I was looking at some analytics on this blog today, and one thing that caught my eye was what people clicked on after they arrived here. The homepage is obviously the most common place that people start when they visit. Once they're here, the most common place to go next is the category "Relating to supervisors" on the bottom left under "Labels." That's kind of interesting to me. I wonder if, for many of you, one of the areas where it's hardest to live out your faith is in dealing with a boss.
Here's an unconventional tip for dealing with your boss, whether he or she is great or a tyrant. Pray for that person. No, don't pray that they go away or fall off a cliff. Pray for him or her. Ask God to give that person wisdom and courage. Again, not necessarily wisdom to see things your way. Look at 1 Timothy 2:1-4, especially verse 2. Pray for "all those in authority." That includes your supervisor.
Whether you're on good terms or struggling with your supervisor, pray for him or her. Watch what God does in your workplace.
Showing posts with label Relating to Supervisors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Relating to Supervisors. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
The Problem with People is That Their Human
One of the reasons why life seems so unfair is that we have expectations that are too high. Don’t label me a cynic or pessimist yet. We expect our boss to make promotions in a way that is completely rational in our eyes. We expect that, if we do our work well, everyone will always treat us well. We expect our subordinates, coworkers, and supervisors to be respectful and civil all the time. Basically, we expect everyone in the workplace to be perfect. You may be saying, “no, I don’t expect them to be perfect. But it’d be nice if they were reasonable.” But what you’re saying is that you’d like them to be reasonable all the time. In a sense, perfectly reasonable.
The problem is that the people around you are human. If you were surrounded by robots, you might not have to deal with people who act unreasonably, with disrespect or incivility. Robots don’t backstab you. They don’t make decisions based on their own ambitions or whims. If you worked only with robots, life might be fairer.
Sure, I’m joking to a great extent. But people can never live up to our expectations because they are human. We create an illusion of how things should be, but imperfect humanity never makes it all the way to “should be.”
Don’t read this and be depressed all weekend about how pitiful we all are. Don’t let this lead to cynicism or pessimism. Instead, be a realist. Know that people do good things, but underneath everything, we’re all sinners in need of a savior. It might help to remember times when you weren’t reasonable or fair toward someone else. Pray for the people around you. And extend them the same mercy when they mess up that God extends to you.
The problem is that the people around you are human. If you were surrounded by robots, you might not have to deal with people who act unreasonably, with disrespect or incivility. Robots don’t backstab you. They don’t make decisions based on their own ambitions or whims. If you worked only with robots, life might be fairer.
Sure, I’m joking to a great extent. But people can never live up to our expectations because they are human. We create an illusion of how things should be, but imperfect humanity never makes it all the way to “should be.”
Don’t read this and be depressed all weekend about how pitiful we all are. Don’t let this lead to cynicism or pessimism. Instead, be a realist. Know that people do good things, but underneath everything, we’re all sinners in need of a savior. It might help to remember times when you weren’t reasonable or fair toward someone else. Pray for the people around you. And extend them the same mercy when they mess up that God extends to you.
Friday, July 15, 2011
The Ultimate Performance Evaluation
Colossians 3:23-24
Performance evaluations can be really nerve-racking. Organizations have different ways of evaluating employees, but they often involve the employee reporting all of his or her accomplishments in the past year (or quarter or month). Then, the supervisor considers that self-report, makes "objective" judgments about the employee, and usually schedules a meeting to discuss the performance and highlight goals for the next year or quarter or month. If done well, the employee knows what he or she is doing well and what needs improvement (and has tools to improve it).
I know what you're thinking. This is typically the point of the post where I say that you shouldn't worry about your performance evaluations. After all, look at the verse at the top of the post: "working for the Lord, NOT FOR MEN." So your supervisor's evaluation of your performance shouldn't matter. Great post!
Actually, performance evaluations are hugely important for the Christian. No Christian should EVER discount being evaluated at work. These verses, and the context on either side of these verses, are saying that you must do quality work. You must do your dead-level best at work.
