Izicaka, thobela kuzo zonke izinto iinkosi zakho ngokwenyama; hayi ngenkonzo yamehlo, Njengamadoda abakhohlakeleyo; kodwa ngokungaguquki kwentliziyo, Ukoyika uThixo: Nantoni na enisukuba niyenza, Ngaba uyayigcuma, Ngokubhekisele kwiNkosi, hayi kumadoda; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons (KwabaseKolose 3:22-25)
The obedience of the servants to their masters according to the flesh
After the roles in marriage and family life, and the responsibilities of the husband, umfazi, abantwana, and fathers, Paul wrote about the division of roles in the workplace and the responsibilities of the servants and masters.
KwabaseKolose 3:22, Paul commanded the servants to obey in all things their masters according to the flesh.
This verse speaks for itself. Perhaps today, you can replace the word ‘servants’ with ’employees’ and the word ‘masters’ with ’employers’, and ‘boss’ or ‘manager’.
What Paul wrote should be normal and obvious for people, who say they’re Christians and have become a new creation.
Kodwa ngelishwa, practice shows that this is not so obvious. Many people still walk as the old man (Indalo yakudala) and act from their old nature, and don’t do the will of God in the workplace.
The employer is above the employee. Just like it is written in the Bible that in marriage, i husband is above the wife, kwaye i parents are above the children.
And just like in marriage and family, it is the will of God that employees obey in all things their employers and do what is told and expected of them.
A shift of roles in the world
Nangona kunjalo, namhlanje, we see a shift of roles in the world (Inkqubo yeHlabathi) in various areas. We not only see the devil’s influence and shift in roles in marriage and family, but also in the workplace.
The devil doesn’t attack some statutes of God, but all statutes of God. The devil wants to defile and utshabalalisa everything that God instituted and declared holy.
His pride and rebellion towards God, whereby the devil fell, are manifested in his children in every area of their lives, even in the workplace.
The children of the devil have no integrity and don’t want to submit to their boss. Abafuni kuxelelwa ukuba mabenze ntoni, and don’t keep their contract. They’re rebellious and put themselves above their boss. They go their own way, and are not bothered by their employment contract
How are you in the workplace?
How are you in the workplace? What do you do when you are all alone or working from home? Are you focused on your work? Are you faithful to your boss by fully deploying, working hard, and doing what you promised to do?
Or don’t you take it so seriously and are you doing other stuff during work hours that are more important to you (mobile phone, Imidiya yokuncokola, chatting with friends and acquaintances, browsing on i-intanethi, Ukudlala, domestic stuff, njl.) and don’t do what is expected from you and what you promised to do?
Many employees have sweet talks and make all kinds of promises, and pretend to be diligent. Nangona kunjalo, all those fine words and promises don’t come to pass. They’re just empty words and hollow promises.
They only say what their employer wants to hear and promise things that they don’t keep, and always have an excuse and blame others or circumstances for their failures.
They only do their best and work hard in the presence of others; when their boss (manager) is in the office or walks by, and/or colleagues are in their surroundings.
As soon as they are alone, their heart long for other stuff, and they do things that have nothing to do with their job.
Kodwa iBhayibhile (ILizwi likaThixo) says that you should obey in all things your master in singleness of heart, Ukoyika uThixo, and not with eye service, as men pleasers.
The commitment between the employer and the employee
You chose to work for that company and agreed to their rules and regulations. By signing the agreement, you have made a commitment ( umnqophiso) and declared that you comply with the job description, working hours, and the company’s rules and regulations.
Your employer shall keep his part of the employment contract and reward you for the work you do in the form of salary, any bonuses, and/or other allowances
Whatsoever you do, Ngaba uyayigcuma, Ngokubhekisele kwiNkosi, hayi kumadoda
Be thankful for your job and do your job diligently with a joyful heart as if you were doing the work for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Don’t complain about your master (boss), oogxa, umthwalo womsebenzi, salary, njl.. But be happy, umxholo, and grateful that you have a job.
Be thankful to the Lord that He has given you a job and that you can work. Show the Lord your gratitude by being content and diligent in your job, kwaye giving the Lord a part of your income.
You serve the Lord Christ and shall receive from Him the reward of the inheritance
When there is nobody around and nobody is watching, and you work hard, the Lord sees you, and He shall reward you in due time. Because you serve the Lord Christ and shall receive from him the reward of the inheritance. Ukukhathalele, so don’t worry.
When there is a job vacancy and many candidates apply, it could be that you get the job. Ngoba? Because you are better than the other candidates? Hayi, you’ll get it because the Lord saw you and your faithfulness, ingqibelelo, and diligence to your employer.
If you acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ in every area of your life and submit and obey Him and serve Him with all your heart, umphefumlo, ingqondo, kunye namandla, and be thankful and faithful to your employer, then He shall go before you.
He that does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done
But when you don’t respect but despise your employer and lie to your master (boss) and secretly do other things or be led by covetousness and a uthando ngemali and do unethical things and, umzekelo, ukuba (ukwenza ubuqhophololo), you shall receive for the wrong which you have done. And God has no respect of persons.
‘Yibani yityuwa yehlabathi’
