Will Work For Perks

Will Work If Perked

If you live in a metropolitan area, you will see people standing on corners holding various signs. They might say, "Will Work For Food" or something similar. One person was at least honest and the sign said, "I Need A Beer, Not Work." Ironically, because of his honesty that person probably received more money than the others did.

Many of the others only wanted a handout or a beer, but tried to appear to have a genuine need and the work ethic required to fulfill the need if given the opportunity. If you offered them a meal or a job you would get many excuses why they needed cash and could not work right then.

In America, we have gotten our work ethic a tad bit twisted and now we do not work for food or housing, we work for perks. We want regular bonuses, appreciation awards and for sure yearly raises. Having a corner office with a window, an expenses account and a company car are not bad either. Of course, these are corporate perks, but you know what they are in you particular line of work.

Now, what happens if you do not get these perks? Well, other than moaning, we may start having more sick time logged and projects somehow just do not get finished as timely as they once did. All sorts of other negative behavior may manifest all justified by the lack of perks and getting what you deserved. Somehow, having a job and a paycheck are not enough any more.

Now, let’s look at Christian service. It seems to have crossed over from the secular world and into our church work. Just the facts that we are saved from Hell and on our way to Heaven are not enough. The pastor better recognize me regularly from the pulpit or he is not getting much out of me. I should get the Member of the Month award regularly as well as a dinner in my honor once a year. I should be a teacher and of course, get the Teacher of the Year at least every other year. We don’t want to make it obvious that I am perfect. I should be noted as the best giver in the congregation and if I sing I should have a solo at least one service a week. If I am a woman, then my husband better be Chief Deacon or Chairman of the Elder Board and I better get all the attention due me. The list could go on for a long time, but you get the picture.

What happens when these perks are not given? First, we have roast preacher at every opportunity. We cause a filibuster on every item during business meetings. Our giving and our attendance become sporadic. Of course, that means that our responsibilities that we took on are carried out by someone else while we pout at home or are out looking for a church where we are appreciated. The deacons become lazy and the teachers dull and boring. We just do not feel the love or Spirit in the church anymore. We just outgrew that preacher and we cannot get anymore from him. He must be backslidden and not studying.

Even worse, God takes a big hit because he is just not blessing us according to the needs of our lifestyle. He just does not understand our needs or what we have to put up with serving at that ungrateful church. He forgets that we are the most spiritual persons in that church and they do not recognize our gifts and wisdom. God is just so fortunate that He has us to keep that pastor and deacon board straight. I just do not know what He would do without us there. Oh, really? Let’s look at God’s viewpoint.

Luke 17:7-10

7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?

8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.

10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things, which are, commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. (KJV)

We forget that we are bondservants. Aw, let’s get politically incorrect. We are slaves. We are bought with a price and we are not our own. (I Cor 6:19,20; 7:23) We have no rights. There is no union steward, no EEO committee, no ACLU for the Christian. God owns us lock, stock, and cookie barrel. He owns us through creation and he twice owns us through redemption. He has a monopoly on us.