Years ago, I made the exact mistake on my job that I was trying desperately not to make. I was really trying to do what 2 different folks had told me to do, but I had failed to identify a conflict in the instructions. The result was that I did exactly what I was asked not to do.
The only thing I could do was to take a deep breath and own up to it.
I remember saying simply, “I made a mistake.”
“Good, you’re human,” came the reply.
I was stunned. I was absolutely stunned. I never saw that coming! Praise God for kind people.
Of all the things that could have been said, that reply was the one thing I was absolutely not expecting. I will never forget it. Bound by grace and served in peace, forgiveness is one of the greatest acts of kindness.
I recently saw someone take customer service to the extreme. She literally bent over backwards and went out of her way to make doing business a joy. I was totally impressed. Dedication like that does not come along very often.
You might think she owned her own business, but she didn’t own this company. She was a loyal employee who went above and beyond the call of duty. That tells me her employer inspires her to new heights. He obviously knows how to build a winning team.
When Pharaoh did not want to free the Israelites, he dealt with them harshly. He gave them unreasonable if not impossible tasks to do.
And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens. And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying, Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves. And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God. Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words. And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw. Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.
Exodus 5:5-11
Nothing was inspiring about that. Pharaoh punished the Israelites because he did not want to obey God, and he did not want them to worship. He even called God’s Word “vain words.”
I doubt Pharaoh had anyone working for him that wanted to see how many extra bricks they could make.
LIFE APPLICATION
Key Focal Verse:
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Colossians 3:12-13
Our challenge today is to not be like Pharaoh in our expectations of others at work. Kindness and forgiveness really does go a long, long way. Let’s use it to inspire others to do their best.