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Stealing From the Job Is Stealing From MeBy Phillip Hampton The question of "stealing" at work is one which apparently is open to a number of different interpretations among Apostolics. Some employees feel that they are owed somewhat more than their agreed-upon compensation, and feel justified in taking advantage of their employer to help even the playing field. To them "stealing" is no more than getting what they rightfully deserve. Others simply are not careful in how they manage other's resources, and so, "stealing" is no more than poor stewardship. Of course, there are also those employees who are outright thieves, but hopefully¾ if you are reading this article on ninetyandnine.com¾ you do not fit into this category. As an employer of a small business, when I evaluate job applicants I look for evidence that a potential employee would be willing to go beyond the call of duty to fulfill his or her obligation to the company. Antithetical to that concept is the employee whom one would frequently suspect of cheating the company. Certainly Apostolic Christian employees should fall into the former category. True Christians are to be "blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world." (Philippians 2:15). The only opportunity we have to "shine as lights in the world" is far from the glow of a Sunday night service. Our true Christian character is displayed for the world to see as we go about our daily tasks on the job or at college. Sloppiness in work or gross neglect in the management of other's resources is an affront to the word of God which instructs us that in "whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." (Colossians 3:23). Most have no problem deciding that taking a computer from work or embezzling money from the company would be both a criminal and a moral transgression. Harder to discern are the gray areas where there are no legal ramifications, perhaps, yet ethical standards still apply. For example, I once worked for a company that allowed employees to use company telephones to make personal phone calls so long as those calls were not excessive and did not hinder the employees from getting their work done. Some employees had no problems with these guidelines while others simply saw the "personal phone call" policy as a green light for all types of personal calls without limitations. Most of us are somewhere between the worker who makes no phone calls for fear of getting fired and the worker who spends two-thirds of the day yakking it up with friends and family. But where do we draw the line? How do we know when we have crossed that invisible ethical boundary where we are taking advantage of our employer, or perhaps even stealing from him? Is it after two calls a day? Five? Ten? Answers to these kinds of questions cannot be found in an employee handbook, nor surprisingly enough, can they be found in the Bible. No longer do we live in the dispensation of the Mosaic Law where every ethical transgression is explicitly spelled out in black and white. Having received the wonderful gift of the Holy Ghost, we have the law of God written upon our hearts. An employer-employee relationship is just the type of situation for which God gave us His Spirit for guidance. The key to the proper conduct on the job is our relationship with God and our relationship with others. Indeed, Jesus, when asked which were the greatest commandments, stated that to love the Lord with all of one's heart was the greatest commandment, followed only by the commandment to love "thy neighbor as thyself." (Mark 12:31) He even went so far as to say that all of the law and the prophets hinged on these two commandments. With these two great commandments as our foundation and with the entire law of God written on our hearts, we are well equipped to maintain a healthy relationship with those over us. If revenge, entitlement, or a feeling of rebellion to authority motivates our actions, we can immediately identify those actions as being unchristian. We must maintain a clear conscience in all of our dealings. The easiest method is to assume that God will evaluate our employment record on judgment day. Also assume that God sees what we are doing when nobody else is watching and when nobody else will find out. Is that a scary thought or do you find comfort in knowing that your choices are motivated by His law? If you have found yourself taking advantage of your employer, first make things right with the Boss and then make things right with the boss. As Paul reminded us: "Be not conformed to this world, but ye transformed by the renewing our your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2) As an employer, I’m reassured that applies to everyone who calls themselves the Children of God. Now, if I can just find some to hire! ninetyandnine.com © Phillip Hampton, 2000 -------- Phillip Hampton is an Executive Editor of ninetyandnine.com. Have an opinion on an article? Let us know how you feel! Click feedback & fill us in. |
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