The Employee

Imagine a poor, sickly person getting a well-paying job at a company with great health benefits and an unbelievable retirement program. How would that person feel? Saved? Grateful? Motivated? Obligated? All of the above. 

In time, these emotions would probably settle, replaced with the more mundane, day-to-day attitudes of an employee. After all, the company chose him for a reason, even if those reasons are not entirely clear. So, in order to generate the respectful, initial emotions, he attends a meeting once a week to remind him. Sometimes the meetings need music and inspiring speeches to generate the proper emotions---it’s pretty much the same story every week---but generally he leaves with the proper attitudes in place for another work week. 

During the week, however, the attitude of this employee fluctuates depending on the demands of the company and the quality of the continuing benefits. There are no complaints about retirement. That is a sure thing. It’s usually the size of the paycheck or the quality of the health care program that can sometimes create tension between him and the heads of the company. Sometimes the payoff just doesn’t seem equitable to the work. 

Also, the work environment is a challenge. There are definitely some personality conflicts between employees, creating a cliquish mentality. Some receive a higher paycheck or seem to have better health coverage. Others seem completely neglected. It’s not exactly a fair system, but no one is about to complain. The company saved them all, it’s none of their business to stick their noses into the way the company is run. Besides, there is a terrific retirement plan waiting for them. 

Then one day the employee asks an important question: What does this company do? 

The company, as it turns out, installs huge power generators in places that are cut off from civilization, allowing them to have light, resources, and communication. The more the employee grows to understand the work of the company, the less he scrutinizes his paycheck and benefit plan. He has a new motivation to support to the company, work well with the other employees, and get excited about the work. He is also more aggressive against programs that would impede the work, even from within the company. 

The employee is soon noticed and promoted to more interesting work. He is given training in new skills, given more authority, even a staff of his own. For motivation, he simply thinks about the good the company is doing in the world, or even visits some of the places where a new generator is being installed or telephone poles are being planted. 

He still attends the weekly meetings, but not to muster up emotions or get information about the company, he gets plenty of that during the week. No, he goes to encourage the other employees, to show them what they are a part of, and to warn them against the companies and cultures that are trying so hard to stop the work. And he never takes off the uniform.


-John Barnts (the best Bible teacher I've ever had)
Also. Yes. He does make his own parables. How awesome is that right? :D