Recently, I was disappointed to hear of a couple of restaurants in my state in which labor violations have occurred. There have been several examples this year for which I have questioned the practices of both employers and employees, and today, I considered what that means for Christians. A Christian employer isn’t given a pass to mistreat employees, but neither are Christian employees entitled to take advantage of their employers. Instead, employers and employees should take a servanthood attitude to work with them each day.
When Paul addressed the church at Philippi, he encouraged unity, humility, and servanthood, and this is something we can carry into the workplace as believers.
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4, NKJV)
It doesn’t say that some are better than others, or employers or employees can take advantage of each other. It doesn’t tell us to get wealthy at the expense of others. No, these verses caution us against selfish behavior. We are to be concerned with others as much as ourselves. While not a popular practice in today’s culture, we aren’t supposed to worry about current culture. We are to be different – set apart – from popular culture and demonstrate the practices that a child of God would (Romans 12:1-2).
As we run small businesses, work for large corporations, or manage other people, we should always seek to be honest, fair, reasonable, and Godly with the people we manage, work alongside, or contract with for business. Believers must be different from the practices of the world, and we must be so different that it gets the attention of others so that we can tell them it’s because of our faith in God. Let’s strive to be so different in our business practices that no one can ever question our integrity, work ethic, or ability no matter what role we play. When we endeavor to be the servant to others, we are setting an example that Jesus himself expects from us.
But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45, NKJV)
All Things Subject to Change 