Winter Springs, Florida Lesson
22
The Christian Employer
Colossians 4:1
Ephesians 6:9
INTRODUCTION
So often
we may hear people say, ÒWe are not to mix religion and business; church is one
thing and business another. We
should be kind and gracious to one another in church but donÕt get in my way in
business or IÕll run right over you.Ó
This is the philosophy of the world not of Christ. Christianity views the Christian
employer and business much differently than does the typical non-Christian.
The
number one problem today among executives, managers, employers, and
administrators is not money (capital) or promotion (marketing) but
personnel. That is, getting the
persons working under them to perform their very best and produce to the
maximum. The goal of management is
to get labor to function at its highest level; therefore, producing the maximum
for the company or the business.
The
Christian executive is not just to increase sales or expand the business, but
his number one concern and responsibility is to be a representative of Jesus
Christ and to promote the cause of Christ in the office or factory. His highest goal is to live and promote
the gospel of Jesus Christ before his employees.
In Colossians 4:1 and Ephesians 6:9, we have the obligations of slave masters to their slaves, and
the very same principles which apply to slave masters apply also to Christian
employers, managers, executives and administrators of any kind. These principles deal with
relationships with people, namely those who work under the employer.
HOW THE
EMPLOYER IS TO TREAT THE EMPLOYEE (Eph. 6:9a, Col. 4:1)
And
masters, - This
command is for Christian slave masters not for all slave masters. Those who know Christ as Savior and
Lord are under obligation to treat slaves in a Christ like way. So too, Christian employers are
obligated to treat their employees in a Christlike
way.
It should
be noted once again that the Bible never attacks slavery as an evil social
institution. It was evil but
Christ and the Apostles never frontally attack slavery because this would have
meant more persecution for Christians.
Their approach was to see men changed by Christ on the inside who in
turn would affect society. Christ
changes menÕs hearts and then men affect the culture around them.
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Treat
your slaves in the same way. - In Ephesians 6:8 and
Colossians 4:22-25, the Apostle Paul has
told Christian slaves to obey their slave masters whether they be Christians or
non-Christians, good or bad. Now
Paul says to the slave masters, ÒTreat your slaves in the same way.Ó Christian slave masters are to be
obedient and submissive, not to slaves but to Christ in the treatment of
slaves. Now translated over into
the work-a-day world of America this means that employers are to hear the
suggestions of their employees.
They are to listen, adjust their complaints and pay attention to what is
wrong. They are to be sensitive to
the needs of their employees and seek to change things whenever possible. This is how employers are to obey
Christ and be submissive to Him.
As it
would be a natural tendency for a Christian slave owner to show favoritism to
Christian slaves because they are of the same Faith, so the Christian employer
might show favoritism to a Christian employee. However, the Christian employer must treat saved and unsaved
alike, showing no favoritism. In
this way, the Christian employer has a positive testimony before all men. This is the Golden Rule applied into
the life of the employer. Matthew 7:23 says, ÒSo then whatever you desire
that others would do to and for you, even so do you also to and for them, for
this suns up the Law and the prophets.Ó
Rightly
In
Colossians 4:1, it says, ÒMasters
provide your slaves with what is right...Ó Christian
slave masters had the responsibility to treat all slaves, saved or unsaved in a
right or just manner. So employers
are to deal justly with their employees, saved or unsaved. A Christian employer is obligated to
provide adequate salaries, good working conditions and fringe benefits to all
their employees. Did you know that
labor unions came into existence in our country because employers took
advantage of their employees just so they could make a buck? Greed has driven many an employer to
poor treatment of their help.
There would be no need of unions, collectively bargaining or strikes if
management would have treated labor fairly. During the height of the Industrial Revolution in the late
1800Õs and the early 1900Õs employers abused men, women and children because
they were driven by greed. People
were forced to work long hours, under horrible conditions, for little pay. It was not uncommon for children to
work until they dropped dead. That
is when anti-children labor laws were introduced into our society and
culture. Employers were driven by
the quest for money and power. It
is still true today that some employees will exploit people at times for the
Òalmighty dollar.Ó Because men are
sinful, there is the tendency to take advantage of people to gain riches.
Does this
mean that God is against a businessman or company making money of having
money? Absolutely not! We not only live in a country where we
can pursue gain but the Bible in principle supports a free enterprise system of
economics. If a person is in
business, he should work for a profit.
He should make as much money as he can. However, a Christian employer is never to work out of
greed. God does not care how much
money we make or have as long as we
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have made it
honestly. The Bible tells the
Christian not to let money or lust for things be a
substitute for God. ÒCommand
those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant not to put their
hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly
provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be
generous and willing to share. In
this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the
coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.Ó
(I Tim. 6:17-19).
The
scriptures are very clear that those who have money are to share their
money. ÒHe who has been
stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his
own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.Ó (Eph. 4:28). The primary purpose for a Christian to
make money is that he may share it with others and support the work of the
Lord. In fact, the biblical
principle is the more we give the more we get back from God. ÒNow he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your
store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so
that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will
result in thanksgiving to God.Ó (II
Cor. 9:10,11). Every Christian needs to clearly understand that it is
impossible to out give God.
What the
Apostle Paul is saying is that the Christian should make all the money he can
but make it honestly, without exploiting others, without neglecting family, and
when he makes it, give liberally to the cause of Christ.
Colossians 4:1 also says that the slave masters are to
treat slaves Òfairly.Ó This
actually can be translated Òequally;Ó that is, with impartiality. The Christian employer is to treat men
fairly regardless of color of skin, the church he belongs to, the religion he
follows, or whether he is a personal friend. If an employer does not seek to treat all men fairly, he
will soon introduce into his business contempt, disrespect and divisiveness.