The question is who is doing the evaluating. If you're talking about your immediate supervisor in your job, then yes, you're not working for him or her in a spiritual sense. You need to respect and obey that person, but they are not the ultimate judge of your work. You are "WORKING FOR THE LORD, not for men." God is the ultimate judge of your work, and He expects your best. He wants you to work hard, even when your boss isn't watching (v. 22). He wants you to put your heart into it (v. 23). And He gives the ultimate bonuses and demotions (v. 24-25).
Performance evaluations can be very intimidating, but remember who is evaluating you. And don't wait until you're trying to summarize the last year on a piece of paper. Every day, remember that God is expecting your very best. And His evaluation of your performance matters!
Performance evaluations can be really nerve-racking. Organizations have different ways of evaluating employees, but they often involve the employee reporting all of his or her accomplishments in the past year (or quarter or month). Then, the supervisor considers that self-report, makes "objective" judgments about the employee, and usually schedules a meeting to discuss the performance and highlight goals for the next year or quarter or month. If done well, the employee knows what he or she is doing well and what needs improvement (and has tools to improve it).
I know what you're thinking. This is typically the point of the post where I say that you shouldn't worry about your performance evaluations. After all, look at the verse at the top of the post: "working for the Lord, NOT FOR MEN." So your supervisor's evaluation of your performance shouldn't matter. Great post!
Actually, performance evaluations are hugely important for the Christian. No Christian should EVER discount being evaluated at work. These verses, and the context on either side of these verses, are saying that you must do quality work. You must do your dead-level best at work.
The question is who is doing the evaluating. If you're talking about your immediate supervisor in your job, then yes, you're not working for him or her in a spiritual sense. You need to respect and obey that person, but they are not the ultimate judge of your work. You are "WORKING FOR THE LORD, not for men." God is the ultimate judge of your work, and He expects your best. He wants you to work hard, even when your boss isn't watching (v. 22). He wants you to put your heart into it (v. 23). And He gives the ultimate bonuses and demotions (v. 24-25).
Performance evaluations can be very intimidating, but remember who is evaluating you. And don't wait until you're trying to summarize the last year on a piece of paper. Every day, remember that God is expecting your very best. And His evaluation of your performance matters!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Difficult Supervisors
As students and friends start telling me about their jobs, one thing that I hear from time to time is what it’s like to work for terrible supervisors. I’ve heard stories of bosses who expect subordinates to politic and brown-nose, supervisors who never recognize accomplishments, and more micro-managers than I can count. I had a student this past semester tell me that she was excited to get out of college and into the “real world” where people around her would be competent and responsible and always do their work. I told her to let me know if she ever found that to be true. The fact is, there are a lot of really bad people who are in charge of things. Scott Adams has done very well portraying that type of boss in his Dilbert cartoons. The reason Dilbert’s plights are so funny is that there’s a ring of truth in them. The same could be said with Michael Scott’s antic’s on NBC’s The Office. Ideas such as the Peter Principle humorously explain that good workers may be promoted up a hierarchy until they reach a position for which they are not qualified. Then they stay in that position (sometimes indefinitely). We laugh, in part because we can identify with the workers in each. There are some really lousy bosses out there, which is even worse when you consider that one of the biggest factors in job satisfaction is one’s relationship with a supervisor.
So what does the Christian do when he or she works for such a poor supervisor? You might not like the answer all that much. First, pray for your boss. That’s not praying that he or she gets fired or transferred. God calls us to intercede on behalf of those around us. Second, remember that you have to submit to your boss. It doesn’t matter if that respect is deserved or not. The Bible is relatively clear that workers should be sincerely submissive. That’s particularly tough with a difficult boss. If you boss is incompetent, it’s hard not to make fun of him or her. If your boss is belligerent or doesn’t respect you, it’s hard not to look for ways to get back at him or her.
