What principles from Exodus 21:4 can be applied to modern employer-employee relationships? Exodus 21:4—The Text “If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and the man shall go out alone.” What’s Going On in the Passage • A Hebrew servant could serve six years and leave in the seventh (vv. 2–3). • If the master provided a wife (usually another servant), that wife and any children remained attached to the master’s household. • The servant’s freedom was honored, yet the master’s ownership of what he had supplied was equally honored. Timeless Principles for the Workplace • Ownership Is Real —Resources supplied by the one in authority remain that owner’s property. —Modern parallel: equipment, intellectual property, contacts, and data furnished by an employer are not automatically the departing employee’s to take. • Clarity Up Front Prevents Conflict —Scripture establishes the rule before the servant accepts the wife; nothing is hidden. —Employers and employees should communicate expectations and property rights before work begins (written contracts, policies, NDAs). • Freedom Within Agreed Boundaries —The servant is free to leave, but only on the terms set forth. —An employee can resign at will, yet must honor agreed exit procedures (returning devices, confidential files, keys). • Stewardship Over Borrowed Blessings —The master’s provision of a wife was a gift, yet still under stewardship. —Employees are accountable to use company resources responsibly, knowing they remain the company’s. • Mutual Respect —The master respects the servant’s right to liberty; the servant respects the master’s right to property. —Healthy workplaces honor both employer authority and employee dignity. Practical Takeaways for Today • When you leave a job, return everything that belongs to the company—hardware, software licenses, client lists, proprietary documents. • Don’t treat company time or tools as personal property; use them only for authorized purposes. • If you develop ideas or products with company resources, assume they belong to the employer unless a contract states otherwise. • Managers should spell out ownership terms clearly, preferably in writing, and review them with new hires. • Employees should ask questions and gain clarity before accepting benefits, training, or assignments that may carry ongoing obligations. Supporting Scriptures • Luke 16:10–12—faithfulness with “another man’s property.” • Proverbs 22:28—respecting established boundaries. • Colossians 3:23–24—working “for the Lord” promotes integrity toward earthly masters. • Romans 13:7—render to all what is due, including respect and honor. Living the Principles • Audit your use of company assets this week—does anything need correcting? • Employers: review and refresh policy manuals to ensure transparency. • Employees: keep a clean conscience by treating what is “on loan” as sacred trust, not personal entitlement. |
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