INTEGRITY AT WORK
Carey Madding
Today's Scripture: “He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” Genesis 39:9, ESV
Theme: Respect and honor your boss (and organization) as an act of worship to God.
RULES GIRL
If you don’t yet know me personally, you know me from Mike’s messages. I am a rules girl, a completely “black and white” person. It has taken me a long time to develop any sense of grace or mercy. I can finally see shades of nuance and varying viewpoints, but it’s been a long, rough road.
As a teenager, I once filled in for the Youth Minister’s secretary for two weeks. I had a heart-to-heart talk with him: it was not “right” to use church staff to fill out his dog pedigree papers and use a church stamp to mail the application. Mind you, I was seventeen...talking to my student pastor! I first complained about this “illegal” use of church resources to my parents. Instead of listening to me gossip, they sent me directly to the staff member. But as you can tell, they might have been legalistic, too!
In a situation that is illegal or unethical, it is clear what needs to be done. In an ambiguous situation, pray and ask God to reveal if this is something that needs to be addressed or something to be overlooked. If it is something to be addressed, come with a humble heart. Ask if it would be okay to talk through something you noticed. Ask for understanding about a situation that you feel is off base. Provide your perspective on the situation. Thank them for allowing you to speak tinto the situation.
When I came to my parents, the better advice might have been: Can you overlook it? Is this worth challenging him? Could you serve him this way without a big dust-up? Is your heart right, before you go confront? To be clear, there were some ethical issues. I just don’t know that they were so major that they should have disrupted a relationship, especially since I was a young, temporary employee critiquing my superior!
A LINE IN THE SAND
Former U.S. President Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Western Europe during World War II said, “The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is… on a football field, in an army, or in an office.” As I navigate what I should or should not do with my employer’s resources, I imagine them watching me. For example, I don’t think they would mind me paying my personal bills from my company-owned computer. But pornographic sites would be taboo. I am careful not to make personal copies or use their postage for my household mail.
I am intentional about my time: I put my hours in. Beyond that, I work hard during those hours. My dad told me to get to work 10 minutes early, hang up my coat, and get my coffee. He told me to be at my desk and done with water cooler greetings by the time 8 am (or whenever “start time” is!) rolled around.
GODLINESS ABOVE CONVENIENCE
In our Scripture for today, Joseph was pursued by his employer’s wife. That’s a no brainer, but his reply is so good: “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” You may not see it as a great wickedness to do less than your best, but it reflects on you and God. I once had an employer who complained that all her employees took their week vacation, plus they did very little work the day before and the day after their paid time off. She resented this time spent dreaming and planning for the vacation to come. She hated the Monday back, when people asked how the trip was... and then pictures and stories were shared. When you look through an employer’s eyes, it does seem like stealing. I worked my hardest to make my pre- and post-vacation efforts spectacular examples of godliness. I don’t know if she noticed, but she surely did not catch me doing otherwise.
Make It Personal: In what areas of honoring your employer and company policies do you excel? In what areas do you blur the lines the tiniest bit? If your direct report was watching, would you feel ashamed? Or are you operating in complete honesty and integrity? Ask God...because frankly, my opinion of my activities is not as demanding as His!
Pray: Lord, I want to serve You above all. I want my life to bring honor to Your Name. Please show me if there are practices that would dishonor You. Help me to live as Jesus taught. In every instance, He took the Law and elevated the standard, even to our hearts and thoughts. Also, help me not to be the legalist who judges others. I want to be diligent to root out my own sin, yet merciful to others. Spirit, give me discernment. Father, help me to show Your love. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.
Read: Ephesians 6:5-8; 1 Thessalonians 5:22-23
Weekly Memory Verse: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’ (this is the first commandment with a promise), ‘that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.’” Ephesians 6:1-3, ESV