Communicating God's Way - Lesson 9 - With Our Employer

This lesson is adapted from our Discipleship Lesson 14: My Job and Employer. With the sub-topic, “What Should Be My Attitude toward My Job and My Employer?”

Since the Bible is the final authority in everything you will ever encounter in life, it is no surprise it has a great deal to say about how you are to conduct yourself on your job. We spend about one-fourth of our adult life on the job and it is essential to your growth to learn how the Lord Jesus Christ would have you look at this area of responsibility. If you intend to be an effective servant of God, you must do so with all your life and not just three-fourths of it.


This lesson is designed to help you be the type of employee (or employer) God would have you to be. Our job is merely part of your true calling to “full-time Christian service.” Where our true vocation is to serve Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:1, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,”


You are an integral part of the body of Christ and your contribution is important. God expects every Christian to be involved in the Lord’s work.

Ephesians 4:11-12, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”


Your service for God is to be at all times, not just when you go to church.

II Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”


Your job has a primary and practical purpose to support your ministry. Your first ministry is to your family.

I Timothy 5:8, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”


1 Timothy 3:5, “(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)”


Your second ministry is to your church family.

Galatians 6:10, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”


Your third ministry is to reach the lost.

II Corinthians 5:20, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

What if my job conflicts with spiritual matters?





There will always be some conflict of priorities between church activities and your work schedule. You cannot quit your job or take off work because of a few minor conflicts. Remember, your job is a ministry opportunity. However, you must not use your job as an excuse to neglect your responsibilities to your church. You MUST maintain a balance in this area.

When your job responsibilities are contrary to biblical principles, then you must draw a line: Refuse to lie or steal for your employer or violate other clear commandments of God. Guard against temptations on your job. Don’t be influenced by sinful activities around you.


Your ministries are funded by your honest and sincere work. Our resources should be yielded to God’s service. Those resources are to be used to glorify God through the above three areas. Our job should be a ministry opportunity, not just a job. Your fellow workers are probably the greatest exposure you have to lost people. Your life may be the only true witness of the Lord Jesus Christ they ever see. Our life should be a light representing Jesus Christ.


Your life should reflect the Bible.

II Corinthians 3:2, “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:”


You will have a much greater influence on those you spend the most time with. Although total strangers are surely an opportunity for a witness, those who can see a consistent testimony of a Christian’s life are much easier to win. Your job demands biblical attitudes. Serve as if the Lord Jesus Christ is your employer.

Ephesians 6:5-8, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”


Colossians 3:22-24, “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”


Respect authority. Obviously, no employer will be correct in every point and you certainly can have disagreements; however, you are to submit to your supervisor’s leadership, using it as an opportunity to show a testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Titus 2:9-10, “Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”

How do you handle “persecution” on the job?





Most “persecution” in our culture is a result of the Christian’s own ignorance or lack of personal commitment to the Lord. If you are being “persecuted,” it is usually for one of two reasons: your behavior is improper, or your proper testimony is an offense to someone.

I Peter 3:16-17, “Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing”


Expect a certain amount of adversity from the world if you are truly serving Jesus Christ.

II Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”


Learn how to commit that adversity to the Lord.

I Peter 2:21-23, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:”


Respect your company’s property – it does not belong to you.

Leviticus 19:11, “Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.”


Respect your company’s time – do eight hours of work for eight hours of pay.

II Corinthians 8:21, “Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.”


Do the very best you can to help the company succeed and make your employer look good.

Romans 12:11, “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”

Proverbs 22:29, “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”


Mind your own business and don’t let someone else’s laziness affect you.

I Thessalonians 4:11, “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;”

What should I consider when looking for employment?





Have you taken the matter to God in prayer?

Philippians 4:6-7, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.””


Will the new responsibility destroy what God is trying to build in your life? This is a complex question. Don’t be afraid to seek wise counsel in this area from another brother in Christ whom you respect.

If you are being asked to move to another city, is there a church there, which can continue to provide your spiritual needs? This is an extremely critical point! If this applies, review the principles of our Discipleship Lesson 8 on how to find a good local church in another city.

In looking for a change of jobs, are you running away from something you should be facing and trying to correct?


Your job as an employer or supervisor also demands biblical attitudes toward employees. Treat people justly and equally. Set standards for them consistent with those you set for yourself.

Colossians 4:1, “Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.”


Consider the needs of others without being consumed by your own self-interests.

Philippians 2:2-3, “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”


Consider the cost of “climbing the organizational ladder.”

A great Bible principle is, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much…” (Luke 16:10) Be sure you can handle what you have now. Realize the more responsibility you have, the more potential there is for problems to arise.

Ecclesiastes 8:9, “All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.”


Realize the more responsibilities you have, the more time and energy is demanded. Be sure any new responsibilities will not hinder your service for God.

II Timothy 2:4, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”


Always maintain the attitude of a servant, even as a leader.

1 Corinthians 9:19, “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.”


In Conclusion

1 Corinthians10:33, “Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”


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