To have job security you should: 1) Aim to be as indispensable as possible. ‘Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap’ (vv. 5-6 NLT). Strive for integrity and excellence in your work, while learning as much as possible about procedures and processes beyond your area of responsibility. Be willing to help others – but not at the expense of your own effectiveness. 2) If the fear of losing your job stems from personality clashes with your manager, embrace the biblical principle of authority and submission. The buck stops with the person in charge. Therefore, determine to submit to reasonable instructions that are asked of you, provided they’re not illegal or immoral. When possible, confirm the instructions from your manager, including your feedback on the potential outcome. Always speak with respect. Be willing to go the extra mile and be open to carrying out reasonable tasks even if they’re not in your job description. Don’t make excuses or try to cover up for poor workmanship. Cooperating with your manager is important. ‘Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back’ (Titus 2:9 NKJV). 3) Know your marketability. Are you in a field with a strong demand for your skills, or do you need to educate yourself in order to upgrade them? If you want a raise or a promotion on the job, you must be willing to invest the time and effort to do what’s necessary in order to earn them. ‘Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth’ (Proverbs 10:4 NIV).
