After graduating from school, or if unemployed, the believer in Christ has the valuable opportunity of placing a request before God, in a private prayer of believing faith, for suitable employment—without trusting or depending on their own efforts by searching like the world does.  As this position of faith on God for employment is maintained, He will answer that request, and will bring our attention to a scriptural job.

          Due to the economy, people in the world are fearful about being unemployed, and will use search engines or classified listings to locate a job—but leaving God out of the matter by trusting on classified ads or online searches for success.  Philippians 4:6 ”Do not be over-anxious about anything, but by prayer and earnest pleading, together with thanksgiving, let your request be unreservedly made known in the presence of God.”

          Being employed and taking care of personal financial obligations, as well as helping the poor and supporting God’s true church, is certainly His will for us.  The apostle Paul reminded the elders at Ephesus Acts 20:17-19, of the "kind of life I lived among you the whole time, serving the Lord in all humility.”  Acts 20:34-35 “That these hands of mine have provided for my own necessities and for the people with me.  In all things I have set you an example.”

          After receiving employment, there are many things to meet in the workplace as a believer in Christ, because our commitment to do God’s will, results in our talking and working much differently than unbelieving employees.  We are to always carry through with the wishes of the boss Ephesians 6:5 ”with respect and eager anxiety to please and with simplicity of motive as if you were obeying Christ”—as long as their requests do not conflict with the Scriptures.

          Our Christian responsibility is to do God’s will, and to follow His Word, in everything relating to the workplace.  Colossians 3:22 ”[Employees], obey your earthly [employers] in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.”

          There will be many temptations to act in opposition to God’s will.  Satan has unbelieving employees be on unscheduled breaks, or to take unspecified liberties the company does not agree with.  As a follower of Christ, we are to work steadily, take only permitted breaks, and be an asset to the firm—because Hebrews 4:13 ”Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

          Every morning our prayer is that the Holy Spirit inspires us to produce quality work.  We should ask, “Would my work be different, if Jesus asked me to do this?”  An honest answer is important.  “Whatever you do, work at it [heartily; cheerfully] with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving” Colossians 3:23-24—but the world is serving the devil.

Everyone wants to be paid a livable wage, enjoy good conditions, and have reasonable hours, but these requests are to be placed before God in prayer and in faith—not demanded of the boss.  We are to trust God in faith for everything, and this definitely includes wages, hours, and work conditions.

          Labor unions are formed to protect an employee’s rights, to promise fair wages, to assure reasonable hours and safe conditions, but unions use force and contracts to get them.  If their demands are not met, they go on strike, and often resort to violence to get what they demand—it is the worst type of human effort and inspired by Satan himself.

          Employers should give the employees a fair wage, request reasonable hours, and provide safe conditions, but many companies fail to do that.  The world’s way is to demand a change, quit the job, or force the issue, but the believer in Christ follows this advice Philippians 4:6, ”By prayer and earnest pleading, together with thanksgiving, let your request be unreservedly made known in the presence of God.”

The worldly employee thinks of ways to get even at unreasonable employers, but the true believer thinks only of God’s will and Word—“Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord” Romans 12:19.  We are to be thankful that we have a job and are given the opportunity to meet things right.

          Unbelievers invent ways to get revenge on unreasonable employers.  They take extra breaks, drag their feet, make personal phone calls, or search on-line for things not relating to work.  This is not according to God’s will and Word, because whether it be unfair wages, unreasonable hours, unfulfilled promises, or a difficult co-worker—all such things are to be placed before God in prayer and in faith.

          The attitude we are to have toward our boss is clearly defined: 1 Peter 2:18-19 ”Household servants [employees], be submissive to your masters [employers], and show them the utmost respect—not only if they are kind and thoughtful [considerate], but also if they are unreasonable.  For it is an acceptable thing with God, if, from a sense of duty to Him, a man patiently submits to wrong, when treated unjustly.”

          We are to complete every task to the best of our ability, and to work faithfully—even when no one is around.  We are to be totally honest at all times, and with everything—especially with the hours we turn in to the payroll department.  If we desire to represent Christ, then we are to keep busy all day—no matter what others are doing.

          God’s will concerning employment is that we meet harsh treatment and unreasonable demands in a Scriptural way.  1 Peter 2:20 ”If you do wrong and receive a blow for it, what credit is there in your bearing it patiently?  But if when you do right and suffer for it you bear it patiently, this is an acceptable thing with God.”

          God approves of our being taken advantage of and our accepting mean treatment in silence.  God is pleased when we work all day, and are honest in all things—even though the wages are low and the hours long.  Our boss may never thank us, and he may never say we are doing a good job, but God approves and that is all that matters.

          Every difficult task, all requests for overtime work, or if given added responsibility—we are to place those things before God in prayer.  If that is our response to difficult work-related issues—then the Bible is our guidebook of instructions.  1 Peter 2:20-21 “To this [unfair treatment] you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.”  Every difficult work issue is fertile soil for spiritual growth.

          The will of God concerning our employment is, that we accept unreasonable hours, that we endure difficult working conditions, that we keep busy when no one else is, and that we be content with whatever wage we are paid.  If we are committed to doing the will of God first, we will be blessed with reasonable hours, adequate
wages, pleasant conditions, and more than enough time off—second.

          When beginning a new job, we are to agree with whatever the boss wants to pay us—and not demand or set a certain wage.  We are to be satisfied with whatever the company offers, because God says Luke 3:14 “be content with your wages."  We are to do our best at whatever we are asked to do, because a follower of the Lord will give quantity in hours and quality in work.  A follower of the world demands quantity time off and quality pay scale.

          If Jesus asked us to do something for Him, we would do it immediately, and would work diligently until the task was completed.  We are to do any job, for any employer, with the same attitude and with the same enthusiasm—even if the pay is low, the work mundane, and the boss unreasonable—always showing them respect whether they deserve it or not—that is God’s will.  We are to 1 Peter 2:18 “show them the utmost respect—not only if they are kind and thoughtful, but also if they are unreasonable.”  God’s Word is clear Ephesians 6:7-8 “Serve [your employer] wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord.”

          The worldly employee worries about today, tomorrow, and the future, but God says we are not to worry about anything, even tomorrow Matthew 6:25, because when we obey God’s Word first, He supplies the need second.  Our life is far more important than the food to sustain or the clothes to cover.  When we place God’s will first, food, garments, and everything else will be supplied in a scriptural way—through faith.

          If we are willing to believe, God promises His Spirit—we will then be inspired to follow instructions—Colossians 3:22-24 “[Employees] obey your earthly masters in everything you do.  Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you.  Obey them willingly because of your reverent fear of the Lord.  Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.  Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ.”

          We are to always give others, and consider others, first—letting them have first preference regarding hours, vacation weeks, and tasks—Philippians 2:3 ”With true humility [lowliness of mind], let every one regard the rest as being of more account than himself.”

          The wife of Joseph’s boss told a vicious lie about him, which landed him in jail with an uncertain sentence.  He could have been executed for a crime he had not committed.  It was the worst of employer injustices toward a faithful employee.  It took two years for Joseph to realize he was following the world’s way for his release, but when he repented, and placed the matter before God in prayer, and in faith, he was cleared of the charges and promoted to president.

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