“He added, ‘Name your wages, and I will pay them.’”     Genesis 30:28 (NIV)

     Now who would not want to hear these words come out of the mouth of an employer?  These words are very rare, indeed.  But hearing words like these can only mean that the employee’s true value has been identified and recognized.

     Many of us may not feel that we are valued and respected for what we do at work.  However, the question that can be bounced back is, Have you given them a reason to value and respect you?  Let’s look at five key qualities that will change any boss’ outlook on an employee’s true value.

Equitable

     Employers seek individuals who are honest.  They want employees who are honest with how they spend their time when they are “on the clock.”  They are honest with how they use the company’s resources.

     Equitable employees should also be fair and unbiased.  They are observant of how they treat their clients, customers, fellow employees.  They willingly treat everyone the same, rather than playing favorites toward some of the people with whom they come in contact.

Efficient

     Employers also want employees who are ready to go when they come in to work.  Efficient employees maximize the use of their time in handling the tasks at hand.

     These employees are also competent.  They are capable and can be trusted to take care of their responsibilities without needing a supervisor to baby sit them throughout the day.

Enterprising

     Employers may have lots of their own ideas about how to operate the company, but they also want enterprising employees.  Employees should be daring at times, able to think outside of the box.  They should come up with new ideas that may help the company become better at what it does.

     Employees should also be resourceful.  They are able to maximize the use of the resources that they have.  They are not wasteful with supplies.  They creatively find new and different ways to do things within the company.

     Employees should be energetic and spirited.  Rather than becoming robotic toward the assigned responsibilities, employees should find ways to keep the job and workplace fun and lively.

Enthusiastic

     Employers want enthusiastic employees.  They are devoted to their jobs.  They are passionate about what they do, and really want to make a difference.

     They are eager to come to work.  (Granted, it is not always easy to be excited at work, but praise God that you have a job to go to!)  That excitement may rub off on others and make the entire workplace more pleasant.

Essential

     Lastly, employers seek individuals who are essential to the company.  These employees are necessary to the company’s operation.  They are vital to the livelihood and the continued growth and development of the company.

     The company truly cannot function at its best without the essential employees.  Most companies, whether large or small, need many employees to operate.  But, just like a body, each part is absolutely essential to the entire body.

     Paul explains this concept in 1 Corinthians 12:12-26.  Even in a company with hundreds or thousands of employees, when an essential employee is missing, it is felt by everyone.  Have we showed our employers that we are indispensable?

     If we want to feel valued and respected at work, we have to make sure that we have given our employers a valid reason.  Applying these five characteristics will not only change our bosses’ outlooks on us, but it will also give us a renewed sense of purpose within our workplace.

“Give me my wives and children, for whom I have served you, and I will be on my way.  You know how much work I’ve done for you.”     Genesis 30:26 (NIV)

     Jacob is a man after my own heart.  I love the fact that this man recognized his responsibility and assumed his role as a husband, father, and provider.  He worked hard to take care of his family.

     Many are familiar with 1 Timothy 5:8, “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (NIV)  Let’s look at how Jacob puts these words into action.

Honorable husband

     In honoring the customs of that time, Jacob worked for his father-in-law, Laban, for 14 years in order to earn the hands of Leah and Rachel in marriage.  The original agreement was seven years for Rachel, but Laban deceived Jacob and gave his older daughter, Leah, to Jacob first.  He had to work seven additional years for Rachel.

     I think it is important to note here that Jacob handled Laban’s deception in an upstanding manner.  Rather than call Laban out for the misdeed, he willingly added another seven years of service to the agreement so that he could have his bride.  Now that’s what I call love!

    Jacob displayed the attitude we should have when we are at work.  Things may not always go as planned.  Things may not always be easy.  Employers and clients renege on verbal agreements.

     There will be times where we just have to roll with the punches.  We will have to keep moving forward even when the circumstances don’t seem fair.

     Jacob may not have liked the agreement, but he kept his eye on the bigger picture – at the end of the day, he still had the love of his life at his side.

Hardworking father

     The weddings took place in the middle of the years of service.  So, Jacob worked seven years, married both women, and then worked an additional seven years.

     During the second set of seven years, children were born into the unions.  Growing up, I’m sure they came to know about marriage arrangement.  They probably not only heard about it, but they were also able to watch their father work hard for their grandfather.

     Fathers need to be positive examples for their children of what the head of the household should look like.  Boys should learn how to provide for their families.  Girls should see how their prospective husbands should treat them.

Honest provider

     In all of Jacob’s years of service to Laban, we do not hear of any misappropriations.  Jacob handled everything honestly.  In fact, this is confirmed by Laban’s statement in Genesis 30:27.  He tells Jacob, “I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you.” (NIV)

     When we are good stewards over whatever God has entrusted to us, many people around us will also be positively impacted.  Since Jacob handled his responsibilities appropriately, his employer was blessed.  In turn, when business went well, everyone involved in Laban’s business was also blessed.

     Our stewardship has a domino effect.  Let’s remember that as we handle our given responsibilities both at home and at work.