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In the movie “The Devil Wore Prada”, Meryl Streep plays Miranda Priestly, a ruthless editor-in-chief for a famous fashion magazine. Priestley makes the job for her new assistant Andrea, played by Anne Hathaway, a hell of a job! She makes some impossible demands upon the new assistant. And Andrea begins to realise that the job millions of girls would die for might just kill her.
Have we ever faced difficult employers or superiors? Have we ever felt our superior deserves our bad attitude? As Christians, we need the right theology of work. To understand that work was created by God for our good. And as part of that, the employee-employer relationship is very important.
In the time of Apostle Paul and Timothy, slavery was an integral part of the Greco-Roman society. Slaves were the employees who worked for their wealthy masters. It was a key part of employment framework in those times. The economic structure of the Roman Empire depended on it. Most of the seasonal work and part-time labour were done by hired day labourers. While much of the permanent employment were by slaves who functioned as household managers, cooks, cleaners, artisans, teachers and many became almost like family. The system was not perfect and open to abuse.
It is interesting to note that the Old and New Testament never forbade slavery but carefully guarded the rights of slaves. No Jewish slave could be held more than 6 years unless they choose to remain voluntarily. They were not to be abused. They had religious, civil rights and even economic rights. Clearly, Jewish slaves had far more protection than the Gentile slaves.
Although slavery is not practised in civilised nations today, the principles involved still relevant to how we respond to our employers. We examine 3 key principles involved in giving respect to our employers from this passage.
CONSIDER EMPLOYERS WORTHY
1 Timothy 6:1–2 (NIV) All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect…
It is not a question of whether masters behaved in a way worthy but for the slaves to consider their masters worthy.
This verse encourages all Christian slaves to consider their masters worthy of full respect. It is important to note that it is not a question of whether masters behaved in a way worthy but for the slaves to consider their masters worthy. It is not conditional upon their masters’ behaviour. But what if they were incompetent? Or unjust? Or unkind or unreasonable? What a radical expectation of attitude. Why is this so?
Because of the principle of authority
The position of authority of a master or employer or supervisor should be respected.
The master of the slave is in a position of authority over the slave. Purely on that basis, they should be respected. Just as the office of a spiritual leader as in any leadership should be respected. Similarly, the position of authority of a master or employer or supervisor should be respected. Romans 13:1 - 2 (NIV) 1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
God instituted authority. Authority is a Kingdom principle. Without authority and respect for authority there would be chaos. When we rebel against authority it breaks down the principle of authority and leads to many problems. Imagine if we do not obey the police man. If we ignore traffic signs? If we pooh pooh the laws of the country? What if your employer or supervisor does not treat you well? What if your boss was like Miranda Priestly in the movie “The Devil Wore Prada”? Who simply makes your job unattainable or almost unbearable?
1 Peter 2:18 - 20 (NIV) 18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
What a challenging word! Regardless of how our employers treat us, we should still give them respect because of their authority. Even if we suffer unjustly, we should behave righteously, that is commendable before God. So if our employer does not treat us well? Well, you could quit and leave the job. Or you could pray about it and see whether God has higher purposes for you to remain there. Perhaps the difficulties could teach you some valuable lessons or perhaps God may wish you to accomplish something there despite the opposition. But no matter which option we choose, we should continue to treat them with respect.
Now I am not suggesting we simply be mats for people to step all over us and wipe their feet upon. There is a place to stand up against unjust treatment. Yet it should always be done with respect for authority. That is a topic for another occasion.
Because it returns blessings
When we give proper respect to our employers or those in authority over us, it helps them feel more comfortable with us. They feel assured that we are not attempting to work against them or make things difficult. As employees, we should aim to be an asset to our employer. That is, we aim to make things work better for our employers. Sometimes, we may want things to work better but the way we bring it up can seem like we are working cross purposes to our superiors.
Consider an example where our superior wants to implement something that we think is not that good an idea. Some will simply say: “It is a bad idea. It will not work well at all. That it will waste resource and time.” That will probably not go down well. Instead, we could offer it in a form of a suggestion. “I think you have identified a great objective. Do you think that if we tried tweaking the approach, it would improve our effectiveness?”
“To gain respect – first give it”. Anonymous.
When our approach is to add helpful suggestions in a helpful way, rather than in an unhelpful way – it will be better appreciated. When they are assurance that we respect them and want to be an asset, they tend to treat us better. “To gain respect – first give it”. Anonymous.
