The Bible has a lot to say about how Christians should treat their bosses. As employees, Christians are called to have the right attitude and perspective towards work, submit to authority with respect, be obedient and serve wholeheartedly, work with excellence, integrity and grace, honor God in their work, and trust that God is sovereign over all. Here is an in-depth look at what the Bible teaches on how Christians should treat their bosses:
Christians should have the right attitude about work. Work is a gift from God and He has designed each person with unique gifts, talents and abilities to fulfill His purposes through their vocations (Ephesians 2:10). Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” This verse reminds believers that ultimately work is not for an earthly boss but for the Lord. Understanding this transforms motivations and attitudes towards work. Christians can find meaning and purpose even in difficult work situations when they see their work as being for God’s glory.
The Bible calls Christians to submit to earthly authorities with humility, respect and obedience. Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” Christians are to submit to boss’ authority and leadership over them, just as they submit to God’s authority. A critical or resentful attitude fails to honor Christ (1 Peter 2:18). Bosses are flawed people just like everyone else, but Christians are still called to respect their position.
Christians should work wholeheartedly, as if working for the Lord, not for man (Colossians 3:23). God cares about attitudes towards work. Employees with poor attitudes – who are lazy, do the bare minimum, cut corners, or complain – fail to honor the Lord. Christians should work with excellence as if Jesus was their boss. They should be trustworthy, reliable, thoughtful, careful and diligent (Proverbs 10:4, 12:24, Colossians 3:17).
The Bible emphasizes integrity and doing what is right, rather than what is easy. Employees often face moral dilemmas like whether to obey the boss or do what they believe is right. The choice should be clear – Christians must obey God above any earthly authority (Acts 5:29). Daniel and his friends modeled respectful disobedience when facing pressure from bosses to compromise their values and disobey God (Daniel 1:8-16). The Bible calls Christians to act ethically even when it involves personal cost.
Christians must show grace and love towards both good and bad bosses. Jesus said to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). This applies to the workplace too – Christians are called to forgive, turn the other cheek, speak kindly, pray for and love even the worst bosses who mistreat them. Showing grace reflects the gracious forgiveness God has given through Christ (Colossians 3:13).
The Bible reminds believers that God is ultimately in control, even of difficult work situations. Romans 8:28 promises that “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Christians can trust God’s sovereignty and rest in the truth that nothing happens without His permission. Believers do not need to seek revenge against bad bosses but can leave justice in God’s hands (Romans 12:19).
Here are some key principles from Scripture on how Christians should treat their bosses:
– See work as being for the Lord, not just for an earthly boss (Colossians 3:23-24)
– Submit respectfully to boss’ authority as to the Lord’s authority (Ephesians 6:5-8, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 2:18)
– Obey God above any earthly authority if asked to disobey biblical principles (Acts 5:29)
– Work with excellence, integrity, diligence and grace (Colossians 3:17, 23, Proverbs 10:4)
– Relate to both good and bad bosses with humility, patience and love (1 Peter 2:18-23, Romans 12:14, Matthew 5:44)
– Trust God is sovereign and will work all things for good (Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20)
– Pray for bosses rather than resenting them (1 Timothy 2:1-3)
In summary, Christians are called to honor Christ in their work by having the right motivations, attitudes and perspective towards both good and bad bosses. Submitting respectfully, working with excellence, integrity and grace, obeying legitimate authority, forgiving wrongs, and trusting God’s sovereignty enables believers to honor God and live out biblical principles in the workplace, even when it involves personal cost. With God’s help, Christians can thrive while relating well to authority in a way that points others to the grace and love of Christ.
The Bible has much wisdom to offer Christians seeking to navigate workplace relationships with biblical values. As employees learn to see their work as being for the Lord and seek to honor Christ in all they do, they can live out gospel truths even in difficult job situations. God cares about every aspect of a believer’s life, including how they interact with authorities like bosses. When Christians embrace biblical principles, they can honor God and reflect the light of Christ even through their work.
Here are some additional relevant Bible verses on relating to authority that provide helpful principles for employees:
Ephesians 6:5-8 – Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
1 Timothy 6:1-2 – Let all who are under a yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.
1 Peter 2:18-21 – Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
Titus 2:9-10 – Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
Romans 13:1-7 – Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
Titus 3:1-2 – Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
Proverbs 16:14-15 – A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, and a wise man will appease it. In the light of a king’s face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.
1 Corinthians 10:31 – So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 – For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.