When an Employee May Jump Into the Fire
- Category: Office Ethics
- Date 19-08-2020
- 388 views
It is sometimes necessary to reject some job offers. You abandon a job to look for greater opportunities, only to fall into a regrettable trap. Some managers might go on a headhunting mission in order to attract employees they would eventually abuse. Some companies are exploitative and oppressive, so apart from paying salaries, they do not uplift their staff; they afflict them physically, mentally and emotionally. Before moving from one workplace to another, a job seeker might have to think twice.
The book of Samuel shows how King Saul offered various malicious assignments to David purposely to get him killed. He feared that David would topple him from power, so he gave him a high rank in the army, expecting that he could die in combat with enemy troops. This did not happen since David had God’s favour and conquered all the adversaries.
King Saul became more bothered and, one day, decided to personally eliminate him, “…while David was playing the lyre…. Saul had a spear in his hand and hurled it, saying to himself, ‘I’ll pin David to the wall’. But David alluded him twice” (1 Samuel 18:10-11).
The king went to the extent of asking David to become his son-in-law if he could marry his daughter Merab and Milcah, to no success. He said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage; only serve me bravely and fight battles…” Saul said to himself, ‘I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that’ (1 Samuel 18:17). Saul again offered another daughter (Milcah) with hateful intentions, “I will give her to him… so that she may be a snare to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him” (1 Samuel 18:21).
Scripture warns, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Furthermore, St John cautions, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). In contrast, some career opportunities are definitive, divinely created and inescapable. Someone might have imaginary fears and attempt to evade particular assignments which might have been one’s exact calling.
Man’s potential is inherently unlimited. In Exodus 3:11, even as God showed him various signs, including turning his walking staff into a snake and miraculously causing and curing leprosy on his hand, Moses still found other excuses to evade responsibility. He attempted to reject the mission, and said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? (Exodus 3:11). However, God assured him, “I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” But, Moses remained adamant against the Lord’s instructions and said, “Please send someone else” (Exodus 4:11-13).
Moses only abided when God forced him to go to Egypt. One may not be aware but could be predestined to carry out certain tasks, including those which one may not like. When God asked Jeremiah to become a prophet, he tried to evade the mission, citing personal weaknesses, which God could not entertain. It is apparently normal to hesitate on certain responsibilities when opportunity offers them. At the same time, it is necessary to listen to the inner voice and take appropriate actions.
By Venansio Ahabwe
Source: Leadership Mgazine