Doing The Right Thing Hurts Sometimes

My job provides all sorts of life lessons. I work for a company that penalizes efficiency and placates sloth. Once when I complained of this to my manager, she said "That's just the (company's) way. " Well my efficiency and helpfulness around the office was rewarding by increasing my workload. Because I was hurt and angry, I vowed that at the first opportunity I would change assignments.
When the opportunity presented itself, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the new assignment. Instead of working at the same pace, I put it on cruise control. I mean after all, why should I bust my tail while somebody else is cruising along getting paid the same as me? . I was afraid of being penalized again for doing a good job. But the idea of slowing up and being "average" just did not sit well with me.
I looked around and prayed quietly "Lord what do I do?" He opened my eyes to see a different way, the Jesus way. What if I excelled in the performance of my duties in such a way that it provoked a reaction from my superiors? What if my workload was increased again as a result of my superior performance? What if I continued to perform at a high level, in spite of inequality in the work assignments? What will happen? True change will take place.
The success of the Civil Rights movement centered around the idea that America could be provoked to respond to the need for Civil Rights when they saw peaceful protesters being savagely mistreated by those who opposed change. The Bible says "Do not overcome evil with evil, but overcome evil with good." Evil looks REALLY bad when it is seated next to good. The Jesus way is to love your enemies, pray for people that mistreat you, love the unloveable, and to do the right thing in every circumstance. Is it possible, even probable, that you will be used a time or two? Certainly! Is it possible that you will be ridiculed? Sure. But as I look back at history, I have heard of a story where a good and righteous man who had every right to complain and assert his rights willingly gave up his rights. He did this, sacrificing his right to freedom, justice, and retribution in order to provoke change, a change that is still working almost 2000 years later!
So I am going to go back to being one of the best on my job. Let the chips fall where they may. This is not the easy way but the right way. My conscience is clear and God will be pleased. I will trust the outcome to him.

19 Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," a says the Lord. 20 Instead, do what the Scriptures say: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them Ÿsomething to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you." b 21 Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good. Romans 12:19-21 NLT
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