most part I will let the scriptures speak for themselves.

There are those bosses who think of their employees as nothing but work machines or robots. They put unfair work burdens on their employees. They may not consider that he has a family at home. Bosses may cut or freeze the workers' oppressive wages so they, the employers, don’t have to give up any of their own income when times become less profitable. There are employees who greatly dislike taking orders and who resent those in higher positions. There will always be employees who bad-mouth their superiors, and other employees will “brown-nose” or try to get in good with the boss to get special favors or recognition. There is fault on both sides.

I was surprised when I read the following verse because of the reason it gives for working: Ephesians 4:28: “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.” Obviously this isn’t the only reason a person works but sharing with those in need was emphasized.

Work Week
Our normal full-time workweek is 5 days or 40 hours. That is not an issue since the Bible allows for six days of labor. The Lord is more concerned with the “day of rest” being devoted to Him than the number of hours a person works. (I’m not suggesting that it is not important to spend time with the spouse and kids.) That day of rest is also essential to good health. Even crops need to rest. That’s why some farmers rotate crops and leave a field unplanted every 7 years. Workers too are more productive after they have had a day of rest. They will have better attitudes also.
  • Exodus 20:9,11b - "Six days you shall labor, and do all your work… For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."

  • Exodus 34:21 - (ESV Bible) - "Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.

  • Deuteronomy 5:13-14 - "Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do."
You may say to yourself, "Yes, but these are Old Testament rules." The Old Testament is a guidebook, a manual of sorts, that becomes the teacher that defines sin and guides us as to how to live and treat others. It is the "school Master," The New Testament brought a new teacher who came not to abolish the Old Testament but to fulfill it. He puts emphasis on the relationship part of our actions, always showing love, and obeying out of a desire to please God, not because you are following the law out of a sense of duty. "The Master" teaches what a person needs to know about recognizing right from wrong and what is expected in the way of obedience and pleasing God, and so by the time a person is ready to begin studying the New Testament, that person should have the wisdom and maturity to know how to treat one another. B
ecause Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice, we don't obey the sacrificial laws. The Sabbath was on Saturday in the Old Testament but Jesus rose on Sunday and the Apostles worshiped on Sunday, so when Sunday rolls around, at least get out of bed and go to church. Better yet, let the work wait a day.

Wages
Leviticus 19:13 -  “...Do not hold back the wages of a hired man overnight.” There should be a set time for payment. If a man only works a day, he should be paid at the end of the day. Withholding payment, even for a time, puts a great burden on a worker. This verse shows great consideration for the worker. If payment is withheld just to lessen the bookwork or for the employer to gain interest on the worker’s wages, then that is not showing consideration for the worker and is self-centered. Any interest gained on the worker’s withheld wages is ill-gotten gain.

Nehemiah 5:7: “I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, ‘You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!'” Usury is unreasonably high interest rates. Substitute the words “nobles” and “officials” with the words “businessmen” and “government officials.” The principle is the same. These are the days of unreasonably high interest rates imposed by unscrupulous people who in the past were considered “loan sharks.” And then there are the high fees attached whenever for whatever. It is often the poor who have to pay the high interest rates and fees. No mercy is shown to anyone no matter how desperate their circumstances. This practice falls into the category of oppression. At least these legal loan sharks don’t bust knees for late payment or to force a payment.

Malachi 3:5 - "So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against… those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice…"

Matthew 20:1-14 - "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?' 'Because no one has hired us,' they answered. He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.' "When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.' The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.' But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?' ”

Our first thought may be the unfairness to the ones who labored more. Though this parable has a spiritual meaning, the principle being explained in the parable applies to an earthly situation also. We should be content with the wages we agreed upon and not begrudge other workers for getting the same amount, though they did less. The owner can do as he pleases with his money and it is not for us to question how he chooses to spend it.

Should a preacher or evangelist deserve a salary for serving the Lord considering we are all supposed to serve Him? Luke 10:1-7 indicates they should. The last verse is the key verse in this instance. "After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.' When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages.”

