Obeying Our Employers

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and confirm for us the work of our hands.

–Psalm 90:17

In Colossians 3, Paul addressed the relationship between slaves and masters. This week, we’re going to look at three lessons we can take from this passage today as employees and employers.

First of all, we are to obey our employers as we obey Christ. Imagine the scene in the Colossian church as Paul’s letter was read. The slaves might have thought Paul would say, “Masters, set your slaves free.” After all, they had just heard these words from the apostle’s pen: “There is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all” (v. 11). Instead, Paul said, “Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. . . . It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” (vv. 22, 24). When you’re obeying your employer, you’re obeying God Himself.

I want you to notice two truths about our work from these verses:

1. Our work comes from God. That means God is the one who ultimately will reward us for what we do. Whether you get a promotion or a pay raise doesn’t matter in the long run because if you do your work well, eventually God is going to reward you. In fact, Paul said you are to work heartily, “knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance” (v. 24). Our work ultimately comes from God.
2. Our work is our primary way of serving God. Some people think God is only interested in work that is related to evangelism and discipleship. No, God’s work extends far beyond people who get their paychecks from a church or mission organization. God cares about meeting the needs of His creation. He cares whether we have food and housing. He cares about enacting justice and righteousness. That’s why God calls people to be farmers, truck drivers, carpenters, loan officers, judges, and police officers. Even though those workers are in secular positions, they are doing God’s work. A. W. Tozer said, “It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular; it is why he does it.” Our work, whatever it is, is our primary way of serving God. Therefore, we’re to obey our employers as we obey Christ.

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Today’s devotion is adapted from “Who’s the Boss?” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2012.

A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God (Ventura, CA: Regal, 2013), 115.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.