What does the Bible say about how a Christian should treat his/her boss?
The Bible has a lot to say regarding submission to those in authority. At the moment we accept a new job, we place ourselves under the authority of our new employer. God designed an orderly world and there is a chain of command, which helps society to keep moving smoothly. Romans 13:1 says: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." We are to submit to Christ in everything (Ephesians 5:24), and if He has established the authority systems over us, we should treat those who are in authority over us with respect, as we would Christ.While there were instructions given to slaves in the Bible, they can be applied to all people who have a supervisor at their job. In Colossians 3:22–24, Paul instructs: "Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." As Christians, we should consider the work we do for our earthly bosses as work that is being done as unto the Lord.
Not all bosses are good bosses; they can be domineering and difficult to work for. Even so, the Bible instructs us to respect them (1 Peter 2:18–20). We can take the high road and treat our bosses with honor, even when they are not behaving honorably. We should follow our bosses' instructions unless they are commanding us to sin—God's authority comes first (Acts 5:29; Proverbs 21:30). When a situation arises in which we are compelled to confront or go against a decision that we consider to be wrong or lacking in integrity, we should do so with humility and respect (1 Timothy 5:1). Our attitudes should always reflect the heart of Christ. In situations where a boss is behaving abusively or breaking the law, we should report it to the appropriate authorities. Remember that we are representatives of Christ in the workplace (1 Corinthians 10:31). It could be that God gives us the opportunity to share Christ with our bosses; we need to represent Him well.
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