The disciples may or may not have received a cash wage in the homes they visited, but the custom of the people who were hospitable enough to receive them was to "roll out the red carpet," so to speak. They butchered the best cow and provided the disciples with whatever they needed to continue their journey.

Romans 4:4 - “Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation.” No employer should make the worker feel that he received his pay out of the goodness of the employer's heart and that the employee should therefore be grateful to him. Yes, every employee should be grateful to have a job but it isn't for the employer to rub it in. After all, the employee did work for his pay which in turn put money in the employer's pocket. Maybe they should thank each other.

James 5:4-5 - “Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence.”

How many employers do we see around us living in luxury and self-indulgence while their employees and their families suffer because of low wages, which equals oppression. That is not capitalism; that is greed. Keep in mind, also, that their social security income will depend on the amount of their wages. If their wages were constantly low, they will receive a low social security payment. They are doomed to a lifetime of poverty.

I Timothy 5:17-18 - “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, ‘Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,’ and ‘The worker deserves his wages.’ ” These verses make it clear that full-time preachers and teachers are to be paid. Though Paul refused an income, he made it clear that preachers deserve one.

Deuteronomy 24:14 - "Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of your towns. Pay him his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and is counting on it."

Take God to Work or Leave Him at Home?
Psalm 127:1-2 - “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat…” Of course we see ungodly people who build fine houses and run great cities, but time brings punishment if that becomes the way of the land.

Psalm 90:17 - "May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us-- yes, establish the work of our hands." We get our very being from God. He wants to be in every aspect of our lives. He is a jealous God and does not like other gods being brought into a nation that once served Him and only Him. Businesses, government and schools have all brought other gods into their workplaces and have even shown these other gods more respect than the Christian God this country served from its beginning.

Attitude at Work: Don’t Have One; Be Content
I Timothy 6:6 - “But godliness with contentment is great gain. or we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." 


I Corinthians 4:12 - “We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it. . . ” 

I Thessalonians 4:11 - “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands . . . ” 

Eccl. 4:8 - “There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. ‘For whom am I toiling,’ he asked, ‘and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?’ This too is meaningless-- a miserable business!”

Solomon was obviously depressed when he wrote the first part of Ecclesiastes but he is right in saying that wealth does not bring contentment (It does help misery). Working long hours just to increase wealth leaves no time to enjoy life and it ruins relationships.

Reasonable Boss or Taskmaster?
Exodus 3: 7 - "Then the LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings…" 


Nehemiah 5:18 - "Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people." As governor, Nehemiah was compassionate toward the people who were helping him rebuild the walls of the temple. Unlike the governors before him, he did not live with abundance while they did without or with little. Nehemiah was a boss who cared about the welfare of his helpers.

Leviticus 25:53b - "He is to be treated as a man hired from year to year; you must see to it that his owner does not rule over him ruthlessly." This verse speaks of a slave. The main point is to not treat the slave ruthlessly but with the respect of a hired hand, a seasonal worker that returns every year.

Job 24:1-12 - "Why does the Almighty not set times for judgment? Why must those who know him look in vain for such days? Men move boundary stones; they pasture flocks they have stolen. They drive away the orphan's donkey and take the widow's ox in pledge. They thrust the needy from the path and force all the poor of the land into hiding. Like wild donkeys in the desert, the poor go about their labor of foraging food; the wasteland provides food for their children. They gather fodder in the fields and glean in the vineyards of the wicked. Lacking clothes, they spend the night naked; they have nothing to cover themselves in the cold. They are drenched by mountain rains and hug the rocks for lack of shelter. The fatherless child is snatched from the breast; the infant of the poor is seized for a debt. Lacking clothes, they go about naked; they carry the sheaves, but still go hungry. They crush olives among the terraces; they tread the winepresses, yet suffer thirst. The groans of the dying rise from the city, and the souls of the wounded cry out for help. But God charges no one with wrongdoing." (Not yet.) "There are those who rebel against the light, who do not know its ways or stay in its paths. When daylight is gone, the murderer rises up and kills the poor and needy; in the night he steals forth like a thief.” The corrupt oppress the poor. The poor suffer on every level. They work hard to provide for themselves and their families but it is futile because of evil people.

