Recently a coworker got a substantial raise over me, this was very disheartening. Not only have I been in the job years longer than she has but our employer was restricted to only give 2% raises and she received an 8% raise.  It crushed and confused me, I felt like my boss did not value having me as an employee.  Needless to say I have been thinking about the situation a lot lately.  My heart and mind almost instantly reminded me of Matthew 20 in the parable of the landowner who hired people to work in his vineyard.

“⁹"The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. ¹⁰So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. ¹¹When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ¹²'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.'

 ¹³"But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? ¹⁴Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. ¹⁵Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?'

This was the small voice of God reminding me that it was my choice to be working there, which put my heart in check, and gave the adjustment of attitude that I seriously needed. 

I started thinking about how we as a culture look to money as the value of someone rather than the kind of person that they are.  Employers may look at someone’s wages and assume someone’s value to a company.  The latest headlines are full of examples of “successful” people who have millions of dollars but usually have gained that money by being crooked businessmen or have lied to achieve their goals.  Money tells us little about the people they are or how they have lived their lives.  Money is a tiny piece of the story not the whole picture of someone. 

When I think of examples of worth in the Bible I immediately think of what is outlined in Proverbs 31.  These verses have in them what brings someone (mostly women in this particular passage) value.  A woman of noble character is worth more than rubies!  Noble character, not something that the world initially sees, but something that truly brings someone value. Noble character  is a virtue that I should worry more about than the fact that someone got an unfair raise.  In the big picture of our lives this situation will matter little, it hurts right now but it will have no eternal ramifications. 

I am so blessed to follow God, who turns the world’s ideals upside down and gives us a different path to follow, who values who we are rather than what the world sees us achieve.  It saddens me to think of a world that does not know the love he provides and the amazing plan He has for us all.  Instead they have to fight to be valued by others, and gain their self worth from those around them.  

Maybe one day I will find out how I can do the job that pleases my boss more.  In the mean time though God sees the smile on my face as I greet customers and He is the only one I should worry about pleasing.

I was just thinking about the practiucm I completed a couple of months ago in a 2nd grade classroom as a requirement for me degree completion  I think often about the kids that were in the class (and mostly about how I loved being homeschooled).  At the end of the semester the kids and the teacher were so sweet and made me a quilt.  Each of the kids had drawn a picture on a piece of material that reminded them of me or that they wanted to give to me, then the teacher qulted them together.

One afternoon during their Christmas party they went around and told me what they had drawn (I am so glad they did because some pictures were up for interpretation) and why they had drawn it.  The one comment that stuck out most in my mind was from one of the little boys (he is almost taller than me, aaahh).  He said "I drew you a church becasue you remind me of church."  That comment touched my heart.  I need to remember that every action I take, whatever I do, I need to cunduct myself with Him in mind.  Even though I did not say a word about God during class time little ones are still watching my actions. 

I try not to read too much into his little comment, because who knows if I am boring and that is what reminds him of church .  It is a good reminder to watch ourselves though.   

I was reading through Titus 2 the other day and this verse caught my attention:

"...In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." Titus 2:7-8

What a bold thought, that those who oppose us have nothing bad to say about us.  This provides a great challenge for us in our daily living.  To lead lives that cannot be condemned.....what a call.  I had never really thought about living life, or rather watching my speech as though to silence my opposers.  For me it means constant monitoring of my tongue, to give no food for people who oppose me to eat up.  Further up in the chapter it talks about being examples to those around us.  By living lives by God's standards not only are we putting those who oppose us to shame but we are also teaching those around us the correct way to live.

As I was thinking about this passage I thought back to the last government (local and federal) elections, it seemed during that election time each one of the the candidates was bad mouthing the other one (more than I had remembered in past elections).  We don't think how our actions and words today really affect the future of our lives, but elections are great reminders that our lives in the past do affect our future circumstances. 

My mom's constant reminder "think before you act" is never far from needing to be played again in my mind.