John Smith, a branch manager for Supertemps, arrives at work and begins to check his voicemail. His first message is from his administrative assistant, a single mother, who will not be able to work today because one of her children is sick. "That's three times this month," John mumbles under his breath while he scans the list of qualifications for an opening at one of Supertemps' clients.

The opening is for a permanent position with a distribution company. John immediately thinks of Andrew Long, the sharp young man with the W.W.J.D. wristband that he had met only two days earlier. "This is a perfect fit for Andrew," he thinks. John calls Andrew to discuss the opening. After John describes the position, Andrew states that he might be interested in such a position in the future but isn't interested right now. "But the starting salary is only a little less than what you were making before your old employer went out of business, isn’t it?" asks John. "Yes," Andrew replies, "but my unemployment benefits don't run out for another 6 weeks so I'd like to wait a while before I take anything less than a dynamite opportunity." John points out that the job market is getting tougher and that it is unlikely that a better position will become available in the next six weeks, but Andrew doesn't seem concerned so John returns to his voicemail.

John's second message is from a manager at Gigabuild, a computer manufacturing company. "We just found out that one of the technicians you sent us, Joe Fingers, has a side business selling computers – computers that just happen to be full of components that Joe has been carrying home each night in his pockets and his lunch box! Give us a call." John calls Ted, Supertemps' founder and owner, to let him know what has happened.

John's third message is from Ellis Overton, the owner of one of Supertemps’ clients. The message confirms the location for today’s lunch meeting. John has decided to open his own staffing firm, and he wants to present his plans to Ellis now so that he can begin working with Ellis' firm as soon as he resigns from his current position in the next month or so.

John spends the rest of the morning putting the final touches on his presentation for Ellis. At 11:40 he is interrupted by a phone call from Ted. Ted has worked long hours week after week for many years to build Supertemps into the largest staffing company in the state. Ted is divorced and rarely sees his children or grandchildren, who live several states away. He wants to go visit them more often, but he never seems to have time.

Ted tells John that he just received a call from Sam Franks, one of Ted"s best friends who happens to own a local construction business. "That candidate we sent Sam only completes about three fourths of the work they give him even though he’s able-bodied and could easily do much more," Ted says. "Sam says he just doesn't try hard. I can't understand kids these days, John. I would never have been successful if I had been even half as lazy. Doesn't anyone have a Christian work ethic anymore?" John tells Ted that he is on his way out the door but will look into the situation when he gets back. Ted asks John where he's going, and John says he's going to lunch with "an old friend."

John wraps up his work and heads out the door for his meeting with Ellis, stopping briefly on the way out to pick up a legal pad and an extra pen from the supply cabinet. 


SCRIPTURAL POINTS OF LIGHT

Exodus 20:15; Deuteronomy 28:8-11, 38-48; Proverbs 12:11; Proverbs 14:23; Proverbs 21:25; Ecclesiastes 4:7-8; Ecclesiastes 5:10-20; Ecclesiastes 9:9-10; Luke 9:25; 16:10; Matthew 20:6; Ephesians 4:28; Ephesians 6:5-8; Colossians 3:17; I Thessalonians 4:11-12; II Thessalonians 3:6-1