Robots are taking over the world! Machines are doing the jobs that people used to do. Fast food restaurants are putting robots behind the counter to take orders. Employees, filled with outrage, are fighting back by accusing employers of being greedy villains.

There are many advantages to robotic employees. At the top of the list is the fact that robots never accuse their owners of being greedy villains. Robots don’t complain about working conditions. They never gripe about weekend hours. They don’t call in sick. They don’t miss a shift because their car broke down. And a robot will never demand outrageous wages.

That last one got me into trouble with some folks.

A few folks felt it necessary to angrily inform me that it is not “outrageous” to expect to be paid a “living wage.” I would respectfully disagree. It is outrageous to expect to be paid ANY wage when you’re not making money for your employer.

The reason you are being paid to take orders at the drive-thru is because your employer is making money by having you there. You weren’t hired because your employer just wanted to give you an hourly wage. The purpose of any business is to make money, not to create jobs.

When your employer can replace you with a machine, he will do it. Employers don’t have to pay a “living wage” to robots because…robots aren’t alive. So the employer makes more money when he hires a robot instead of you.

You can get angry and whine about “fairness” and “compassion” but it won’t change anything. All you’re doing is confirming that your employer made the right move when he replaced you. Robots are drama-free.

So, how should you respond when you’re replaced by a robot?

First: Face the reality that your skills are not needed anymore. When a machine can do your job better than you, it’s time to find a new job. Go to school. Learn a new skill. Find a line of work that requires a human brain. Maybe become a robot repairperson.

Second: Be more robotic about your job. Don’t be late. Don’t shirk assignments. Follow orders accurately. Quit complaining. In other words, stop making it easy for robots to replace you.

Third: For crying out loud, stop treating business owners like villains. You are not owed a “living wage.” Be grateful for what you’re given. That’s something a robot can never do.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

(Colossians 3:23)