What submission doesn’t mean is just going with the flow just because that person outranks you at work. The Bible has several examples of subordinates who respectfully disagreed with a supervisor. Joab confronts David about mourning for Absalom (2 Samuel 14: 1-20) and about the census (2 Samuel 24:3). Daniel tells those responsible for him that he would like a different diet than the others in court (Daniel 1:8-14).
But just because you can disagree with your supervisor doesn’t mean you can gossip about him or her. Remember back to the idea of respect. Solomon describes how a little birdy might hear if someone gossips about the king. When you gossip about a boss, beware of thinking that the boss will never hear what you say.
Finally, remember that your actions toward the difficult supervisor should be filled with mercy and love. It’s more important that you show love to a difficult supervisor, even if he or she seems unlovable, than it is that you have everything go your way. After all, that boss is only human. And God has shown His mercy to all of us, even while we were “difficult.”
None of this may make a difficult boss less frustrating. In fact, it may be even harder to work for him or her. Jesus promised His disciples that they would have trouble but that He had overcome the world (John 16:33). I heard a preacher once say, “as long as He is on the throne, we’re gonna be all right.” Perhaps that’s something to take comfort in.
So what does the Christian do when he or she works for such a poor supervisor? You might not like the answer all that much. First, pray for your boss. That’s not praying that he or she gets fired or transferred. God calls us to intercede on behalf of those around us. Second, remember that you have to submit to your boss. It doesn’t matter if that respect is deserved or not. The Bible is relatively clear that workers should be sincerely submissive. That’s particularly tough with a difficult boss. If you boss is incompetent, it’s hard not to make fun of him or her. If your boss is belligerent or doesn’t respect you, it’s hard not to look for ways to get back at him or her.
What submission doesn’t mean is just going with the flow just because that person outranks you at work. The Bible has several examples of subordinates who respectfully disagreed with a supervisor. Joab confronts David about mourning for Absalom (2 Samuel 14: 1-20) and about the census (2 Samuel 24:3). Daniel tells those responsible for him that he would like a different diet than the others in court (Daniel 1:8-14).
But just because you can disagree with your supervisor doesn’t mean you can gossip about him or her. Remember back to the idea of respect. Solomon describes how a little birdy might hear if someone gossips about the king. When you gossip about a boss, beware of thinking that the boss will never hear what you say.
Finally, remember that your actions toward the difficult supervisor should be filled with mercy and love. It’s more important that you show love to a difficult supervisor, even if he or she seems unlovable, than it is that you have everything go your way. After all, that boss is only human. And God has shown His mercy to all of us, even while we were “difficult.”
None of this may make a difficult boss less frustrating. In fact, it may be even harder to work for him or her. Jesus promised His disciples that they would have trouble but that He had overcome the world (John 16:33). I heard a preacher once say, “as long as He is on the throne, we’re gonna be all right.” Perhaps that’s something to take comfort in.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Only Human
This week, Kobe Bryant yelled a homophobic slur at a referee. He was fined and shamed, as he should have been for saying what he said. In his comments after the incident, he noted that "the concern that I have is for those that follow what I say and ... look to me as a role model." Kobe is used to living in the spotlight, where people pay more attention to his actions and expect him to be above reproach to a certain extent. It seems like almost every couple of weeks, another public figure is caught doing something that they shouldn't be doing. Sometimes, it's easy to forget that they are just human. I'm not making excuses for what Kobe or anyone else has done. Nor am I saying that they shouldn't be subject to high standards given the tendency for others, especially young people, to look up to such public figures. But really, they are, after all, human. All too often, I think we forget that our bosses and coworkers are also human in one of two ways. In the first way, we set super-human expectations for them and are disappointed when they don't live up to those expectations. It's important to realize that the people around us make mistakes. Your boss is going to make mistakes. When he or she does, it's important to understand that this person is just someone else in need of a Savior. In the second way, we see the people around us almost as uncaring robots, who interact with us but are devoid of feelings and needs. This is dangerous because it gives us a false loophole in the command to love others: Jesus tells us to love other people, but maybe our coworkers and bosses don't count. The reality is that we're all only human. We make mistakes. Your boss makes mistakes. Your coworkers make mistakes. Your subordinates, your clients, your venders, they all make mistakes. Rather than expecting someone to be perfect, look for ways that you can show love to people in spite of their shortcomings. God did that for you.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Submit
Romans 13:1-7
Maybe you have one of THOSE bosses. You know the ones, always out to get you. Never recognizing your contributions, always looking over your shoulder. Does that sound familiar? It's easy to resent such a supervisor. It's easy to act submissive in front of him or her, and then when the boss's back is turned, all bets are off. How well does that describe your workplace and your boss? Romans 13 has an interesting perspective: "authorities that exist have been established by God." Your supervisor is in charge of you because of God's will. Look at the next verse: "whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted." Think about that in your workplace. If you're rebelling against your boss, you are rebelling against the person that God put in charge. Kind of compelling, isn't it? These verses are specifically talking about government authorities, but it is completely consistent with other teachings from Paul to interpret this to include workplace leaders as well.
