Articles
Help Wanted
Right now, everywhere you look, there are "Now Hiring" advertisements. Employers are on the lookout for the next member of their staff. It's a great thing to see for someone desperately looking for employment. Resumes are being constructed or polished. Interviews conducted. Rather a hectic time for all. For the employer, it is a task to find dependable personnel. For the hopeful employee, it is a task trying to figure out their options. Both situations are jobs in of themselves.
Let’s dive further into someone looking to be hired. In addition to resumes and interviews, more has to be considered. When applying for a position, the applicant must factor in many things. Rarely, if ever, are the first thoughts of a purely selfless nature. Generally, one applying for a position is motivated, primarily, to fulfill personal needs or wants. And nothing is necessarily wrong with that, especially when bills are rolling in. Self-preservation is important. However, how much more beneficial would the applicant be for the position if they have a servant’s mentality?
What about the employer? They have to figure out what they are looking for in a worker. The employer has to know how much they are willing to pay. A wise company realizes that other businesses are competing to hire qualified workers. Also, the boss must have a clear vision of where they want their business to head. Furthermore, time and training can’t be overlooked in the hiring process. The time that it takes to find the right applicant. The training required for the potential hiree. Each company has to know what the demand looks like for their business. Is what they are selling of considerable worth to people? A servant’s mindset would be helpful as much for a boss as it would for the applicant.
In essence, sacrifice is required by both parties. The employer is taking a leap of faith that the new worker will prove to be a good investment. On the other hand, the applicant takes a risk too by jumping on board. Both are uncertain of what the future may bring and how their arrangement will turn out.
Can any spiritual connections be made from this everyday scenario? Of course! Christ is always hiring workers. He is always looking for that servant who will reflect the LORD’s Light for His kingdom. The LORD pointed out to His followers that the work opportunities are bountiful. Jesus said, “Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest” (Jn. 4:35). Christ also said, “…the workers are few. Therefore beseech the LORD of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest” (Matt. 9:37f). O, how true!
Billions are working for the wrong employer (cf. Lk. 11:23). Whether they realize it or not, they need to resign from their current boss and begin serving the right Leader (cf. Matt. 23:10). The Master—Jesus Christ! To many, that is too strong of a language, but what about Friend (cf. Jn. 15:13ff) or Servant (cf. Mk. 10:45). Christ is all three and more. He wants everyone to follow after Him.
Paul offers encouraging words, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve” (Col. 3:23f). “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Gal. 6:9f). O, the blessed promises for the faithful servants of the LORD! The promises are great and wonderful that await those that do the LORD’s work (cf. Matt. 6:19ff; 1 Pet. 1:4). As we can see, there is much work to be done.
Is Jesus Christ your Employer?
