At Work & Theology 101

Biblical Guidelines for You & Your Boss

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In Business for the Glory of God, Wayne Grudem shares this important insight:

Employer/employee relationships provide many opportunities for glorifying God. On both sides of the transaction, we can imitate God, and he will take pleasure in us when he sees us showing honesty, fairness, trustworthiness, kindness, wisdom, and skill, and keeping our word regarding how much we promised to pay or what work we agreed to do. The employer/employee relationship also gives the opportunity to demonstrate proper exercise of authority and proper responses to authority.

Join me as I unpack some of the Biblical passages that specifically address employers and employees.

Principles for Employers

In Leviticus 19:13, where Moses gave various laws from God to the Israelites, they are commanded, “Do not hold back the wages of a hired man overnight.” Deuteronomy 24:14-15 reinforces the same thing—pay your employees on time because they depend on it. In Jeremiah 22:13, God warns those who do not pay their workers adequately. (Note: Jesus reinforced this principle that a worker is worthy of his wages in Luke 10:7, and James 5:4 reminds us that it is the rich who were condemned if they failed to pay their workers the wages they were due.)

In addition to the things that employers were told not to do, here is one example of what a good employer actually does. In 2 Kings 12:11-15, a scene is described where the supervisors of the workers who were repairing the temple acted with complete honesty with respect to the funds they were entrusted with to pay the workers.

The Bible also talks about the importance of having a servant spirit. Jesus spoke of having this spirit (Lk. 22:24-27). He demonstrated this principle when he came to earth as a servant, put on flesh as a helpless babe, and then sacrificed his life for us. 

I try to demonstrate a servant spirit at work as a supervisor every day, but it is a continuous challenge. It is all about being willing to humble myself. I have made every effort to think, say, and act on this principle: “No task is beneath me. If it meets the real needs of people, I am willing to do it.”

I have not been the perfect boss, but I strive to be a good one. I can honestly say that I have been able to consistently provide a positive work environment for my team. I use my sense of humor to ease the stress of time pressures and manage multiple requirements as well as the constant changes that characterize an operations shop. I always let the members of our team know they are valued. I truly care for them.

Guidelines for Employees

Proverbs is full of wisdom for the workplace, as its purpose is to give wisdom for life. There are numerous verses that help focus a young person on developing proper attitudes and right actions on the job. In Proverbs 6:6-8, the ant is held up as a great illustration of a hard worker who wisely shows initiative in preparing for the future. We should all be like the ants.

The majority of the passages that immediately follow this are directly aimed at laziness. I struggle with laziness occasionally, putting off those unpleasant tasks I do not care to do right now. In general, I am a hard worker, and most everyone I know works hard. Most people do want to get a full-time job. Honestly, though, we have all heard about the young adult who fails to launch, choosing to live in his parents’ basement and play video games all day while Mommy still does his laundry. Do you know anyone like this? These verses were written just for them.

Proverbs 6:9-11 describes the lazy individual using the term “sluggard,” meaning that he is reluctant to get out of bed to go to work or to find work. This label does not apply to someone who is working hard to find a job but happens to be unsuccessful. This is someone who refuses to work when he has the chance. As a result, he will be caught unprepared to meet his obligations and will be brought to poverty (which he will regret later when he has nothing on which to live).

This is not the kind of poverty that comes because of a systemic lack of educational or economic opportunities, but it is one of the natural consequences of laziness. This is also highlighted in Proverbs 10:4, 14:23, 21:25, and 28:19. As such, these verses should motivate us to work.

Proverbs 12:11 also issues this plain-sense general observation: He who works his land will have plenty of food. He who chases fantasies lacks judgment. Proverbs 12:27 instructs that the lazy person is not a good steward of what the Lord provides for him. 

In contrast, Proverbs 22:29 instructs us that a man who is skilled in his work will eventually go far in life. This is one of the biblical principles I intentionally highlighted to my youngest son after his face was plastered on a billboard in his college town after he had been cast as the lead in Hamlet. My son’s hard work and passion for his craft motivated him to learn technical aspects of his field, improve his skills, stretch his wings, and audition for big roles. 

However, it’s important to remember that success is not everything, as Proverbs 23:4-5 warns. The idea here is to maintain a healthy balance in your life.

Proverbs 27:18 highlights the universal principle of sowing and reaping. “He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.” This verse reinforces the development of character qualities such as diligence, faithfulness, and loyalty.

Closing Thoughts

I love how the Hebrew scriptures (a.k.a. the Old Testament) taught God’s people practical principles for everyday life. This is where men and women spend most of their time. These aren’t lofty ideals that can only be grasped by the educated few. These truths are for everyone, including us in the present day.

If Christian employers and employees make efforts to do and say what God commands his people to do and say at work, I think we would experience a lot less of the nasty thorns and thistles that naturally come with the territory in this time in which we live, in between Jesus’ first and second coming. But let’s not just do it for our benefit. Let’s do it to put the spotlight on God.

Editor’s note: This article was adapted and republished from the author’s blog with permission. 

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