Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Sixty Minutes per Hour

I remember something that the evangelist, Lowell Lundstrom, said a number of years ago. He said that we are all speeding toward death at the rate of 60 minutes per hour. When you are young you don't think much about a statement like that. After all, most young people think they are indestructible and will live forever. But the Scriptures say, "It is appointed unto man once to die, after that the judgement."

Yesterday I had another birthday. Thanks to the many who sent me birthday wishes. I like the ones that say, "and may you have many more." I just turned 61 and many more means more now than when I was 31. I realize now more than ever that the clock is ticking. It never stops. When it does stop for me, it is over. But it will keep ticking for everyone else who is still alive.

My goal now is to appreciate and enjoy the life I still have left. I need to make the most of it. Even now more than later. Now when I still have excellent health, I may not have that later. I need to enjoy the enjoyable years for the years of suffering with old age are sure to come. I look back at my past now and say "Alas!" because I see so much error and squandered time. I do not want to say "Alas!" again in another 10 years. But I want to look back with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. I have an appointment and a great review of my life will take place. I want to be ready for that appointment.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

"The Laborer is Worthy His Hire"

I have always been a proponent of fair pay. Of course, fair pay is determined by the demand for labor, the skills and work ethic of the laborer, and the quality of work performed. It is not based on how badly the laborer needs a paycheck nor on how wealthy the business owner may be. The marketplace drives the worth of labor.

Having said that, in my business I have always paid above market value for labor and skilled craftsmen. It is important to me to have people who want to work for me. I also desire to reward people for their labor rather than take advantage of them.

Recently I had a gentleman who is one of my sub-contractors tell me about several jobs where he had worked where the pay was either slow in coming, or he was not paid at all. He worked for five months for one contractor who kept promising to pay him, but never did. The contractor went bankrupt and this man was never paid for his labor. This man now sub-contracts with me and we have a happy relationship because he is promptly paid after each job, and in return I receive a good day's labor.

It is heartbreaking to me to hear about those who work and don't get paid. And I believe that it is heartbreaking to God as well. It is totally wrong and immoral to not pay someone for their labor. In fact it is theft. It is trampling on the one who works. And I do not believe that God views this lightly.

The Bible says, "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treads out the corn, and the laborer is worthy his hire."

A fair paycheck and a few bottles of Gatorade go a long way.