Having job security (2)

Mon, 8 Apr 2024

‘Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity ...’ Proverbs 21:5

To have job security you should:

1) Endeavour to be as indispensable as possible. ‘Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.’ (Proverbs 21:5-6 NLT). Strive for integrity and excellence in your work, while learning as much as possible about procedures and processes beyond your area of responsibility. Be willing to help others – but not at the expense of your own effectiveness.

2) If the fear of losing your job stems from personality clashes with your boss, embrace the biblical principle of authority and submission. The buck stops with the person in charge. Therefore, determine to submit to anything asked of you that’s not illegal or immoral. When possible, confirm the instructions from your boss with a follow-up email, including your feedback on the potential outcome. Always speak with respect. Be willing to go the extra mile. Don’t make excuses or try to cover up for poor workmanship. Getting along with your boss is crucial, so make doing so your special project. ‘Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back’ (Titus 2:9 NKJV).

3) Know your marketability. Are you in a field with a strong demand for your skills, or do you need to educate yourself in order to upgrade them? If you want a raise or a promotion on the job, you must be willing to invest the time and effort to do what’s necessary in order to earn them. ‘Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth’ (Proverbs 10:4 NIV).