Employer, Employee Relationships
God has expectations for the Christian employer and the Christian employee. Each has a role in the workplace to insure a properly functioning relationship.
Ephesians 6:5-9 (NLT) Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Work hard, but not just to please your masters when they are watching. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.
For the sake of understanding and clarification, an important point must be made about these verses of Scripture. Paul (the writer of the book of Ephesians) is not condoning slavery. In the Roman Empire, it was a social reality. Paul is speaking in terms of the conditions of the society in which he lived. In today’s terms, the slave is the employee, and the master is employer.
God exists in three persons. The Trinity, or Godhead, is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each has equal position (all three make the one true living God in three external persons), but different roles with an established order of authority. In terms of the Gospel: God the Father had the plan (Ephesians 1:3-10), God the Son implemented it (John 6:38), and God the Holy Spirit does the will of the Father and Son and applies the plan (John 14:26).
Just like the Trinity, God has designed roles for you within your various relationships so they function in the manner He intended. Your relationships will function properly when they reflect the relationship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
In ALL relationships, God has set up an established line of authority. This happens not only in your home with your family, but in the workplace. In Ephesians 6:5-9 referenced at the beginning of this article, slave equals employee and master equals employer. The employers’ primary responsibility within the workplace is to lead their employees. Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) says Where there is no vision, the people perish. As a Christian employee you are to follow the lead of your employer. Relationships in the workplace flourish the way God intended when you follow God’s design.
According to God’s plan for the family, the husband is head of the household and the wife is to submit to him (Ephesians 5:22-23). Likewise, in the workplace, regardless if the employer is a man or woman, you as the employee are to submit to your employer. The Christian employee does not submit because of the character, likeability, or kindness of the employer. The Christian employee submits to be obedient to God and to honor Him. As the Christian employee, you are to be humble and accept the current position God has placed you in. You are putting your faith and trust in God. Psalm 118:8 (NKJV) says, It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. Your employer is human and will make mistakes. Like everybody, your employer has good days and bad. Your submission is NOT based on your employer’s behavior. You are to be focused on God and being obedient to His plan and design. Colossians 3:23-25 says, 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. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. God expects you to honor Him with your daily work ethic. This involves consistency, giving a good effort and being a team player.
There is another aspect to your submission to your employer. You do NOT submit to your employer if you are called to do something sinful. Acts 5:29 (NLT) says, We must obey God rather than human authority. You are a child of God, first and foremost, and you should NEVER compromise if it means doing something contrary to the Word of God. If this ever happens to you, LOVINGLY and RESPECTFULLY tell your employer you cannot and will not do something illegal or unethical. Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and God will honor your obedience. Hate the sin, but continue to honor and respect the position he or she holds. Treat him or her as God has treated you when you have sinned. There should be prayer, forgiveness, and patience with your employer. Do not condemn him or her.
You might be the only Christian employee in your workplace. The primary reason you are where you are is NOT to make money. You have your skills, abilities, and talents for one reason, TO GLORIFY GOD! Set the example by working hard, showing integrity, and treating people kind.
“If our identity is in our work, rather than Christ, success will go to our heads, and failure will go to our hearts.”–Tim Keller
“To choose a career on selfish grounds is probably the greatest single sin that any young person can commit, for it is the deliberate withdrawal from allegiance to God of the greatest part of time and strength.”–William Temple
You represent God in the workplace. 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV) tells us, We are therefore, Christ’s ambassadors, as though God was making His appeal through us. You are His ambassador in your workplace! You don’t have to be the best, but DO your best with the gifts God has given you. Be diligent, reliable, and responsible. Be kind to your co-workers. By doing this, you live the Gospel and bring God to them. Let the Holy Spirit work through you to soften their hearts. The love you show them may help lead them to Christ. 1 John 3:18 (NIV) says, Dear children, let us not love with words and tongue, but with actions and in truth. Let your actions reveal that you are truly Living The Victory!
Go Live The Victory!
