The Salary

 

There was a man who worked for a wealthy landowner. This man worked hard all day long. One of his colleagues watched him and asked him why he worked so hard. The man told him that he needed to earn his wages.

'This is not piecework.' The friend said to him. 'We get paid the same no matter how much we do!'

'Then, I don't want to get sacked for being lazy.' The man replied.

'But you are on a life tenure.' Said the friend. 'You cannot be sacked.' 

'Well, you work just as hard as me, why do you work so hard?'

'Because I'm so grateful for what I've been given. I also think the work we do is very valuable.'

'So, why did you ask me why I worked so hard?' The man asked.

'Because you look so stressed.' Said the friend, 'You didn't look like you were enjoying what you were doing. When we started we were told the work we would do would be easy and light and not a burden.'

'So, you want me to work hard and smile, is that it?'

'I think you've missed the point, my friend. You don't have to force a smile. You know when you've got it right when the smile comes because you realise what you have. You can take your foot off of the pedal and slow down a bit. You can stop and take stock. No one is standing over you cracking the whip except what you do to yourself.'

'But what if I'm not good enough?' The man asked.

'I've got news for you, none of us is good enough! We did not earn this. We were given it. The best we can hope to achieve is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control! That is the opposite of stress, anxiety, bitterness and resentment. The way we do the work will bring out one or the other.

'But, if we are not working for a reward because we will all get the same then why should I bother working at all?'

'OK, firstly, let's say you just sat around doing nothing all day. How long would you last? Most of us feel we want to be getting on with something, especially if that something is meaningful. How often do we get to do something that has eternal value? Secondly, gratitude. We are not working to get, we are working because of what we have received. Reward is not our motivator. 

'For example, most professionals are paid a salary. Teachers, Solicitors, Accountants etc, are not on commission or an hourly rate. However, if there is work to be done they are expected to do it. Those who are paid by the hour will only stay behind and finish the work if they are paid overtime. People on a professional salary are expected to get the job done, even if it means working late.'

'So, you are saying the work is the motivation and its own reward?'

'It probably sounds like that, but that too can be a trap. This is where gratitude comes in. While we work to bring in the harvest you might be motivated to see the harvest completed. You might be motivated to bring in more than the next person. You might be motivated by having the security of food and lodgings. But one vital thing is missing. None of this would be possible if it were not for the kindness and generosity of our Master. We do it for Him because of what He has done for us. I'm not going to browbeat you by saying, "If you love Him you will want to work hard for Him." No, you have an undying love for Him, that should never be in question or used to make you feel lesser.

'He is our example, He selflessly gave Himself to the work of bringing us in. He did it for us. He gave himself utterly to the work. We cannot do what He did, but we can be inspired by His selfless devotion and we can do it for Him. Some say they are working for a crown or a reward. But what crown or reward compares to Him? They are selling themselves short.'

'After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”' Gen 15:1