Some Scripture to Enrich the Work Day
If you read Scripture each day, over time you'll find that your reading can provide both spiritual and practical guidance applicable to your work day. Last week we looked at a couple of themes in Ecclesiasticus 6 - friends and wisdom - and applied them to the workplace. Today we'll reference Eccliasticus 8 and Psalm 25, both of which I recently read on the same morning, both of which greatly enriched my work day. We'll begin with Ecclesiasticus 8. Rather than quoting from Scripture this time, I'll simply share my personal impressions. If you read the Scripture separately, you'll likely find applications that fit your own situation more specifically.
Let's begin with sort of people that we should treat warily, if not totally avoid.
Many people are attracted to rich and powerful people, whether outside or inside the workplace. Frankly, there must be more interesting, informative, educational, uplifting, even entertaining pursuits than gawking at celebrities or oohing and aahing at Mark Zuckerberg's net worth, but you'll never convince some people.
In the work place, the powerful frequently attract those working under them. Either for purposes of career advancement or just wanting to curry favor, people tend to be unnecessarily deferential here. Indeed, deference may even devolve into outright obsequiousness. I've seen people snap to attention, guffaw at lame jokes, even break down in tears in the presence of powerful superiors. It's embarrassing.
I'm not talking about giving the respect due to the authority a given individual represents. Legitimate authority deserves a degree of reasonable deference. The individual, on the other hand, stands on his or her own. When it comes to personal deference, these people don't deserve any more personal respect than what's called for by their character. Their position doesn't count for anything here.
Regarding individual character, a reading of Ecclesiasticus makes clear that the rich and powerful can easily be corrupted, even perverted by their position and wealth. This goes for those in power at your company as well as your customers. Be wary of this. As for currying favor with these types, I've worked with colleagues who did all they could to gain favor with such people. It's not a good idea. On a practical level, unless you become rich and powerful yourself, such people will never accept you as an equal.
Then there are those who can't keep their counsel. They spill the beans about everything. Be circumspect with such types. Stick with greetings, pleasantries, observations about the weather. I wouldn't even share what I watch on TV or what sports I enjoy. Maybe I'm being too reserved here, but better safe than sorry.
Ignorant people deserve the same respect we'd show to any human being. They certainly should not be the butt of jokes. But don't share intimate details about your personal life, or your family with them. They'll likely not get the facts straight and, as we're warned in Ecclesiasticus, may even speak ill of your family, based on what you tell them. One of the prime areas this can occur is when, for whatever reason, you speak of your spouse. I've worked with many men who openly complain about their wives. While I may not be the best husband in the world, I have never understood this. I don't say anything bad about my wife to anyone (not that there's anything bad to say, of course!).
Many times we meet strangers during the course of our work. Either within the same company or, more likely, when conducting business with customers, vendors, etc. When you first meet someone, remember they don't have a right to know your entire life history once you shake hands. I don't even like it when someone whom I've literally just met asks me where I live. I realize most times it's just a way to break the ice for some, but my first reaction is to change the subject. Sometimes you can't do that, so I try to be vague about it. When someone gets a vague answer and continues to drill down into details like, "Where in ___ City?", or, "How long have you lived there?", or, "Where do your kids go to school?" it really puts me off. Breaking the ice is one thing; but there's such a thing as being downright nosey.
Eccliasticus 8 notes a few more categories of people you should be wary of. You should take heed. In the end, you'll do well when confronted with these sorts of characters to keep your counsel and measure your words. Or, in the words of Ecclesiasticus 8, "Open not they heart to every man; lest he repay thee with an evil turn, and speak reproachfully of thee."
So far we've discussed relationships we should avoid or at least be wary of. Next time, we'll look at a couple of types of relationships we should cultivate as we continue with Ecclesiasticus 8 and Psalm 25.
Let's begin with sort of people that we should treat warily, if not totally avoid.
Many people are attracted to rich and powerful people, whether outside or inside the workplace. Frankly, there must be more interesting, informative, educational, uplifting, even entertaining pursuits than gawking at celebrities or oohing and aahing at Mark Zuckerberg's net worth, but you'll never convince some people.
In the work place, the powerful frequently attract those working under them. Either for purposes of career advancement or just wanting to curry favor, people tend to be unnecessarily deferential here. Indeed, deference may even devolve into outright obsequiousness. I've seen people snap to attention, guffaw at lame jokes, even break down in tears in the presence of powerful superiors. It's embarrassing.
I'm not talking about giving the respect due to the authority a given individual represents. Legitimate authority deserves a degree of reasonable deference. The individual, on the other hand, stands on his or her own. When it comes to personal deference, these people don't deserve any more personal respect than what's called for by their character. Their position doesn't count for anything here.
Regarding individual character, a reading of Ecclesiasticus makes clear that the rich and powerful can easily be corrupted, even perverted by their position and wealth. This goes for those in power at your company as well as your customers. Be wary of this. As for currying favor with these types, I've worked with colleagues who did all they could to gain favor with such people. It's not a good idea. On a practical level, unless you become rich and powerful yourself, such people will never accept you as an equal.
Then there are those who can't keep their counsel. They spill the beans about everything. Be circumspect with such types. Stick with greetings, pleasantries, observations about the weather. I wouldn't even share what I watch on TV or what sports I enjoy. Maybe I'm being too reserved here, but better safe than sorry.
Ignorant people deserve the same respect we'd show to any human being. They certainly should not be the butt of jokes. But don't share intimate details about your personal life, or your family with them. They'll likely not get the facts straight and, as we're warned in Ecclesiasticus, may even speak ill of your family, based on what you tell them. One of the prime areas this can occur is when, for whatever reason, you speak of your spouse. I've worked with many men who openly complain about their wives. While I may not be the best husband in the world, I have never understood this. I don't say anything bad about my wife to anyone (not that there's anything bad to say, of course!).
Many times we meet strangers during the course of our work. Either within the same company or, more likely, when conducting business with customers, vendors, etc. When you first meet someone, remember they don't have a right to know your entire life history once you shake hands. I don't even like it when someone whom I've literally just met asks me where I live. I realize most times it's just a way to break the ice for some, but my first reaction is to change the subject. Sometimes you can't do that, so I try to be vague about it. When someone gets a vague answer and continues to drill down into details like, "Where in ___ City?", or, "How long have you lived there?", or, "Where do your kids go to school?" it really puts me off. Breaking the ice is one thing; but there's such a thing as being downright nosey.
Eccliasticus 8 notes a few more categories of people you should be wary of. You should take heed. In the end, you'll do well when confronted with these sorts of characters to keep your counsel and measure your words. Or, in the words of Ecclesiasticus 8, "Open not they heart to every man; lest he repay thee with an evil turn, and speak reproachfully of thee."
So far we've discussed relationships we should avoid or at least be wary of. Next time, we'll look at a couple of types of relationships we should cultivate as we continue with Ecclesiasticus 8 and Psalm 25.
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