A Great Cloud of Witnesses

Words to ponder … A Great Cloud of Witnesses … Morrow Mirror, August 18, 2013

A young man in his early thirties was promoted to manager in a local manufacturing company where he supervised over 150 employees. He was occupying a position that many in the company envied and thousands of perspective employees applied for with more education and management experience.  It was a good solid company with great benefits and salary.  Besides being in line for the promotion, how did he get it? He did not have the education his competitors had; his father was not rich nor did he or any other family member work for the company.  He was the son of a laborer.  

The young man's secret to success was his attention to detail and the continuous accuracy of his work. He began as an errand-boy, and did his work accurately.  In his leisure time he studied to perfect his writing and analytical skills.  He spent hours in the library learning everything he could about his work.  He made sure the work he was responsible for was above standards. At each step his employer commended his accuracy, and relied on what he did, because he was just right.

It does not matter whether our work is waiting on tables or designing buildings, the person who does the job well is the favored one.  Employers do not wish to spend all their time looking over an employee's shoulder to ensure the work is done right. If a carpenter must stand at his apprentice's elbow to be sure that his or her work is right, or if a business owner must run over the bookkeeper's column, she might as well do the work herself; one thing is certain the employer will get rid of an inaccurate employee as soon as she can.

As Christians in the workplace our attitude should always be to live the Christian life, not just to speak about it. People who do not know Christ may have only the chance to watch us being Christians in order to find out what the Christian life really means (Phil. 1:27; Heb. 13:5).  When we fail to live up to Christian principles we miss the opportunities God gives us in our everyday lives to witness for Him.

Words to Ponder...In Christian Love, your pastor and friend in Christ Dr. Ed Judy