As you rebel against your supervisor, do you ever get that fearful "what if I get caught" feeling? If so, you are probably justified in your fear. In verse 4, Paul explains, "if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." If you are doing wrong, even if your manager "deserves" it, be prepared to take the consequences. And don't think that just because your manager is a tyrant that you are justified in resisting him or her. Remember Paul is writing to Christians under the thumb of the emperor. Remember how God used the sinful Babylonians to punish Judah (see Habakkuk 1). Submit to your boss. Pay them the respect and honor due them.
Maybe you have one of THOSE bosses. You know the ones, always out to get you. Never recognizing your contributions, always looking over your shoulder. Does that sound familiar? It's easy to resent such a supervisor. It's easy to act submissive in front of him or her, and then when the boss's back is turned, all bets are off. How well does that describe your workplace and your boss? Romans 13 has an interesting perspective: "authorities that exist have been established by God." Your supervisor is in charge of you because of God's will. Look at the next verse: "whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted." Think about that in your workplace. If you're rebelling against your boss, you are rebelling against the person that God put in charge. Kind of compelling, isn't it? These verses are specifically talking about government authorities, but it is completely consistent with other teachings from Paul to interpret this to include workplace leaders as well.
As you rebel against your supervisor, do you ever get that fearful "what if I get caught" feeling? If so, you are probably justified in your fear. In verse 4, Paul explains, "if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." If you are doing wrong, even if your manager "deserves" it, be prepared to take the consequences. And don't think that just because your manager is a tyrant that you are justified in resisting him or her. Remember Paul is writing to Christians under the thumb of the emperor. Remember how God used the sinful Babylonians to punish Judah (see Habakkuk 1). Submit to your boss. Pay them the respect and honor due them.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Obey God Rather Than Men
Acts 4:19- 20; Acts 5:29
Peter and John are commanded by the religious leaders not to say anything more to the people about Jesus. They respond, "Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you or to Him?" Basically, should we do what you tell us to do or what God tells us to do? They go back to teaching about Jesus, and in the next chapter, they are again called before the religious leaders. "Didn't we tell you not to teach any more about Jesus?" In Act 5:29, Peter begins their response with "we must obey God rather than human beings."
This is the only exception in the Bible to obeying your leaders. When a leader (at work or anywhere else) asks/tells you to do something that is contrary to God, you must say no. You should say no respectfully, but you must not follow what a leader tells you when that instruction contradicts God's Word. If only some of the executives at Enron would have said no when told to be dishonest. If only some of people in the housing industry would have said no when instructed to compromise because of greed.
There are many times when our supervisors have us do something that we don't like. This passage doesn't necessarily apply to those times. In fact, I would probably guess that it's rare for this exception to come into play--you need to obey your supervisor under almost every circumstance. But you also need to think, to not blindly follow. The Bible gives several examples of other followers who disagreed with their leaders. In those instances, the followers were respectful but stood for what was right.
