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According to Reference.com, the average person spends almost 40% of their waking hours at work each week. That is a significant amount of time for which we are accountable for our actions.
Colossians 3:23 states ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men’. That means our life at work is a testimony to our co-workers and others that are around us. Our words and actions should reflect a Christ-like behavior and everything we do on the job should be done with honor and respect. We may not like the job we’re doing or the additional duties assigned. However, we perform those tasks to the best of our ability to please God. We should arrive on time, not engage in office gossip or spend the day surfing the internet (unless that is your job).
There is an order of authority with God, and we must respect those who have been placed in authority over us. That can be very challenging if you don’t care for the person in authority. Since God instructs us to pray for our leaders, that includes the person in authority over you. God could respond in one of several ways:
- God may touch or change your boss’s heart;
- God could touch or change your heart;
- God could show you something about your boss that changes your feelings towards them
- God could provide you favor with your boss
- God could remove your boss from authority over you
Regardless, until God removes you from under your boss’s authority, God is holding you accountable for your work ethic and the relationships you have with co-workers and those in leadership.
If you are the boss, then God is expecting you to treat your staff with respect and to do what is right and fair. That includes paying your employees a fair wage for the work they perform (Colossians 4:1).
Remember that people are watching you and your actions will speak to others about your values and commitment to pleasing God.