Undermined by Your Enemies

Doing a good job always creates enemies. Why?

By Bonnie Ricks, This Day's Devotional Monday, March 20, 2006

“Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.” (Daniel 6:3-4)

Because Daniel was doing such a good job, he was receiving recognition from Darius. Because Daniel was receiving recognition, his co-workers were jealous. Because they were jealous, they were determined to find some way to undermine him, to catch him doing something - anything - wrong. They did everything they could to get him in trouble.

Doing a good job always creates enemies. Why? Because those people who become your enemies are not working hard. They're not honest. They have no integrity. They're working hard only at getting by. They want something for nothing. They want the rewards without the sacrifices. When they see you receiving rewards for your efforts, it angers them. So, if you are using the "Daniel approach" at work, and you begin to receive recognition for your efforts, there will most likely be someone who will try his best to undermine you in some way. He will do everything he can to tear you down when you are being built up. How should you handle such a situation? Should you go straight to your supervisor and complain? Should you "give him some of his own medicine"? Should you talk about him behind his back, complaining to your co-workers about how he's treating you? A resounding “NO!” to all of the above.

What you should do is this. First of all, pray for the person. That may be the most difficult thing of all to do. Our natural, human tendency is to think ugly thoughts about someone who is treating us unkindly. But what Jesus told us to do is to pray for our enemies. Second, you should be kind to that person, even kinder than you have been in the past. Scripture tells us that if we are kind to our enemies, we heap burning coals upon their heads. Brother Dave Gardner, a comedian who was popular in the fifties, changed this a little and said, "Be kind to your enemies, and drive them nuts!" Funny as that is, you shouldn't be kind in order to hurt them, but be kind, truly kind from your heart. Remember, that person is acting that way because he does not understand Jesus. Your goal is to help him understand. You can only do so by demonstrating the same kindness, love and grace that has been given to you by Jesus. Remember, Jesus loves you, in spite of all the evil you have done. You must do the same for those who try to hurt you. And third, conduct yourself in a manner that is beyond reproach. Continue your diligence with your job. Continue to display nothing but Christian actions and attitudes in everything you do.

If you do all of the above, your enemies will say the same thing that was said of Daniel - "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God."

From Dogwood Ministries, Inc.
J-R-and-Bonnie@dogwoodministries.org

Used with Permission