As Sisi (not real name) prepared for her trip, getting documents she would be needing for the meeting with the clients and other professionals ready, one of the admin staff called out to her saying, ” I was instructed to give you these for your expenses since you might be taking care of your self over there.” She was handed $300 and off she left to prepare for her trip.
Upon her return, Sisi came to the office and being a Christian, alongside giving feedback from the meeting, she held unto $200 to return back as she only spent $100. After discussing with her boss, she handed him over the remaining of the money that was given to her. Her boss looking surprised and happy at the same time told her that she should keep it. Thanking him, she left for her desk.
Shortly before she went to her boss, she was asked by colleagues how her trip went and if she had any funds remaining of what was given to her. She said yes and upon mentioning that she would be returning it, she was advised to keep it and was even laughed at and called a “mumu” (someone that is not smart).
Sharing this real life story with you is to encourage someone out there that it’s okay to be ridiculed so far you are doing the right thing. If you did it bad, you will still be ridiculed and called names more so if you say you are a Christian. Our lives as Christians is the only book most of our colleagues get to read. They are watching us, taking notes of our every actions. When we leave there to a better place or go to be on our own, can they remember you for what you stood for? Or they’ll be joyful you are no longer there?
Oh yes, “Temptations abound when great opportunities present themselves.” When you are told, spend your money on such and such and fill an invoice for the reimbursement. Do you spend a certain amount and when requesting for the reimbursement, double or triple it? Hmm!!! I remember being told severally to just round up the amount I need. But thank you my darling. I’ll rather stay put than go that route. What of you who is given money to buy basic needs and instead of 10, you get 8 and keep the amount for 2? Hmm, God is watching you in three dimension!!!
You say, one needs to be smart. Hey, is that being smart or reaping where you have not sown or worse still sowing a seed of stealing?
Oh yes, I understand how bad the economy is these days and you aren’t paid what you are worth or qualify to receive. But let me ask you, has it gotten better since you have been hoodwinking?
Ever wondered why things are just not fine with you? Or a part of you is doing okay and another not?
As Christians, God’s utmost desire is to take care of us just like the birds and the grass. But when you begin to help yourself out your own way, only that area flourishes. All other areas suffer. Little seeds you sow go a long way. “Sowing are not limited to good seeds. You can sow bad seeds and suffer the harvest or your children do the suffering.” Let me share with you my dear reader, one of my principles I live by: “Wherever God places me (job) and that place provides to care for me and pay my bills, it is my home.” So imagine you stealing from yourself. Does that make you richer? Off course not. If everyone begin to ride along life with this motto, imagine how well we will all be.
As a Christian employee, dare to be different. Let colleagues be uncomfortable to cheat in your presence. Let them know your stance that you wouldn’t change your dance steps the moment the song changes.
Finally, do not give worry a place to thrive. It is like a hunger bang waiting to be feed. Many a times in a bid to satisfy this worry, Christians tend to dilute their once undiluted convictions. Some even go on to break their once rock solid faith in God to provide all their needs.
“Therefore, I say to you, don’t worry about your life, what you’ll eat or what you’ll drink, or about your body, what you’ll wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds in the sky. They don’t sow seed or harvest grain or gather crops into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than they are? Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? Notice how the lilies in the field grow. They don’t wear themselves out with work, and they don’t spin cloth. But I say to you that even Solomon in all of his splendor wasn’t dressed like one of these. If God dresses grass in the field so beautifully, even though it’s alive today and tomorrow it’s thrown into the furnace, won’t God do much more for you, you people of weak faith? ~ Matthew 6:25-30 (CEB)
“If God were your boss, how would you behave? “
“Be the Christ-like employee making a godly difference”
“Don’t fool yourselves. Whoever thinks they are wise in this world should become a fool. That’s the only way they can be wise. I say this because the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He catches those who think they are wise in their own clever traps.” The Scriptures also say, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise. He knows that their thoughts are worth nothing.” ~ 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 (ERV)
God bless you.