Here is a question

[BH_Manners]

If I worked for an employer for several years and he let me go, and several years down the road his house burns down and asks my help with clothing, ect. why should I help him?

It seems to me that he is asking me to subsidize him with charity when he was unwilling to do this very thing for me several years earlier.

If it is irrational for a business to subsidize an employee, and he was unwilling to pay me some money to help me out out of his own pocket until I found another job, why is it somehow rational for me to do it for him? He was concerned with placing his money where he could get the most return and didn’t see it in me. Why should I spend money on him that I may not get back either—a bad business decision? Better yet, if I am required to give him charity why isn’t he required to have done the same for me?

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

If I worked for an employer for several years and he let me go, and several years down the road his house burns down and asks my help with clothing, ect. why should I help him?

It seems to me that he is asking me to subsidize him with charity when he was unwilling to do this very thing for me several years earlier.

If it is irrational for a business to subsidize an employee, and he was unwilling to pay me some money to help me out out of his own pocket until I found another job, why is it somehow rational for me to do it for him? He was concerned with placing his money where he could get the most return and didn’t see it in me. Why should I spend money on him that I may not get back either—a bad business decision? Better yet, if I am required to give him charity why isn’t he required to have done the same for me?

First of all…did he have a"good" reason for letting you go? Sometimes, people are let go from positions for various reasons. I had that happen 4 years ago after 15 years of doing the same job. They just got rid of the position entirely. That was their choice and their right. Businesses have to do what is the best for the business also.

Why should a business “subsidize” an employee? Most businesses have separation packages available when they have to let somone go, but that is up to the business. I think for the most part all they are required to do is to give you notice and your final paycheck, unless you have some accrued benefits due you.Also, if you were separated and you were not at fault there is always Unemployment Insurance benefits. I know of not many employers who would feel it is their “duty” to subsidize an employee that they have dismissed until that employee finds another job.

You are not required to give him charity. That would have to be something coming from your heart.

:heart:Blyss

 

[drafdog]

You are responsible for your brother, no matter how badly he may have treated you. The entire Bible is God’s commentary on the answer to Cain’s question.
Jesus dying for our sins is the action that should be our yardstick. Is it going to kill you to help someone you don’t like? Maybe you’re not helping enough yet.

Matthew

 

[VociMike]

I don’t think a person should give him any of the person’s stuff. That person should keep it all, and take it all with him when he dies.

 

[BH_Manners]

**

First of all…did he have a"good" reason for letting you go?

Irrelevant. The person who owned the business did not employ people out of a sense of charity or kindness on his part. He employed people thinking they would bring in even more money than he would be out paying them. He thought it was in his best interests monetarily speaking to no longer employ a person. Later that person let go has been approached about possibly aiding the former employer in the form of time. The ex-employee has to decide if it is worth his time to do so.

Sometimes, people are let go from positions for various reasons. I had that happen 4 years ago after 15 years of doing the same job. They just got rid of the position entirely. That was their choice and their right. Businesses have to do what is the best for the business also.

the business owner was doing what was in his/her best interests at the time. You were just a tool to be used and discarded, and whatever happened to you was just your problem.

An employee works for an employer because he/her has no other options on the table at the time of taking the job. If you are only looked at as a tool to be used and discarded by an employer it seems fitting that you look at the emploer the same way.

Why should a business “subsidize” an employee? Most businesses have separation packages available when they have to let somone go, but that is up to the business. I think for the most part all they are required to do is to give you notice and your final paycheck, unless you have some accrued benefits due you.Also, if you were separated and you were not at fault there is always Unemployment Insurance benefits. I know of not many employers who would feel it is their “duty” to subsidize an employee that they have dismissed until that employee finds another job.

then i have no duty to help him.

You are not required to give him charity. That would have to be something coming from your heart.

I was a tool to be used and discarded when I was no longer regarded as profitable. Helping him would bring me no monetary profit and in fact a loss. I would also lose lots of time possibly. In this case the rational decision to make would be not to help him. If he had given me a couple of weeks pay after letting me go to help out till I found another job things may be different, but I just don’t see where he did anything to merit my aid.**

 

[BH_Manners]

I don’t think a person should give him any of the person’s stuff. That person should keep it all, and take it all with him when he dies.

LOL!

 

[DanteAlighieri]

You are not required to give him charity. That would have to be something coming from your heart.

I was a tool to be used and discarded when I was no longer regarded as profitable. Helping him would bring me no monetary profit and in fact a loss. I would also lose lots of time possibly. In this case the rational decision to make would be not to help him. If he had given me a couple of weeks pay after letting me go to help out till I found another job things may be different, but I just don’t see where he did anything to merit my aid.

Despite the cynical nature of your views, you do not address the heart of the matter: love.

Christ taught us to love our neighbor, forgive those who wrong us, pray for our enemies, and tend to “the least of [his] brothers”. Where in Christ’s teachings did he ever say, “…unless he screwed you over once”?

If you are truly interested in what is “required of you” with regards to the man who fired you once, it is this: LOVE HIM as you love yourself.

Peace,
Dante

 

[FCEGM]

Despite the cynical nature of your views, you do not address the heart of the matter: love.

Christ taught us to love our neighbor, forgive those who wrong us, pray for our enemies, and tend to “the least of [his] brothers”. Where in Christ’s teachings did he ever say, “…unless he screwed you over once”?

