6 Job Requirements for Christians in the Workplace
God cares about what kind of employee you are.
Some Christians in New Testament times were slaves.
Slavery during the Roman Empire was a little different than what comes to the minds of United States citizens today. Before the Civil War in the United States, slavery revolved around race. Not so in the Roman Empire.
Some slaves were born into slavery, some were captured in wars, some were sold into slavery, some sold themselves into slavery, and some were abandoned as children. Romans slaves came from many different places for various reasons.
The New Testament was written during the middle of the Roman Empire’s reign. Slavery is mentioned in the New Testament because it was just a fact of life for many people under the Roman Empire.
Thankfully, slavery no longer exists in our nation today.
What the New Testament says to slaves or bondservants applies to us as employees. We maintain our freedom while having a job, but God’s commands still have much value for us today.
What “job requirements” does God have for Christians today?
Passages About Work.
Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering [stealing], but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. (Titus 2:9-10)
Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. (1 Peter 2:18-20)
Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. (Ephesians 6:5-8)
So what are some things we can apply from these passages?
Be Obedient.
Do what you are asked to do. When you are handed a project or a task, be sure to do what is asked of you.
Not every task is pleasant, and maybe we feel like someone else should do it. If our employer asks us to do something, we should follow through and do it.
Do the Job Well.
Do the best job you can do.
God doesn’t want us to give Him our leftovers - He demands our best. We must give our best in the workplace as well.
Have a Good Attitude.
Do your job with a good attitude.
Anyone can do what they are asked to do. Not everyone will do it with a good attitude. As Christians, we must do our job with the right attitude.
Be Honest.
Do not steal or embezzle from your employer.
Christians are to be like Christ, who cannot lie (Titus 1:2). We must be honest in our dealings with others - which includes on the job.
Do What’s Right.
You must be a person of character and principle, even in the workplace.
You may not always be liked, but you must do the right thing. Jesus Christ always did what was right, and some people hated Him for it.
Work Like You Are Working for Jesus Himself.
Do your work like you are working for the Lord Himself.
What sort of effort would give for Jesus? Would you have a good attitude about your job if you thought of Him watching you from the cross?
I admit - these requirements are certainly challenging, and sometimes we fall short. Let’s remember what the Lord expects of us on the job and strive to be like our Lord in all things.
Even at work.