Show kindness; but with wisdom

Does kindness beget kindness?

Usually this is so, but sometimes, people who know that you are kind will take advantage of your kindness.

What would you do then? …

Continue to be a door-mat and be stepped all over? …

A few months ago, I recruited a technician to work in my department. He is not very bright but I thought I could give him encouragement and close supervision, after interviewing him. He seemed to have a good and positive attitude. After all, I believe, attitude is all that matter.

Then, after a couple of weeks working in the company, he ended up in hospital for stomach problem. I visited him and gave him assurance and encouragement. I also showed a lot of compassion to him, giving him a lot of time-off as he also has two aged parents who are not healthy. I tried to accommodate him by giving him flexible working hours. However, as time passed, I noticed that he began to take medical leaves very often, even for seemingly discomfort. [He would just send SMS stating that “I have backache.”]. Also, he would come to work at about 9.30am (instead of the usual 8.30am to 6pm) but when the time to dismiss (at 6pm), he would just loiter around till his time to leave office (7pm). That way, he can still maintain the same amount of working hour.

Also, I have given him a list of work to do, yet he has not achieved any to these. Moreover, the list of works is quite simple. [“If you can’t do, just ask, the engineer will teach you.”]

After some months, I called him up and told him about his work contributions. Apparently, he did mention that I was quite compassionate to him, after knowing about his family background. Then I decided to tell him, “I can be kind to anyone but I need to be fair to the company who employs us and do our part to contribute to the company success. We should not take advantage of kindness”. His face changed and it showed; that he realized that I have seen through his motive.

My thought then was – we need to be nice, kindness and generous, but we need also to be wise to discern those who take advantage of our kindness and use us and think of us as a fool.

Matthew 10:16 – “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves”

Agape

How to please the LORD?

A thought just came to mind while reading Our Daily Bread:

Do all tasks not just as a job, but as an offering, an aroma pleasing unto the LORD.

.

Thank you LORD,

For today devotion.

I was disappointed by carelessly making quite

a number of mistakes yesterday.

You know, I have always put my best in whatever I do.

Not just for self, but for

your glory. I just could not accept the silly mistakes

I have made.

Thank you for reminding me to see that whatever

I do is an offering and pleasing to you.

Remembering this help me to be more careful and thoughtful.

Amen! :)

Attitude makes the difference

I have been thinking about the working attitude about some of the engineers in my work place.

I have Filipino, Indian, Chinese, Malaysians, and Singaporeans Engineers working in the company.

The Southern Indians are hardworking. They talk less but work hard. The Northern Indians are direct opposite. I have worked with quite a number of Indian engineers and this is my personal perception. There is this Indian engineer who came to work almost every Saturday, even though there is no over time claim for executive. He even volunteered to help me in some projects even though he does not report to me or work in my department! Which of us would want to do more work? How nice if all our Bethany PCES members have such attitude toward church work.

I have also a Filipino engineer attached to me (from another department) for one project. The Filipinos behavior is quite similar to the Malays. (You know what I mean). They are more laid back - take it easy kind of mentality. This Filipino working on one project keep re-scheduling date line, pushing from last year September, to December, to this year February, to April and is still not complete till today. Although there are some delays in the material, it is actually poor scheduling and work attitude. He comes to work at about 9:30 to 9:45am (officially it is 8:30am) and work till after 8:30pm (officially the work day end at 6:00pm). But what he does after office hour, nobody knows. He claims for taxi fare as this is allowed according to the company regulation for executive who work late. I have not tell him off about his work timing because the big bosses are also coming in late for work, setting “the example” for “people” to follow.

Also, this guy is a Christian.

And this Filipino engineer doesn’t go the extra mile by coming to work on weekend.

Anyway, he is just attached to me for this project onlyy and now I have asked him to go back to his previous department.

As for me, my work attitude is according to Col 3:23,24:

23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving

Notice that the verse says - whatever you do,

What is your attitude towards work?