scenario

[brightlights]

i had to work today from 11-5 and a fellow worker was working from 10:30 until 8. he wanted to get off work at 5 and so did i. i could have taken his extra 3 hours for him but i did not. should i have?

i know this may seem really trivial but it was weighing heavily on my heart

 

[dasielady]

I don't think that there was anything sinful about your actions, unless you lied to him. Saying that you have other obligations if you didn't would be lying. But saying that you are unable to take the shift, would not be lying. It is simply the idea that you might have been unable to take the shift for various reasons,,, like maybe you just didn't want to.

IMHO, I don't think you did anything wrong, as long as you were honest, even if it was vague.

 

[renaistre]

It sounds like you might have been a little inconsiderate, but not anything to lose sleep over. I guess it really depends on why you both wanted to get off at 5. It's kind of like when I pass someone on the side of the road and later I realize that I should have stopped to see if they needed help. I hate that feeling, but I just try to use those events to help me shape the way I act in the future.

I'd say try not to let it get you down, but just think about what would be the "gentlemanly" thing to do next time.

 

[mac_1771]

Don't kick yourself about it. we aren't perfect but trust me what you did wasn't a sin unless you lied to him. if u did all your hours and worked hard and honestly then you had a right to decline the hours. don't worry about it, God does not say that declining hours is a sin all He says in the Bible is that not working hard or honestly at what you have agreed to work at is a sin. i reckon God's just tugging your heart strings so that maybe your more receptive to His pull to help someone else out later in life. (just an idea)

 

[reformedthinker]

I agree with what they said for the most part. Unless you lied to him. But I might go a step further. What was your co-worker's reason for needing to be off. Was it important or just to be off. If it was important than it might have been better for you to go ahead and work. But if not I don't think you did anything "sin worthy". But why do you think your heart was "sensitive" to this matter?

 

[rogsr]

If he needed to get out of work early for a good reason then you were a bit selfish.

If he wanted to get out of work early to go party or something then you did not do anything wrong. In this case it is purely up to you whether or not you wanted to stay.

Did he tell you a reason? If not, then you probably should have asked. In any case, now you know better for next time. Try to look deeply into people's lives, look into their circumstances, "walking a mile or two in their sandals." This will help you to cultivate the precious understanding that makes us true saints.

Peace-

 

[D-Lisch]

I know what you mean, it's like, you didn't want to be selfish, but at the same time, you really didn't want to have to give up what's rightfully yours. I'd say it's no big thing, I'd be questioning my actions too, but I think it's fine. you didn't lie, you weren't mean about it, what's else to say?>!

 

[inHisgrip]

You did nothing wrong.
If your coworker wanted the time off they should have scheduled it ahead.
If they had some emergency thats a different story, but if they just wanted off early, its not your responsibility.
I have been in your shoes before, and found myself always covering other peoples shifts, if they do not want the hours they need to let the employer know.
In Him

 

[AlanBoB]

I think it depends on the situation... was it a close friend, someone who always is there for you, has taken an unwanted shift for you... maybe a time they really needed the time for themselves... or was it just a "I feel like going home early today" type of thing ?

In any case I don't think you did anything wrong, though if you feel you did maybe to you it matters, in the end thats what really makes the difference.

 

[LegomasterJC]

You are not meant to help out in every situation you come across or pray about every problem you hear about. All you are supposed to do is follow God's leading. Next time situations come up like this, no matter how trivial... Ask God what he wants you to do in the situation. It may be that he wants you to help out. It may be that he wants you to help out in a totally different way, and it may be that he wants you to leave that alone so that you can go on to do what he does want you to do...

 

[MrsGnomeCrusher]

i had to work today from 11-5 and a fellow worker was working from 10:30 until 8. he wanted to get off work at 5 and so did i. i could have taken his extra 3 hours for him but i did not. should i have?

i know this may seem really trivial but it was weighing heavily on my heart

You're not responsible for your co-worker. S/He had a responsibility and unless he had a good reason--emergency--I don't see why you should feel guilty for it--especially if this person has a history of not wanting to always finish their shift.