Maybe your boss is like Steve Carell from “The Office” ~ funny, incompetent, easy to manipulate… Or maybe your boss is like Kevin Spacey in “House of Cards” ~ self-serving, corrupt, controlling…
Or, maybe your boss a woman like Meryl Streep in “The Devil Wears Prada” ~ forceful, demanding, demeaning …
Or maybe your boss is awesome and makes your job fulfilling and fun. Or maybe you are your own boss…
The common trait for all of these “bosses” is that they have a lot of control and influence over the people working for them.
Ephesians Chapter 6, however, gives us a different “boss:”
“Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.” ~Ephesians 6:5-8
Even though we are not “slaves,” the message has the same application today: whatever you do, do it as if you were working directly for Jesus.
Whatever our job is, we should act as if God Himself is sitting in the office down the hall and signing our paychecks. Each task we perform should be completed as if we were to hand our work product directly to Christ.
If your boss or your job is miserable at the moment, it’s especially difficult to “render service, as to the Lord, and not to men.” If your boss is demanding, it’s difficult to remain focused on working for the Lord instead of being a “men-pleaser.”
As difficult as it may be, Ephesians 6:5-8 holds some powerful promises if you will make the heart shift from working for others to working for the Lord:
3 Reasons You Should Change Your “Boss” & Start Working for the Lord:
- You will be doing the “will of God.” Notice that the verses say if you work for your boss “in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ” that you will be “doing the will of God from the heart.” I don’t know about you, but I am always wondering if I am doing what the Lord would have me do. In other words, I often wonder if I am living my life in “God’s will.” According to Ephesians 6, whenever I do work “as to Christ,” I am doing the will of God. What a relief! I strive to live in the will of God. Turns out, as long as I work as if Christ is my boss, I am living in the will of God. Awesome.
- Whatever good work you do, Christ will reward it back to you. Sometimes in your job, other people take credit for your effort or simply do not recognize your work. But, if you make Christ your “boss,” then you are promised to reap the benefits of your work. Regardless of whether you get those rewards here on earth, you can work knowing (see verse 8) that your work is being seen and will be rewarded by Christ. Rewards may not be immediate or obvious, but God keeps His promises, so keep doing excellent work that honors the Lord and leave the rest to Him.
- You will work in peace and joy. Work will be tough sometimes. Human bosses will fail us. No boss is perfect (even if you are your own boss!). But, God uses all things for your good. Allowing God to be your “boss” allows you to remain in peace and keep your joy while you work. Keep your heart focused on working for the Lord and you will be filled with divine peace and joy.
When times get tough at work, how do you keep your focus on working to please the Lord and not others?