Job 31:13-15 - “If I have denied justice to any of my servants, whether male or female, when they had a grievance against me, what will I do when God confronts me? What will I answer when called to account? Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?"

Isaiah 58:3-10 - "Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high…" "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?… Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” 


Ephesians 6:9 - "And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him." 


Colossians 4:1 - "Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven." 


James 5:1-3 - “Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.”

I Timothy 6:9-10 - "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

I Timothy 6:17-19 - "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age..."
Proverbs 18:23 - “A poor man's field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away.” This verse shows that the man works and works hard but others take advantage of his success.
Proverbs 14:31 "He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God."
    Jeremiah 22:13-17 - "Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, his upper rooms by injustice, making his countrymen work for nothing, not paying them for their labor. He says, 'I will build myself a great palace with spacious upper rooms.' So he makes large windows in it, panels it with cedar and decorates it in red. ‘Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He did what was right and just, so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?’ declares the LORD. ‘But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain…and on oppression and extortion.’ " An employer may say “When did we oppress the poor?” If the employer keeps the worker(s) wages low in order to have more for himself, he is oppressing those workers. If they are making an adequate and fair salary and are not poor and needy, that is a different story.
    Proverbs 18:23 - "A poor man pleads for mercy, but a rich man answers harshly." If an underpaid poor worker asks for a raise, do not answer him harshly. Not all employers are rich but as profits increase, so should the wages of a worker. Through his labor and the boss’s business savvy, they have increased the profits as a team effort.

    Matthew 18:32-33 - “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ ” A boss should treat a worker with the same mercy he would want to be shown by his superiors or overseers.

    Proverbs 22:16-21 - “And he told them this parable: ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ ’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

    When God blesses a person with riches, thinking of the needs of others will help ward off the greed monster for he is most dangerous when the person makes his wealth all about himself.

    Ephesians 6:9 - “And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.”

    Show Respect for and Obey a Boss
    Matthew 10:24 - “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.” John 13:16 “Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master… ” As an employee, know your place.

    Malachi 1:6 - "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?" says the LORD Almighty.” The Lord is making a point about respecting Him but he says it in a way that it is a given or it is understood that a servant/worker honors his master/boss.

    Ephesians 6: 5-8 - “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.”

    I Timothy 6:1-2 - “All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered. Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them.”


    Titus 2:9-10 - “Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” Substitute “worker” for “slave” and “boss” for “master.” Talking back to a boss in a disrespectful way would be considered insubordination and does not set a good Christian example. Stealing items from workplaces has become a common problem. If someone else paid for an item and if that person had every intention of keeping the item, then to take it would be robbery. A worker who has earned the trust of his boss is a great Christian example. A boss would be more apt to listen to what a trustworthy worker has to say and to believe it or consider it worthy of more thought.

    I Peter 2:17-18 - “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.”

    “Proper respect” means the respect that is culturally due the person, whether it be a handshake or a kiss on the cheeks. “Proper respect” also means knowing your place as a subordinate, knowing when to speak and not to speak, obedience, and when in front of others, responding to the boss or employer in a way that shows honor. Never embarrass your superior. Speak well of him/her or say nothing at all.

    I Corinthians 4:12 - “We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it…” 


    Matthew 24:45-50 - “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.” This reminds me of the saying “When the cat’s away the mice will play.” In this case the mouse got caught.

    John 15:15a - “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business… ”

    Speaking of how to treat a king, your superior:
    Eccl. 8:5-6 - Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure (to question a king's decision). For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a person may be weighed down by misery."

    (Substitute "boss" for "king.")
    Eccl. 10:20 - "Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say" which reminds me of the saying "A little birdie told me so." Best to keep any negative thoughts about the boss or co-workers to yourself.

