UNDER PRESSURE â—½ ENCOURAGEMENT
Fringe Benefits
by Debbie Haynes
One of my roles within my HR employment history was to manage global fringe benefit programs for my employer. My team managed providing benefits like health and welfare and paid time off, and so many more benefits that even included travel discounts and gym memberships! Fringe benefits are extremely important in recruiting talent. The more coverage the employer provides, the least out of pocket cost to the employee, the better chances of landing the best and brightest talent! And millions of dollars are spent to offer these fringe benefits.
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In the Bible, God set up “fringe benefits” for his people, as he wanted to set them apart from other nations as his own, and he wanted to establish himself as their sole provider. His people were told to make tassels (original meaning was a “wing-like” projection) and these were to be sewn into the hems of their garment to move as they walked. There was also to be a cord of blue on each corner of this tassel. When the people looked at these tassels, they were to remember all of the Lord’s commandments, to do them, and not follow after their own hearts.
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Perhaps these tassels with a blue cord were much like a military insignia, or maybe like couples choosing to wear wedding bands, to provide identity and belonging. These fringes, so to speak, were for the express purpose to remind the people that they belonged to God and him alone.
Moving on to the New Testament, we read again a reference to these fringes – and it’s a warning to not be like the religious leaders that make their “fringes long.” He talks a lot about these guys that took seats of highest honor, performed their deeds to be seen by others, and they laid heavy burdens on others but weren’t willing to move their own fingers. And Jesus warns his children to NOT be like these leaders!
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He says there is one instructor, Christ, when in God’s employment. The greatest is to be your servant and that whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. The bad religion of the Pharisees was nothing but a show, a performance – not a relationship with the Savior of the world.
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But there’s something more…in Matthew 14 …Jesus wore fringes on his garments! The sick only had to touch the fringe of Jesus’ garment and they were healed. In Matthew 9 a woman touched Jesus’ garment fringe and was made well. And Jesus wore the fringes so that others could touch them and be healed. God had told his people to wear fringes BECAUSE of sin, as a reminder of who they belonged to, but Jesus provided a REMOVAL, REMISSION and REMEDY for sin!
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We are no longer identified as His children by fringes, but rather by our love for others, as His law is now written in our hearts. Our access to Jesus is internal, believing what He said. And he provides those same fringes for us so that we too can experience the benefits that Christ provides, healing of every kind, for all of us.
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We have access to fringe benefits of a different kind, by faith in Jesus’ work on the cross for all who believe.