August 21, 2017

Deut 15:12-18       If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, sells himself to you and serves you six years, in the seventh year you must let him go free. And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed. Supply him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to him as Yahweh your Elohim has blessed you. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and Yahweh your Elohim redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.  But if your servant says to you, “I do not want to leave you,” because he loves you and your family and is well off with you, then take an awl and push it through his ear lobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your maidservant.  Do not consider it a hardship to set your servant free, because his service to you these six years has been worth twice as much as that of a hired hand. And Yahweh your Elohim will bless you in everything you do. Within the guidelines for Israelite indentured servants is an important reminder for all workers. The Hebrew laborer worked twice as hard and twice as effectively as other laborers. The result was that the master could expect to receive twice the yield from the efforts of the Hebrew servant. We can remember Joseph, as Potiphar’s servant and even to an extent Jacob’s service to Laban and the productivity of each of these men of faith. Most of us are employed by others. We labor for someone and we extract wages for our services. Are we always giving twice the effort in our daily responsibilities? Are we recognized as people who work hard, without complaint? Do we give an honest day’s labor for a day’s wages by working as if we are directly laboring for Yahweh our Father? Many people are dissatisfied with the jobs they hold today. Many complain about the conditions or specifics of the work they are expected to do each day. However, Yahweh expects for us to always work twice as hard as those around us regardless of the conditions. Do you do your best at work according to this formula or is your best defined by production of your co-workers? Yahweh will bless you and your employer if you serve him with double the effort in all of your assigned responsibilities. Do your best at work today by being seeking to be twice as effective as the employees around you.

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