1Ki 5:14 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy.

Hiram, king of Tyre, was a good friend of king David. When he heard that Solomon had succeeded David as king of Israel, he sent congratulatory letter to him. In his reply to the king of Tyre, Solomon signified to him his intention to build the temple and desired him to furnish him with workmen and materials. In return, Solomon would give Tyre wheat and oil. Hiram was delighted to do it (v.1-11). Solomon drafted 30,000 men from all Israel to help in the work. They were divided into three groups, each group consisting of 10,000 men. Each group would work for one month in Lebanon and had two months off at home. What a caring employer! It was temple service, and Solomon took great care that they should not be over-worked. So, instead of making the Israelites work constantly away from Israel and home, he arranged them in shifts. Great men consider that their servants must rest as well as them. It was hard labour cutting down trees and transporting them down to Jerusalem. They didn’t have machineries (electric chain saws, cranes, and trucks) in those days and so it was hard labour. Solomon cared for his workers. Do you know the suffering of your workers? Today we have many very demanding bosses. If bosses had their ways, they would very much like their workers to work at least 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. How many of you had your bosses chasing you to go home because office hours were over? Do you care for the welfare of your workers? Do you get angry when your workers call in sick? Do you get angry when your female employees become pregnant or go on long maternity leave? Do you squeeze your employees of their deserved annual leave? Are you concerned when your employees have a health or family problem? Do you give your workers sufficient rest days? The Bible gives us two examples of good and caring employers. And they were both Gentiles. The first is Namaan’s boss (2 Kings 5:1-14). He had a captain who was a leper. When he heard there was cure in Israel, he sent a letter to the king of Israel with a gift of ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. It was a large sum to pay for his employee’s medical. The second was a Roman centurion (Matthew 8:5-10).He had a servant who was very sick. Under Roman law, the master had the right to kill his slave if the slave became ill to the point where he could not work. But this Roman centurion came to Jesus and begged Him to heal his servant. Did your boss do that for you when you were sick? Did you do that for your servant who was sick? The best way to spread our religion is by our action: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34, 35). God commands bosses and managers: “Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven” (Colossians 4:1). God is calling on all employers: Treat your workers as human. Accord them the same justice as you would expect from your own employer: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12). Justice and equity required that they should be properly paid, given rest, care and kindness. Bosses, be kind to your employees. Managers, treat your subordinates as you want your superiors to treat you. Remember the golden rule!