If you are truly interested in what is “required of you” with regards to the man who fired you once, it is this: LOVE HIM as you love yourself.

Peace,
Dante

I note that the OP identifies him/herself as a Muslim, so this truth may, unfortunately, be beyond him/her.

 

[ElizabethAnne]

I was a tool to be used and discarded when I was no longer regarded as profitable. Helping him would bring me no monetary profit and in fact a loss. I would also lose lots of time possibly. In this case the rational decision to make would be not to help him. If he had given me a couple of weeks pay after letting me go to help out till I found another job things may be different, but I just don’t see where he did anything to merit my aid.

You seem to be arguing that because you would not gain monetary compensation for helping this man, you should not do it. Seeking to profit shouldn’t be the object of helping another human being.

 

[Ramalama]

I know little about your religion, but maybe you could consider it an opportunity to teach your ex-employer a better way to treat his brothers. Think about it as a way of spreading good will.

 

[vern_humphrey]

If I worked for an employer for several years and he let me go, and several years down the road his house burns down and asks my help with clothing, ect. why should I help him?

It seems to me that he is asking me to subsidize him with charity when he was unwilling to do this very thing for me several years earlier.

If it is irrational for a business to subsidize an employee, and he was unwilling to pay me some money to help me out out of his own pocket until I found another job, why is it somehow rational for me to do it for him? He was concerned with placing his money where he could get the most return and didn’t see it in me. Why should I spend money on him that I may not get back either—a bad business decision? Better yet, if I am required to give him charity why isn’t he required to have done the same for me?

Who is this employer for whom you may or may not have worked?

How can we answer your question without full information – and perhaps some (name removed by moderator)ut from the man you accuse of “letting you go?”

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

When I asked if your employer had a “good reason” for letting you go…I meant was he downsizing his company…was he retiring your position(which happened to me) or were you not performing your duties? There are many valid reasons for dismissing an employee. There are also companies that have grievance committees when you are fired. I would think that your employer might have felt he had good reason because otherwise you might have had recourse through Unemployment Insurance. In one
regard you are right…when it comes to business…it is the bottom line that counts and if you are not performing up to standards, he had every reason to fire you. It is a business after all.

I guess if you were cynical you could look at it that way. I didn’t…it was business…nothing personal. When they decided to discard me…I got a very profitable separation package, so i didn’t feel all that bad. LOL

It seems to me that you are very angry and that is presenting itself as a most cynical manner. I hope you are able to come to terms with your anger and let it go, it will eat you alive. Like I said…about helping your former boss…that is something that will have to come from your heart and only you know if the desire is there to help another human being. Let your conscience be your guide. You can choose to help a person in need and be a better person for it and show what kindness to your fellow man is all about, or you can choose to let him slide on his own…that is between you and your conscience.

You never know, by helping him it might be something that might make him re-think how he treats people in his life.

Good luck.

 

[Jennifer123]

**
BlyssfulDreamer;2169352:

but I just don’t see where he did anything to merit my aid.

**

We didn’t anything to merit the aid of Our Savior, in fact, we all helped crucify him on the Cross, but He allows us to live with Him in peace in eternity anyway. He asks us to follow His action.

If you are looking for justification from us to make a “rational” decision not to help your neighbor, you unfortunately won’t find it. We Christians are compelled by the Lord to help those in need, regardless of how we may feel about it.



**"Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21-22

“Give to every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again. And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish.” Luke 6:30-35**

 

[vern_humphrey]

**

We didn’t anything to merit the aid of Our Savior, in fact, we all helped crucify him on the Cross, but He allows us to live with Him in peace in eternity anyway. He asks us to follow His action.

If you are looking for justification from us to make a “rational” decision not to help your neighbor, you unfortunately won’t find it. We Christians are compelled by the Lord to help those in need, regardless of how we may feel about it.
**

This is a very strange thread. I didn’t know anyone in the World Trade Center, not anyone hit by the Tsunami, nor anyone living in New Orleans. But it never occurred to me to ask, “Have they done anything to merit my aid?”

 

[CatholismRox]

Jesus says forgive.

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

**Jennifer123…Please be more careful in your quotes. You attributed something to me that I never said. That is what the OP stated…not me.

:heart:Blyss**

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

Jennifer123…the OP in post #5 stated the comment about not meriting aid and he was copy/pasting comments I had made in a previous post, which always adds to the confusion.

Like I said before I did not make that statement.

:heart:Blyss

 

[Jennifer123]

**Jennifer123…Please be more careful in your quotes. You attributed something to me that I never said. That is what the OP stated…not me.

:heart:Blyss**

I used the quote function from OP’s response to you. It makes it appear as if you stated quote. Sorry you were offended.

 

[DanteAlighieri]

I note that the OP identifies him/herself as a Muslim, so this truth may, unfortunately, be beyond him/her.

A good point; I did not catch that.

Nonetheless, isn’t charity one of the pillars of Islam?

Peace,
Dante

 

[LilyM]

Regardless of whether you are Muslim or Christian - none of us who hope to spend eternity in Paradise have truly ‘earned’ this eternal happiness - at least not unless we’ve also spent an eternity doing good for others!

This should show all of us, Muslim and Christian alike, that salvation is only by God’s generosity. If we hope for God to be generous in this way to us, we must also be generous to all others, even those who treat us badly.