Living Wittingly

WORKING FOR GOD

Whose purpose, or need do you and your specific skills suit best? To whom do you and your professional activity belong? With whom are your talents, skills, and expertise used, and connected? Whose instructions, rules, requirements or standards do you follow, each day, in order to get or achieve something? For whom do you work? A better question is “For whom should you work?”

The relationship between Jacob and Laban, partly found in the 31st chapter of Genesis is an excellent study in miscommunication and workplace frustration. Read Genesis 31:38-42.

“I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten rams from your flocks. I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself--and you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen by day or night. This was my situation: The heat consumed me in the daytime, and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes. It was like this for the twenty years I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times.”

Jacob certainly sounded like a disgruntled employee! He had kept a mental log of his employment history. Also on his mind were unsafe working conditions, and unreasonable demands. Most people would have quit. Why didn’t he? Usually, when people put up with foolishness, there’s some kind of payoff. What do people stand to gain for dealing with issues on the job that aren’t the least bit pleasant?

The years on his job caused a noticeable change in Jacob’s attitude. He was no longer the agreeable, eager, and happy person he had been. Read Genesis 29:10.

“When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of his uncle Laban, and Laban's sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well, and watered his uncle's sheep.”

Notice that Jacob didn’t have any help, and he didn’t ask for any. There were other people around, but he jumped right in and got the job done. He hadn’t filled out an application or been briefed on the job description. He didn’t complain about how much the stone weighed, or how many sheep needed water. He didn’t demand to be paid, either. He just went to work. Something motivated him to volunteer his time and energy, and her name was Rachel. Make no mistake-- the work would have been done whether he was there or not, but Jacob wanted something, and his actions were not merely to be helpful.

Isn’t it something how doing what you want to do makes you totally forget about everything else? You’re not tired, hungry, watching the clock, or worrying about what you have to do later. Read Genesis 29:20.

“So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.”

If you continue reading, you’ll discover that Jacob didn’t exactly get what he wanted out of the deal. It made him do something he neglected to do while he was busy ogling Rachel. He didn’t read the fine print. It’s so important to know what you’re getting in to before you commit to any task.

Read Genesis 31:42.

“If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.”

Jacob realizes that his boss has a boss, too. It’s sad when an employer or an employee has to be shamed, forced, or frightened into doing the right thing. Even though Jacob was not completely innocent, and his motives were not the purest, God still didn’t allow Laban to take total advantage of him. One of the saddest parts of the story is that Jacob and Laban weren’t just co-laborers on a job site but, they were also relatives.

Jacob later found out that even the beautiful Rachel had some issues he wasn’t so crazy about. I imagine that we all at times wonder if our plans, and the anticipated rewards for our labor, are actually as wonderful as we once thought. No one likes to feel obligated or forced to do anything, particularly if they feel they've been cheated or misused. Jacob had a goal in mind, and worked diligently and happily for it. Upon finding out that he had been blindsided by a technicality, he had a decision to make--keep working and get what he wanted, or quit. He wasn't the least bit happy about the arrangements of his second round of employment, but he wanted something very badly, so he agreed to Laban's terms. His activity was no longer motivated by a desire to do a good job. If we were to assess his attitude on the job, we'd probably conclude that he had lost his original enthusiasm. In addition, he no longer trusted his employer. Jacob and Laban didn’t exactly like each other. When they said, “May the LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another,” so let the Lord be the one who keeps an eye on both of us. Let him evaluate our honesty. We can trust Him.”

It is always best to know the stipulations regarding the work you are expected to do.

Misunderstandings and outright deceitfulness can lead to bitterness on the job. It's good to be able to respect those who have authority over you. It's good to know and understand what's expected of you. Some people should simply decline certain assignments before carelessness, lack of work ethic, or a negative attitude threatens to ruin a potentially pleasant working environment, or damage a project.