Today,
reply is on giving while in the workplace. Giving without integrity is dead. Correctly practiced,
giving for Christian believers always will be marked by such
elements as balance, accountability, cheerfulness, dutifulness,
gratitude, humility, impartiality, lovingkindness, peace of mind,
respect, and restraint. One
of the fighters in the “Yahoo! Answers” public forum on Religion
and Spirituality who uses the ID “Anonymous” (no profile is
shared) posted the following:
Do
you think it was wrong for my manager not to give the homeless man a
meal?
A
while ago a homeless guy stopped by the fast food place I worked at
and asked for a meal. My manager said no and gave him the excuse that
there are cameras watching our every move and he could get in trouble
for giving away a meal.
All
of the employees were talking about how he should’ve given the man
some food because people still get away with doing things even though
the cameras are watching. My manager told me that lately the
management team has been getting in trouble for giving away too many
free meals and he was afraid if getting in trouble.
I
for one kind of agree with him. As an employee I don’t even get a
free meal and I bend over backwards for this establishment. I don’t
see why some random person off the street should get free food for
doing nothing. He can take advantage of the local soup kitchen.
THE
GOLDEN ARROW: Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works:
shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith
by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well:
the devils also believe, and tremble. (James 2: 18-19, King James
Version, KJV)
THE
DOUBLE DAGGER: The Use of Money? (01/07/2019); Commitment To The
Brand? (06/07/2018); Giving, A Divine Discipline? (10/09/2017); The
Answer From GOD (05/19/2017); It Comes With the Job? (01/11/2015);
Religious Bosses? (07/08/2014); On Marketing Church, and Speaking by
Occasion (09/26/2013); A Lid on Love? (09/27/2013)
“Anonymous”,
there are correct and wrong places, times and ways of displaying ones
faith, applying truth from the Bible, and of giving to the poor.
Managers in the hospitality industry and those they supervise must
discharge a broad range of duties regarding the inventory, the
reputation of their firm, and the materials used to present their
goods to the public for income. Without a full payment for the
goods, a report of pilfering (petty theft by an employee; violation
of the contract and job description) should be filed, rather than a
report of charitable giving. Those who want to use the organization
they work for to provide gifts and support to others should use the
opportunities, policies and programs of their firm intended to
express goodwill and support to the community-at-large. Where the
manager, or a worker wanted to share with an individual homeless
person who came into their store, they would have had to deposit
payment from their own wallet into the corporate cash register, or
surrender the meal(s) they were to receive as an employee (e.g.,
breakfast/dinner/lunch).
For
most of us, the workplace is not a setting for the full expression of
our spiritual beliefs; there is an unwritten accord that preaching,
proselytizing, or religious ceremonies, practices and rites are not
to be carried out in the workplace. Developing Christian believers
are in a relationship with divinity where all they possess, all they
share, and much of what they do is directed primarily to GOD for the
fulfillment of sacred commitment, eternal purpose, and expressing the
sovereign will of GOD. In a similar way, believers are encouraged to
acknowledge their employers as covenant partners with whom they are
bound through personal accountability, legal agreements, ethical
process, promises, and shared financial interests. Sinners who
become “born again” are cautioned to avoid taking on the task of
judging others, particularly with regard to giving, service, and
worship. In addition to the risk of “jumping to conclusions,”
those who judge encounter many subtleties (i.e., barely visible
differences; hidden shifts in meaning, quality and value) that must
be assigned weight, and correctly examined for their influence and
outcome.
Various
unexpected events (e.g., transportation accidents, fires, flooding,
mudslides, snow) may result in multiple deaths, and urgent demands
for funding, gifts, medical supplies, and other support. Properly
performed, giving to the church allows sharing through multiple
carefully managed programs and mechanisms for distributing resources.
Such giving should be regular and reliable; and, in the same way one
disciplines, plans and uses restraint for their spending, giving also
is best accomplished using a budget, formal order, and restraint.
Here are further points believers reflect on that use language from
the Bible:
1.
Proverbs 16: 25, King James Version (KJV): 25 There is a way that
seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of
death.
2.
Proverbs 20: 11, KJV: 11 Even a child is known by his doings,
whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
3.
Proverbs 19: 17, KJV: 19 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth
unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will
he pay him again.
4.
Proverbs 14: 31, KJV: 31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth
his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
There
is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually
apprehended. (For example, 5. Proverbs 22: 1-2, KJV: 22 A
good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and
loving favour rather than silver and gold. 2 The rich and poor meet
together: the LORD is the maker of them
all.) Even so, I trust this fragment
will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
Washington,
DC
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