Being the Boss

Being the Boss

Colossians 4:¹ Masters, be fair and just in the way you treat your slaves. Remember that you too have a Master in heaven.

 

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“When I’m in charge, things will be different” I said to myself. I was tired of being told what to do from harsh people and wanted to do the “telling” in a more gentle way. I was given the responsibility of managing a few people. It was exhausting! They had many questions and were not completing the work. “Maybe I should be harsh” I thought to myself.

 

• I was willing to fire people for not doing the work.
• I did not want to hear excuses.
• I thought being the boss would be easier than it was.

 

“Master” and “slave” are still hard words to overcome. For centuries, people of all races have tried to get people to do forced work while reaping the benefits of free labor in search of profit margins. Paul did not have the verbiage of “employee” and “employer.” He warns those in charge that GOD is watching.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to treat all people “fair and just”
• If I am in charge of people, my first reaction needs to go through GOD.
• Since I report to GOD, I must take into account HIS desires and purpose for me and my employees.

 

“Person” or “Profit”? I mean, do I see people and their needs or do I only see the company and its needs? This is a struggle as profit margins wane. BUT GOD has a remedy. HE simply wants to be the boss in all situations.

 

Being “fair and just” does not mean being a pushover. GOD wants me to treat employees with respect and pay him or her wages due to the work they have completed. I cannot favor one person over the other and I can correct employees as GOD corrects me.  I gladly yield to GOD’s authority because HE shows me compassion and correction.

 

Challenge

• What words from the writer, if any, are difficult to absorb?
• Have you ever managed employees or got tired of the “boss?”
• If you ever manage people or a project, will you place GOD over all your actions and decisions today?

Doing the Best Anyway

Luke 19: ¹¹ While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. ¹² He said: ‘A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. ¹³ So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. “Put this money to work,” he said, “until I come back.”

¹⁴ ‘But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, “We don’t want this man to be our king.”

¹⁵ ‘He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

¹⁶ ‘The first one came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned ten more.”

¹⁷ ‘“Well done, my good servant!” his master replied. “Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.”

¹⁸ ‘The second came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned five more.”

¹⁹ ‘His master answered, “You take charge of five cities.”

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After seeing belligerent outbursts, many people moved away from this particular person. I felt stuck as those who recognized the behavior early, moved on quickly and I felt I had nowhere to go. Each day I had to pray “LORD give me the strength to work for this person.” After a long while, the person called me in their office. “You’ve been promoted, now get outta here” they said gruffly.

• There have been times when I wondered if the person in control was worth serving.
• There have been times when I questioned the person in control versus focusing in on what I was supposed to be doing.
• There have been times when I endured the person in control and it paid off.

JESUS states the behavior of people through a parable regarding the prophecy of the kingdom of GOD. Since they had a misconception of what would take place, JESUS spoke first about how they hated the ruler and how he was made king. Then JESUS spoke about faithful servants who could care less about who their boss or circumstance was, they would do their job well anyway.

• GOD wants me to be faithful as I can to HIM.
• GOD wants me to be strong enough to keep HIS commands even when it is not comfortable for me.
• GOD wants me to be HIS servant even when things are not going my way.

Rewarding the faithful is what GOD does best. But sometimes it seems like the rewards take a long time to arrive at my doorstep. GOD wants me to continue on with the journey in spite of the circumstances. HE guides me in my faith.

• Are you going through something?
• Do you feel like blaming GOD?
• Will you serve GOD anyway through your difficult circumstance?

Being the Boss

Matthew 20: ²⁴ When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. ²⁵ Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ²⁶ Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— ²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

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After learning a lot, I felt it was time for me to try my hand at management. I mean I was deemed the “best” in the department in the technical systems. I asked to lead a group and was given the okay. “Do this” and “Do that” were my first orders. Later, I received complaints about my “management style.”

• I once thought being the boss meant bossing people around.
• I once thought being the boss meant I was on top and everyone else was on the bottom.
• I once thought being the boss meant “do as I say” and that is that.

Being the boss quickly turned into a mutiny when I tried to flex my position. I went into my boss’s office to find no console. What was I to do? I still had to lead the people.

• GOD says to me “You must become a servant.”
• GOD says to me “I became a human to serve, not to be served.”
• GOD says to me “I freely gave MY life as a ransom for you and for many.”

JESUS wants me to follow HIS example of extreme servanthood in order to be the leader HE wants me to be. Human leaders boss people around, sometimes they bully people into action. GOD wants me to serve people into action. Those who respond to HIS example belong to HIM; those who do not respond are not mine to lead, it’s as simple as that.

Once I started “serving” the people, they began serving me and others. GOD enables me to serve in order to draw people back to HIM.

• Are you trying to be bossy?
• Do you criticize your leaders?
• Can you become a servant whether you are the boss or the employee for GOD today?

Work Hard

Proverbs 12: ¹⁴ From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,
    and the work of their hands brings them reward.

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After hanging out all night, I felt it necessary to get my rest. I mean I went to bed around 2:30AM and had to be at work downtown at 7:00AM. Since I did not have much money I had to be there earlier because there were three parking meters that were missing and I could park all day for free if I got one of them. I stumbled in at 6:30AM, chose my favorite stall in the restroom and went to sleep.

• There were times where my work ethic was not high.
• There were times when my thoughts about work were of lower priority.
• There were times that I stole time from work doing my own thing.

Immaturity made me think the world owed something to me. I mean can’t “they” understand that I am young, single and full of life? They must understand that I “need” to be out late to grow my social skills, right? Wrong!

• GOD wants me to be diligent in the work HE has given me.
• GOD wants me to produce for whoever I work for, even if they are a “bad” boss.
• GOD wants me to work as unto HIM even thought I may not like the job.

My attitude had to change, fast! GOD changed my heart towards work and enabled me to mature. HE gave me praise on my lips about jobs and showed me HIS might. GOD give me my reward for my positive attitude.

• Are you complaining about your job?
• Do you think your job owes you something?
• Will you start praising GOD about your job instead of complaining?
• Will you become more diligent about working because you are working for GOD?