There are
some Christian employers who wrongly conclude that because they have hired all
Christians in their company that Christians should sacrifice for the company,
putting the companies needs above the employeesÕ needs. Often these employees work for peanuts,
have few benefits and work long hours.
The employer thinks the Christians should learn to trust God for their
needs. Perhaps it never occurred
to the employer that he should trust the Lord for his needs and do all he can
to encourage excellent working conditions for his help.
Also
Christian employers need to be men and women of integrity. They should not speak out of both sides
of the mouth. They should not lie
or steal. They should not be hypocrites and should live out their Christianity
in a practical way.
Christian
employers govern their own companies and they can and must run their businesses
for Christ. They can promote the
cause of Christ before saved and unsaved employees.
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When I was a pastor in Roanoke, Va., there was a very fine
Christian man who made a very fine attempt to run his business in a Christian
manner. I once asked him why his
company never went union. He said
that he had determined always to pay his people at least $.15 an hour above the union scale and to have better benefits and
working conditions than the union demanded. Consequently, year after year his employees voted not to go
union.
WHERE THE
EMPLOYER MAY GO WRONG
In
Ephesians 6:9 it says to slave masters, ÒDo
not threaten them.Ó
Masters were not to just motivate slaves by fear but by offering
incentives as well. Christian
employers are not just to use fear to motivate employees. If laborers have the sword of Damocles
constantly hanging over them, if there is constant threat of being fired, if
there is continual talk of cutting pay or cutting back hours, the motivation
factor and job satisfaction of the employee will be very low. Fear creates resentment, bitterness,
rebellion and burnout. Now this
does not mean the employer can never fire or cut wages, but that is not the
best way to motivate the employee.
Employees
should be motivated by appreciation, by offering incentives and rewards for a job
well done. Rather than
threatening, a Christian employer should encourage. All men respond better to a positive approach rather than a
negative one.
At this
point it seems appropriate to encourage Christian executives. Quite often when an executive becomes a
Christian, he does not know how to treat his employees. As a non-Christian, he may have been a
driver, harsh, over-bearing, dictatorial and over-demanding of his employees. Now as a Christian he knows these
things are wrong and so he goes to the other extreme. He becomes soft, wishie-washie, overly sweet and a generally nice guy, but his business goes
to the dogs because he is neglecting strictness, aggressiveness and discipline
which must be part of every good executive. A Christian executive must find the balance between being
demanding but not too overbearing, strict but not harsh, disciplined but not a slave-driver.
That is not easy to do but the Holy Spirit can teach him this delicate
balance.
WHY THE
EMPLOYER IS ACCOUNTABLE
The slave
master must treat his slave right because it says, ÒSince you know that
he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven.Ó Colossians 4:1 says, ÒBecause you know you have a Master in heaven.Ó The Christian slave master has a Master
in heaven to whom he will someday give an account at the Judgment Seat of
Christ on how he treated his slaves.
The Christian employer has a Master who is watching his every act and
will demand an account at the future Judgment Seat. ÒFor we must all appear before the judgment seat of
Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in
the body, whether good or bad.Ó (II Cor. 5:10). Every evil act, thought or motive
against employees will be recorded in the mind of Christ and be brought up at
that final judgment for Christians.
Also every act of kindness, love and justice will be recorded.
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God holds the
Christian employer accountable to treat his employees as Christ would treat
them. Ultimately the Christian
employer is not responsible to man but to God for all that he does.
WHAT THE
EMPLOYER CAN EXPECT FROM GOD
Ephesians 6:9 concludes by
saying, Òand there is no favoritism with him.Ó Employers have no pull with God. He does not treat the employer
differently than the employee. He
does not have a double standard.
Christ will judge both without partiality.
God is
not impressed by our bank accounts, our Cadillacs,
our status in society or that others bow down to us or run errands for us
because we are wealthy, powerful executives. In fact, God is totally unimpressed with these things. He is only concerned with our love for
Christ and our Christian character.
He will show no favoritism at the Judgement
Seat of Christ! He will deal
openly, honestly and justly with all Christians regardless of their social
standing.
CONCLUSION
Saved
No
Christian businessman can say, ÒThis is my business and I will do what I like
with it.Ó It is not his business.
It is GodÕs business and he is accountable to God as to how he runs it and how
he treats those who work for him.
Therefore, the Christian businessman must say, ÒThis is GodÕs
business. He put me in charge of
it. I am responsible to Him.Ó
On the
official documents of the British Empire, four letters appear, ÒO.H.M.S.,Ó
meaning ÒOn His MajestyÕs Service.Ó
All Christian businessmen and women should stamp across their lives,
ÒO.H.M.S.Ó In all they do, they
are ÒOn His MajestyÕs Service.Ó
They are serving the King of kings and Lord of lords in their
lives. They serve Royalty.
There are
many people in this world who say, ÒThis is my life and I will do what I want
with it.Ó If this is your
attitude, I would like to remind you of some words of Christ. He said,
ÒThen he called his disciples and the crowds to come over
and listen. ÔIf any of you wants
to be my follower,Õ he told them, Ôyou
must put aside your own pleasures and shoulder your cross, and follow me
closely. If you insist on saving
your life, you will lose it. Only
those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News
will ever know what it means to really live.
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And how does a man benefit if he gains the whole world and
loses his soul in the process? For
is anything worth more than his soul?
And anyone who is ashamed of me and my message in these days of unbelief
and sin, I, the Messiah, will be ashamed of him when I return in the glory of
my Father, with the holy angels.ÕÓ
In light
of ChristÕs words, can you really say, ÒThis is my life and I will do what I
want with it!Ó What Christ really
desires to hear from us is, ÒLord, you are my life and I will do with my life
whatever you want me to do with it!Ó