Peter and John are commanded by the religious leaders not to say anything more to the people about Jesus. They respond, "Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you or to Him?" Basically, should we do what you tell us to do or what God tells us to do? They go back to teaching about Jesus, and in the next chapter, they are again called before the religious leaders. "Didn't we tell you not to teach any more about Jesus?" In Act 5:29, Peter begins their response with "we must obey God rather than human beings."
This is the only exception in the Bible to obeying your leaders. When a leader (at work or anywhere else) asks/tells you to do something that is contrary to God, you must say no. You should say no respectfully, but you must not follow what a leader tells you when that instruction contradicts God's Word. If only some of the executives at Enron would have said no when told to be dishonest. If only some of people in the housing industry would have said no when instructed to compromise because of greed.
There are many times when our supervisors have us do something that we don't like. This passage doesn't necessarily apply to those times. In fact, I would probably guess that it's rare for this exception to come into play--you need to obey your supervisor under almost every circumstance. But you also need to think, to not blindly follow. The Bible gives several examples of other followers who disagreed with their leaders. In those instances, the followers were respectful but stood for what was right.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Deny Yourself and Follow Me
Matthew 16:24-26; Mark 8:34-38; Luke 9:23-24
This is another one of those passages that really makes a good "theme" verse for what this blog is all about. "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." What does that really mean in the 21st century? What does it mean at work? It's not language we're really used to in every day conversations. Obviously, this verse applies to every part of our lives. But since this blog is about Christianity in the workplace, let me share some of what I think this verse means regarding work.
I think, first and foremost, it means that we need to resist our human nature toward ambition at any cost. I don't think that's a univeral trait because I've seen people who are not overly driven by ambition, but I think it is a common trait. We want to succeed. We want to be the best. And being the best means that others around us are not the best. Sometimes, our winning means they have to lose. But that's ok, because we have to be the best. There is a sense that any sacrifice is ok if it means that we advance, that we are recognized as "the best" or "among the best" at whatever it is that we do. And so relationships, family, integrity, it all may fall prey to the drive to achieve.
As I've posted before, God wants us to be good at what we do, to use our talents to His glory. We need to do quality work. But we're not supposed to be working to achieve our own glory. We're to do quality work because we're working for God's glory, not our own. So that's really the first part of today's passage--deny yourself, which might mean "deny your drive to accomplish your own glory" at work.
Then second, pick up your cross and follow Christ. Being Chrisitan at work makes you different, makes you stand out from the crowd. Your talk is different. You don't lie or gossip. You respect authority, even when the boss is not looking. Those things may make you the subject of ridicule from your coworkers, who laugh at you for being soft and not cut-throat enough. You may miss out on promotions because you turn the other cheek instead of going for the kill. That's why following Christ means picking up a cross.
It's not the easy road. And contrary to some popular wisdom, it won't win you fortunes and fame. So why do it? First, because look at how much you've been loved. That's enough right there. But if you need more motivation, Jesus gives it two verses later: "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" Does your success in your job, at the expense of so many other things, get you anything in the long run? I'm talking about the really long run here. At the end of everything, you won't be taking anything that you've earned with you. It won't matter how many deals you've closed, how much overtime you've logged, or how many people you had to climb over to claw your way to the top. It won't matter whether you had the corner office on the top floor or whether you worked as a clerk in the mail room. The only thing that will matter is Jesus.
He calls to you: "Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me." What do you say to Him?
This is another one of those passages that really makes a good "theme" verse for what this blog is all about. "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." What does that really mean in the 21st century? What does it mean at work? It's not language we're really used to in every day conversations. Obviously, this verse applies to every part of our lives. But since this blog is about Christianity in the workplace, let me share some of what I think this verse means regarding work.