    The Poor Worker’s Dilemma
    Ecclesiastes 5:8 - “If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.” This verse may not be talking about the workplace but the principle is the same. The poor worker is in a bottom position. In many cases every superior has a superior, one higher than him, and on up the ladder. Solomon is talking about the wrongs he has observed.

    Depend on God, Do Not Turn Away From Him
    Psalm 107:8-13 - “Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains, for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.”
    Psalm 127:1-2 “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat…”
    Of course we see ungodly people who build fine houses, have profitable businesses and run great cities, but time brings punishment if that becomes the way of the land.

    Haggai 1:6-11 - You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD. "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. ‘Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands."

    A Warning and a Gift
    Proverbs 5:8-10 - "Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your best strength to others and your years to one who is cruel, lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich another man's house." 


    Eccl. 3:12-13 - “I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live and also that everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil--this is the gift of God.”

    The Sluggard
    The following verses may have a spiritual meaning but the principles are the same on the job.

    I Thessalonians 5:14 - “And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” 
    II Thessalonians 3:11 - “We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies.” If a person is observed slacking off on the job, that person is to be warned that his/her job depends on staying busy. Proverbs 21:25 - “The sluggard's craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.” 

    Proverbs 6:6-11 - “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest--and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.” Obviously there is a lot to be learned from an ant. I was so fascinated by the ant metaphor that I wrote a poem called “Consider the Ant, You Sluggard.” I incorporated phrases from scripture verses other than these that describe a lazy man.

    CONSIDER THE ANT, YOU SLUGGARD

    The lazy man is a sluggard;
    He spends a lot of time smirking,
    For when everyone else works hard,
    He is hardly working.

    A sluggard cannot be trusted,
    To do what he says he will do.
    His excuses are wild, his words are charming,
    All the while he’s ignoring you.

    The lazy man is very wise,
    But only in his own eyes.
    He thinks that people are fools,
    And that they believe his lies.

    The loafer can’t keep a job;
    He is often shown the door.
    So when a man’s hands are idle,
    He and his family live poor.

    He doesn’t plow in season,
    But checks for a magical crop.
    He fears a lion or a murderer;
    He makes any excuse to stop.

    The shirker arrives to work late,
    He is always the first to leave.
    And that’s if he has a job at all,
    Because work is his pet peeve.

    He should consider the ant;
    That works though it never gets paid.
    No one tells it what to do,
    Yet the “groundwork” always gets laid.

    Prov. 18:9 - "One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys." 

    Matthew 25:14-29 - “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” Don’t be lazy. In business a profit must be produced. A worker for God's kingdom must not shirk his work making fishers of men.

    Work Tithes
    Help the poor and alien (not ones from outer space) any way you can within your profession. In this way you are tithing your time and resources, though not to the exclusion of your monetary tithes. These verses may spark a controversy as to whether to help the illegal aliens. I can only say that there are verses that tell us to obey the authorities. See Romans 13:1 and Titus 3:1.

    I Thessalonians 2:9 - “Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.” Paul and his fellow preachers donated their full time and efforts – not just a portion. They worked jobs in order to do so.

    Deuteronomy 24:19 - “When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.” The principle here is that employers are to consider the less fortunate when operating a business.

    Leviticus 19:10 - “Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God” 


    Leviticus 23: 22 - "When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God."

    Solomon Addresses the Subject of Labor
    Solomon meditates on the subject of labor in the book of Ecclesiastes, and it is apparent that he is in turmoil. Even though he had everything life had to offer, he seems to be depressed. He struggles to understand the role of labor in life. He is disheartened by the emptiness it brings. In the end he sees that labor does have some value, but that value is not in the material things that money can buy.

    This is how he begins: “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” (Eccl. 2:10-11)

    A few verses later he continues his lament by saying, “So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless. A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without HIM, who can eat or find enjoyment?” (Eccl 2:20-25)

    Solomon makes a profound statement in the 4th chapter where he says in the 4th verse, “And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor.” Today we call that “keeping up with the Joneses.” People make excuses to explain why they work longer hours than necessary, and the truth is that they want things and they want their kids to have the latest gadgets or toys. They may want others to be impressed or they may want no less than their neighbor or friend or family member or whoever they hold in high regard materialistically. Another way of saying that is “whoever they envy.”