Further, when our attitude is to work with them, things tend to flow smoother and things get done better. Perhaps we may discover that what they wanted may be better overall after all. The Bible records the story of Joseph sold to be a slave. Genesis 39:2 - 4 (NIV) 2 The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.
When we give respect as we should before God, we will be blessed.
Joseph could have been bitter, upset with his lot in life and be a grumpy and unhelpful slave. Yet Joseph gave respect to his master and did his best. And God blessed him greatly. When we give respect as we should before God, we will be blessed.
TO HONOUR GOD
1 Timothy 6:1–2 (NIV) All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.
Another reason for giving respect to our employers is because it honours God.
Because God requires it “...God’s name and our teaching...”
As mentioned earlier, God instructs through His Scriptures to honour those in authority. When we persist to honour those in authority, despite huge challenges, it ultimately reveals our deep convictions to honour God and to keep to biblical principles.
In the story of Joseph we see the depth of his convictions. Genesis 39:19 - 20 (NIV) 19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. 20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.
Determining to honour those in authority reflect the convictions by which we honour God.
Though Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph of wrongdoing and Joseph’s master did him wrong by not checking the story, Joseph did not accuse his former master of wrong doing. Determining to honour those in authority reflect the convictions by which we honour God.
It aids our witness “...will not be slandered.”
If we are disrespectful to our superiors, to others, it will not gain us respect. In fact, others may think, “And he claims to be a Christian!” But when employees behave with integrity, with respect in their workplaces – it eventually gains them respect. Titus 2:9-10 (NIV) 9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
Do not under-estimate the impact upon observers of the respect we show to others.
When we approach our workplace, our employers and our colleagues with an attitude that communicates respect and value of others, people will take notice. When I was a research scientist, my supervisor had a number of inadequacies as a manager that brought about some level of frustration amongst my colleagues. When the opportunity arose for them to vent their frustrations, they were surprised that I refused to do so. Instead I spoke truthfully yet graciously about my supervisors limitations. It won me some begrudging respect. Do not under-estimate the impact upon observers of the respect we show to others.
DON’T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EMPLOYERS
1 Timothy 6:2 (NIV) Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves.
The Scriptures urges Christian slaves not to take advantage of believing masters. For Christian masters should treat their slaves better and not be harsh (Col 4:1, Eph 6:9). This led some slaves to think they can take advantage of their master’s kindness and be slack. The principle here is: We should not take advantage of our employer’s kindness, graciousness or even slackness. We should put in a decent day’s work for our employer.
Our attitudes should be:
Serve, as unto God.
Indeed, our attitude should be that we are working for God, rather than man. Ephesians 6:5 - 8 (NIV) 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
Serve because we desire to please God, who is also expecting a good outcome from our work.
Col 3:22-25 states a similar principle. What an incredible perspective! We work diligently not so much because our employer requires a good output from us. Serve because we desire to please God, who is also expecting a good outcome from our work.
God is our ultimate Master and all we do should be firstly unto God
For God is our ultimate Master and all we do should be firstly unto God. And because God sees everything, including our hearts – that is why we should work wholeheartedly in our jobs, doing the best we can. For God does not like lazy workers.
Michael Michelangelo painted 1100m2 of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel from 1508-1512. When he was painstakingly painting an obscure portion of the ceiling, someone asked him why he bothered since no one can see it. He answered, “God can see it.”. Michelangelo painted in honour of God. We should all resolve to carry out our work as unto God Himself!
Serve to be a blessing.
The passage urged the believing slaves who serve under believing master – to serve them even better. After all, if our services brought blessings to fellow believers it benefits the Kingdom of God more. For that reason, we should make sure we be a blessing to fellow believers even more!
Imagine if we worked in the family business. If we worked extra hard, the extra profits flow into the family business which ultimately benefits the family more. In the same way, when we bless our fellow believers – it ends up blessing the house of God more!
CONCLUSIONS
God wants us to treat people rightly. One key group is our employers or superiors. We should treat them rightly, giving them due respect. We should consider them worthy of respect simply because of the authority that they hold.
We should respect them because by doing so we ultimately honour God and it helps our witnesses to our workmates. We should also not take advantage of our employers but give unto them a decent day’s work since our attitude is that we are doing this for God.
Copyright©️2024 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.
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