The Bible and Absences at work

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movingforward

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Mar 26, 2008
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'm a first year teacher and I'm a bit concerned about the days I've been absent. I get 10 sick days, 3 family illness and 2 personal days. So far, I've used 6 or 7 sick days and 1 emergency personal day (mainly being sick and also disorganization). I also have ADD. I also seem to make excuses and get into this vicious cycle too. I wanted to know what the Bible says about work and being absent.
 

Christina

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Apr 10, 2006
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The freedom to make our own choices is a very important issue in our society. Every day, each of us chooses to do the things that we do, unless we are in a situation where we have been stripped of our freedom and then we must do as those who have control over us command us to do. However, no matter what our choices are today, they are ultimately creating our future because every choice that we make will either cause us to be blessed or cursed. Another way to put it, is that things will get better or worse for us. All choices have consequences. These consequences will be for our betterment or will work to destroy us. We are also responsible for our choices. The Bible challenges us with this admonition in Deuteronomy 30:19: "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live"Messages going forth in our society today have stressed our "right to choose" but have not balanced it with the message that our choices also have consequencesWe face choices on a personal level daily: What shall we eat? ---- We can choose to eat healthy or just "pig out" on junk food.Whom should we vote for? ---- We can take the time to pray and study the candidates positions and vote accordingly or we can refuse to vote. When we do not vote, we are actually making a choice to allow others to choose who shall rule over us.Whom shall we marry? ---- This is a serious life-time commitment and should never be gone into without God's guidance. Making this choice foolishly or based on emotion alone has brought much heartache to many a person. What occupation should we pursue? ---- Those making this decision strictly based on need or money issues will regret not seeking God about this issue. God has gifted every person with certain talents to adapt to the jobs that are suited just for them at the right times in their lives.Should you go to Work ---- Remember the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Are others adversely affected ? employees at your place of work, your family, or your creditors ? When only God is watching, what kind of choices do we make? He is looking for people He can trust, as He desires to use us in His work.These are just some samples of choices that we face. Because of God’s love and mercy to humanity, most of our choices do not have immediate results. We are all given a time to repent and find the Lord and His ways. We may all get away with sinning for awhile; however in time we will reap what we have sown.2 Peter 3:9 says "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." Galatians 6:7 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.The Greek word psuche (pronounced "sue-kay") is the word Bible writers used when talking about things of the natural man, which in English is called "the soul." The soul of man is comprised of the mind, the will, and the emotions. Our emotional patterns tend to formulate our personalities.The soul, or personality, is formed through a person's reactions to the information the mind takes in. The way each person chooses to react to the things he hears, the things that happen to him, the things he does, and the things he chooses to receive as truth causes each soul to become what he, or she, is. Galatians 6:15), and the soul can be changed and renewed through the Holy Spirit.Renewing the soul will cause negative habits and emotions to change. The key to that change is faith. Through our wills we must choose to change. However, it is only the work of the Holy Spirit who can actually bring permanent change in us. We cannot do it in ourselves. We choose to let go of the negative and that allows the Holy Spirit to do the changing. But doubt and unbelief lack of commitment, can keep a person from receiving this kind of healing as much as it does healing of the body. A Christian must make the choices for God's way and against his own way in absolute faith that the Holy Spirit will do His part and make the needed changes in us.If we allow our bodies to be lazy and undisciplined, they will suffer the consequences. Bad physical habits can hinder God's work in us. The Holy Spirit wants to help us overcome these ungodly ways. In the soul, if we choose to be resentful, hateful, angry, unkind, discouraged, worried, lazy,fearful, impatient, lustful, greedy, etc., we will allow these things to rule us instead of calling on the strength of Christ to help us to overcome these negative attitudes.The way to change a habit of negative thinking is to choose to change that negative thought for its opposite. The Bible calls that "overcoming evil with good" (Romans 12:19-21). For example, if a Christian finds himself ready to repeat some negative gossip about a brother or sister, he should choose to say something nice about that person instead. Very quickly, the habit of repeating negative things about other people will be broken. This can apply to a decision about going to work as wellThe Lord wants to save us from tragedy, sickness, fear, anxiety,termination of employment, and the turmoil of this world. These things come upon us because of our bad choices or through ignorance or chains of iniquity. Instead, God wants us to walk in the Spirit of life so we may have His love, joy, peace, and victory (2 Corinthians 7:1) over every trial and temptation.Our future is determined by all the choices we are making today. Let us bring God into helping us make our decisions. In doing that it will determine whether our future will be secure and will have God's blessing on it. Let us be as Joshua was and declare: "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." God promised Joshua good success if he obeyed the words of the Bible and chose to follow Him. Joshua and his family were blessed because he made the right choices; even though he went through many battles, God was with him. He was an overcomer!
 

Murgadoch

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Apr 12, 2008
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Sick days are there to be used, my freind. Not to be abused, or ignored. As a teacher myself I know how hard that first year is- you will get sick. Kids have every communicable bug that's commonly available, and some that aren't. You are stressed and harassed. In my first year I emptied most of my days in half a year, including bereavement days, because I halved the number of my grandparents in three months. The importasnt thing is this, and I'm surprised Kriss qutoed everything but this, "Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17)Are you 'chucking a sickie' or actually sick? if you are just making false excuses, suck it up and go to work. I get the feeling from your post that you have some health issues. So how are you serving your students by being incapable of teaching properly while sick? How are you serving your colleagues by bringing illness to them too? Studies have shown quite well that one day off to recover from an illness saves many days or even weeks of sub-standard efficiency while soldiering on. However, Kriss is absolutely right pointing out that God does not look kindly upon the slacker. As long as you are treating your body as a temple (1 Corinthians 6:19), looking after it as best you can, then there isn't a problem with needing a sick day. After all, if your temple was run down and in serious need of repair, wouldn't you be willing to spend a day having it fixed? Likewise with your body. Ignoring a problem can often lead to more serious problems. Permanent ones, even. Todays little niggle is tomorrows paralysis. Would you really treat God's temple with such disrespect?