THE CHRISTIAN WORK ETHIC NEWSLETTER
April 2005
God's Word clearly provides lessons on employer-employee relationships. A servant is to obey his master (the boss) and the master will be held accountable for the way in which he treats his or her employees!
Either party can commit SELF SINS that will adversely affect the future of the employee or manager. Please permit me to share a few of the most serious examples which I have logged based on over 32 years of experience in business:
SELF DENIAL - When confronted with the truth, the worker suddenly has a memory lapse; i.e. "When did I do that? I don't remember ever doing that!" The plain truth is the employee is lying when he intentionally denies the facts! Consequence: He will be viewed as one who can not take constructive criticism because he is in constant denial of the truth. Therefore, he will not improve his behavior because he denies it exists in the first place! His credibility will also be reduced because it will become difficult to believe him since he conveniently loses his memory when confronted with the truth!
SELF SERVING - The worker graciously offers help but only because he has a gain in mind for himself -- NOT to do it with true grace! In other words, there is a hidden agenda -- a catch to his or her kindness! Consequence: Once his motives are discovered, others will become skeptical of his "kind ways" and will want to avoid him!
SELF KNOWING - Haven't you heard that this person knows it all? A major characteristic of this worker is TALKER! He talks often but seldom listens because he thinks he has the world in his hands! After all, he has all the answers so he doesn't need to listen! And, when someone else disagrees with his views, he immediately pouts or lets loose with a temper tantrum similar to the child who always wants his way !!!! Consequence: He will quickly alieniate others. After all, who wants to be around this kind of know-it-all ? The manager who behaves in this manner will lose the benefit of obtaining good ideas from his or her employees who are NOT dumb! The employee who knows it all will lose valuable insight and information which can be shared by a good manager. In either case, the employer-employee relationship is severly damaged!
SELF IMPRESSED - This worker reminds me of Ralph Cramden in Jackie Gleason's Honeymooners television series. Look at me! I'm the greatest! This worker forgets his humble beginnings and becomes impressed with himself to the extent that he often becomes highminded. It appears his ego has eaten his lunch! Consequence: Who wants to be around one who is constantly boasting about his own "greatness" or who fails to recognize others because of his own conceit ? This behavior will also alienate others and he will be left to live on an island unto himself! What a shame!
During my early days in the corporate world, a major executive took me aside and issued a stern warning: "Jim Hogsett, you don't need to broadcast your achievements. If your performance is that great, we will already know about it. You won't need to tell us."
He also reminded me that regardless of my education, it's not just what you know or who you know that counts, it's also how you're known to others. YOUR BEHAVIOR establishes your reputation in the workplace. And, your reputation is like your shadow. It follows you to the grave!
Wow! I had received a blessing because I needed those valuable work lessons and am thankful that this master in the workplace gave valuable counsel to his servant!
TIME OUT FOR SELF EVALUATION
Hopefully, you have been assessing your behavior as you have read this newsletter. Are YOU guilty of committing these SELF sins?
My friend, the problem with these weaknesses is based on one serious common denominator: SELFISHNESS which is the very opposite of the behavior displayed by Jesus Christ when he worked in his ministry on this planet!
This is not only a WORK problem but a WORLD problem. From the time we are young and want our way all the way through life, it becomes easy to focus on ourselves rather than serving others. Such sins destroy good working relationships as well as personal friendships!
If you have problems in this area of your working life, it is not too late to establish a new years resolution: GET RID OF THE SELF SINS OF MY LIFE! But, this must be more than a resolution; it must become a WAY OF LIFE because, otherwise, you will reap the negative consequences I have described!
For more helpful information concerning self sins, read my book A Worker Need Not Be Ashamed! In the meantime, I will be careful and try not to hire one who has a reputation of displaying these behaviors because they spell T R O U B L E ! ! ! !
OVERFLOWING AUDIENCE GREETS JIM HOGSETT AT
MID-ATLANTIC CHRISTIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Wow! They came and they came and they kept coming into the workshop until there was no more room and so they also sat in the hallway listening to the plain truth about the Christian work ethic. The experience for me was overwhelming!
Thank God for the opportunity to participate in this year's annual conference of the Mid-Atlantic Christian Education Association (MACEA) held March 10-12 at Providence Place in High Point, North Carolina. I was in good company! Workshop leaders included Dr. David Jeremiah and other Christian educators.
MACEA is a non-denominational organization that exists to help Christians be more competent in their ministries.
Numerous opportunities for learning is offered to pastors, associate pastors, directors of Christian Education, Sunday School Superintendents and teachers and all other church workers. This year's theme was "Pressing Towards the Goal".
My workshop was based on my book A Worker Need Not Be Ashamed. It was such a pleasure to examine the Christian work ethic from two perspectives: the shepherd (pastor and other church leaders) and the flock (congregation).
Will I return next year? Based on overwhelming positive response from the participants, my guess is yes. That, of course, will depend on the will of the Good Lord! God is Good? Yes, HE is!
Very truly yours,
Jim Hogsett, President/Founder; Worker Ministries and Writer for Guideposts Magazine