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Garner Ted Armstrong
SPEAKS OUT!
Let's Rediscover theWorkEthic
''We
are at a
turning point
in
history. lf we adopt a
don 't ca re attitude, we
risk becoming a second-class eco–
nomic power. " Those are the words
of l. W. Abel, former president of
the United Steelworkers. Over two
years ago, he called on American
workers to improve lagging produc–
tivity by ''cutting down on exces–
sive absenteeism, tardiness,
turnover, and overtime."
The average American worker
today, it seems, is primarily con–
cerned about more pay, more
fringe benefits, better pension
plans, insurance plans, and all
types of other job benefits - while
wanting to work less hours.
In short, too many Americans are
far more concerned about the ac–
quisition of material goods and
longer vacations than about their
JObs and the impact that good,
salid, honest work has on the na–
tion as a whole.
According to Lane Kirland, sec–
retary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO,
"There has been a steady and con–
sisten! reduction in the commitment
of men to work as a way of lite.''
lnstead, says this union official,
"The expansion of
paid leisure time
will continue, and there may well be
a greater tendency to choose lei–
sure over additions to income ,
where that choice can be made."
A stunningly accurate forecast of
these conditions exists in a book
that most Americans don 't even
bother to read , much less heed. But
the prophecy is there, nevertheless.
" For this know also, that in the last
42
days perilous times shall come. For
men shall be
/overs of their own
se/ve.s, covetous , boasters,
proud, ... heady , highminded,
/overs of p/easures more than
/overs of God;
having a form of
godliness, but denying the power
thereof: from such turn away"
(11 Tim. 3:1-5).
A striking paradox, isn't it? In the
tace
of mounti ng national and
worldwide dangers- during "peril–
ous times" - men would, accord–
ing to the Bible , become lovers of
pleasures. Americans now spend
anywhere from
$50
to
$150
billion
annually (depending on which sur–
vey you care to believe) search ing
for pleasures.
Even the much sought after dal–
lar has to play second fidd le to the
desire for pleasure. In a study con–
ducted by two marketing professors
at Ohio State University and the
University of Wyoming respectively,
it was revealed that 55 percent of a
cross section of the nation's public
preferred additional leisure time
over more money.
The modern "nonwork ethic"
also reflects itself in the problem of
absenteeism. According to UPI
business writer Jack Brannan, "The
average American worker is absent
from the job nine days each year for
reasons ranging from commuting
problems to alcoholism, and in–
cluding
plain irresponsibility . .. .
This rate of absenteeism costs em–
ployers an average of
$146.30
an–
nuall y for each person. "
One of the reasons for the high
rate of absences, he found, was the
"irresponsible at1itude toward work ,
espec1ally among younger employ–
ees . ... ' '
God Works!
The once-proud American work
ethic is deeply rooted in our fore–
bears ' re ligious teachings. As a
Time
essay of October 1972
pointed out: "The Puritans were
Calvinists, and they brought the
work ethic to America. They pun–
ished idleness as a serious misde–
meanor. They filled their children's
ears with copybook maxims about
the devil f inding work for id le hands
and God helping those who help
themselves .... ' '
But as predicted in the Bible so
many centuries ago, religion has
decl ined in Ameri ca to a mere
" form
of god liness."
The American work ethic has
been referred to as both the Protes–
tan! ethic and the Puritan ethic. Ac–
tually, neither of these terms is
completely correct. The dignity of
work actually originated with God!
Jesus Christ of Nazareth said:
" . . . my Father worketh hitherto,
and 1work"
(John 5:17).
This same God intends fo r
humans to be engaged in profi t–
able, reward ing work. The very fi rst
man was instructed to " dress and
keep" the garden of Eden - not to
let it become overgrown and run
down with weeds (Gen . 2:15).
The Proverbs of Saloman are li t–
erally filled with admonitions about
laziness and slothfulness.
Former President Eisenhower in
his parting State of the Union mes–
sage, January 7,
1960,
told his
countrymen: "America did not be–
come great through softness
and
self-indulgence.
Her miraculous
prog ress and achievement flow
from other qualities far more worthy
and substantial: adherence to prin–
cipies and methods consonan! with
our re lig ious philosophy;
a
satis–
faction in hard work; the readiness
to sacrifice
for worthwhile causes;
the courage to meet every chal–
lenge to her progress.
America today desperately needs
a
great cause!
She needs a noble,
just purpose. She needs to catch
the vision of a dynamic goal which
calls for, and is worthy of,
great
sacrifice and hard work!
o
The
PLAIN TRUTH June 1976