    Verse 6 is where he surmises his finding: “Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.” We would be wise to come to the same conclusion. The stress that chasing the dollar brings cancels out any happiness that it brings.

    Solomon builds on his reflections in Chapter 6, verse 2: “God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.”

    God gives possessions to each person, but God does not intend for the possessions to provide fulfillment in a person’s life, for they are not what is most important. Material possessions cannot fill the void that a relationship with God and others should fill. Those possessions eventually begin to rule their lives, for they must be maintained. The person becomes a slave to things. And you can't take them with you when you go.

    Some people spend their earnings on their addiction of choice and this too pulls them away from the family. Man cannot serve both money – or the things money can buy -- and God.

    This is the conclusion Solomon came to in the book of Ecclesiastes: "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."

    My Comments:
    There is no scripture to back up the following statements; they are merely my opinions, observations and experiences:

    When a person takes a new job, one of the first things that happens is that they are given a Job Description on paper. The employer's expectations should be on that Job Description so there is no confusion as to who does what in the work pool. In addition to the Job Description, the worker should have in writing the amount they will get paid, how long they will be on probation, when they can expect raises, vacation days, holidays, sick days, the rank of superiors, fringe benefits, etc. How insurance works should also at least be discussed, especially if using it often might affect their job. The amount of severance pay should also be stated. When considering severance pay, should vacation days be included in the severance pay (in other words lost) or are they in addition to severance pay.The more that is put down in writing, the less confusion there will be should a question arise. If an entity such as a church or non-profit organization doesn't pay into workmen's compensation, that should be made known during the interview.

    The person should be well trained. There are times when the bosses assume the new employee is being adequately trained and they are not.

    Superiors should not give the duties of a trainee to a person who has been there longer just to save time. If a person is hired for a certain job, they should be allowed to perform the duties of the position, not by-passed. Learning through experience leads to better production.

    When and if a board does the hiring, or if even two superiors do the hiring, if there is a conflict over who to hire, do not hire anyone until everyone is in agreement. Otherwise the one on the hiring committee who didn't get his way will look for fault in the new employee and the new employee won't have a clue why they can't seem to do anything right in that superior's eyes. Also, those who don't agree with who was hired will cause a negative undercurrent. The job candidate should think twice about accepting a job where everyone is not in agreement that he should be hired.

    Should a problem arise, discuss the problem with the employee and give that employee a chance to explain their actions. There may be more to the story than what appears.

    There are backbiters in almost every workplace. Don't let them ruin the morale of the workplace. Explain to them the consequences of their actions if they do not cease to bring down morale.

    If a worker sees dishonesty occurring in the workplace, or if married employees are seen getting too chummy, it is best to discuss the situation with a superior only. There may be a time when it is the superior who is involved.This is a real tricky situation that must be carefully thought out and backed up with facts. Don't gossip with other workers. The worker should keep in mind that he or she could lose his or her position for exposing the situation. Again, things aren't always as they appear. Be tactful, be factual and be merciful.

    Encourage other workers. The Bible teaches us to be encouraging. People are hesitant to be encouraging for fear the person will get the big head but more often than not the person is wondering if they are measuring up to expectations. Everyone likes to know they are doing a good job.

    --Becky Wall
    beckyowall.blogspot.com

    key words: #overworked #lazyworker #workplacedisharmony #moralekillers #oppressedworker conflictsatwork
    Godintheworkplace #inadequatetraining #hiring #firing #communicationvoid #workplace #office #boss brown-nosing #disrespecttoboss #insubordination #negativeundercurrent #thingsarenotastheyappear #equalaspeoplebutnotinrank
    #labor

    Links: https://beckyowall.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-terminator-and-terminated.html

    https://beckyowall.blogspot.com/2013/04/consider-ant-you-sluggard.html

    https://beckyowall.blogspot.com/2013/07/solomon-addresses-subject-of-labor_15.html

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