A survey was taken a few years ago among employers to determine what they disliked the most in their employees. The survey revealed seven bad habits that could get a person fired:
1. Dishonesty.
2. Tardiness and absences.
3. Disregarding company policies or regulations.
4. Negligence and doing personal business on company time.
5. Laziness and lack of dedication.
6. Excessive vanity.
7. Whining and complaining.
It seems to me that this list has a much broader application than the work environment. In fact, these bad character traits are clearly warned against in the Bible as destructive forces in our spiritual lives. They will also have a tragic effect on our eternity. Note the following:
Romans 12:17 (KJV), “Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
2 Thessalonians 3:12, “…work in quietness and eat their own bread.”
Proverbs 24:30-31, “I went by the field of the slothful, And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; And there it was, all overgrown with thorns…”
Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.”
Ephesians 4:28, “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.”
Ephesians 6:5-8, “Servants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God form the heart, with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.”
