Work, Toil, and Integrity in Hostile Environment

Luke 16:9-10, 13-15

I think the greatest relief I’ve ever had is the day that I retired from the last job that I will ever have. I worked as a janitor in a Church that doubled as a Christian school. In the 5 years and 8 months that I worked there, there were a total of 21 custodians that I worked with. 21 custodians in less than 6 years! They all complained about the verbal abuse and unjust demands that were placed on them. Often, those custodians would try to get me to condemn the treatment that the custodians had to endure. I refrained. I needed my job, had to pay rent every month, plus I wanted to keep positivity in my motivation. Plus, I knew that any criticism of those in authority would have harsh consequences. I was practicing Luke 6:28 which says, “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

Their Christmas bonuses, pay raises, and other fringe benefits were attractive, but I made it very clear to them that what I do for them is what Jesus expects of me. I was being somewhat coy because after all it was a Church and Christian School. Even to this day, I run across people from that Church as there is only one Kroger and one Wal-Mart in the city. They greet me cordially and make me feel that I would be welcomed back anytime. I never tell them that is the last place I want to return to. I understand when Jesus says, “And I say unto you, make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.”

I also understand very well when Jesus says, “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” I was very stubborn and even refused to try to “harness” the other 21 custodians into subjecting themselves to the expectations of the Church and school administration. I just kept quoting scripture to the custodians while trying not to criticize the leaders. I was especially keen not to let my faith, joy, and goodness fall apart. I was clinging to the rugged cross and distancing myself from the “policies” of the administration. It’s not easy always having to work with a trainee, always responsible for 100% of the workload, and always double checking the work of the new custodian.

And this verse says more than I ever could about the Church/School leadership, “And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”

SCRIPTURE TEXT
“And I say unto you, make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Luke 16:9-10, 13-15