I think, first and foremost, it means that we need to resist our human nature toward ambition at any cost. I don't think that's a univeral trait because I've seen people who are not overly driven by ambition, but I think it is a common trait. We want to succeed. We want to be the best. And being the best means that others around us are not the best. Sometimes, our winning means they have to lose. But that's ok, because we have to be the best. There is a sense that any sacrifice is ok if it means that we advance, that we are recognized as "the best" or "among the best" at whatever it is that we do. And so relationships, family, integrity, it all may fall prey to the drive to achieve.
As I've posted before, God wants us to be good at what we do, to use our talents to His glory. We need to do quality work. But we're not supposed to be working to achieve our own glory. We're to do quality work because we're working for God's glory, not our own. So that's really the first part of today's passage--deny yourself, which might mean "deny your drive to accomplish your own glory" at work.
Then second, pick up your cross and follow Christ. Being Chrisitan at work makes you different, makes you stand out from the crowd. Your talk is different. You don't lie or gossip. You respect authority, even when the boss is not looking. Those things may make you the subject of ridicule from your coworkers, who laugh at you for being soft and not cut-throat enough. You may miss out on promotions because you turn the other cheek instead of going for the kill. That's why following Christ means picking up a cross.
It's not the easy road. And contrary to some popular wisdom, it won't win you fortunes and fame. So why do it? First, because look at how much you've been loved. That's enough right there. But if you need more motivation, Jesus gives it two verses later: "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" Does your success in your job, at the expense of so many other things, get you anything in the long run? I'm talking about the really long run here. At the end of everything, you won't be taking anything that you've earned with you. It won't matter how many deals you've closed, how much overtime you've logged, or how many people you had to climb over to claw your way to the top. It won't matter whether you had the corner office on the top floor or whether you worked as a clerk in the mail room. The only thing that will matter is Jesus.
He calls to you: "Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me." What do you say to Him?
Friday, December 10, 2010
The Golden Rule
Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31
Here it is, the end all, be all rule for many of us. "Do to others as you would have them do to you." Perhaps the second most memorized verse behind John 3:16. It's not Jesus' greatest commandment, which He lists later, but it's certainly in step with the second of those commandments.
As you read through this blog, there's a lot to keep up with. Perhaps this is one way to sum it all up. When you are working, treat others the way that you would want them to treat you. Regardless of status or position, how would you want that other person to treat you? Then do that.
There are almost countless variations on this timeless principle. There are the worldly alternatives such as "he who has the gold rules." There are versions from other religions such as "don't treat anyone worse than you would want to be treated." But Jesus' teaching is one of considering the other person, even if he/she doesn't consider you and even if he/she doesn't deserve to be considered. It's not focused on a minimum threshold as a standard. It says treat people as good as you would like to experience yourself.
Ask yourself: "would my actions at work change if I fully put this principle into practice?" What would that look like? Would it change the way you talk to your supervisor? Your coworkers? Your clients/customers? Would you treat your subordinates differently? Would you act differently toward the custodians you pass on your way in the building? What about how you interact with a secretary or administrative support person? Use this weekend to plan what you can do differently on Monday. How will the Golden Rule affect your workplace through you?
Here it is, the end all, be all rule for many of us. "Do to others as you would have them do to you." Perhaps the second most memorized verse behind John 3:16. It's not Jesus' greatest commandment, which He lists later, but it's certainly in step with the second of those commandments.
As you read through this blog, there's a lot to keep up with. Perhaps this is one way to sum it all up. When you are working, treat others the way that you would want them to treat you. Regardless of status or position, how would you want that other person to treat you? Then do that.
There are almost countless variations on this timeless principle. There are the worldly alternatives such as "he who has the gold rules." There are versions from other religions such as "don't treat anyone worse than you would want to be treated." But Jesus' teaching is one of considering the other person, even if he/she doesn't consider you and even if he/she doesn't deserve to be considered. It's not focused on a minimum threshold as a standard. It says treat people as good as you would like to experience yourself.
Ask yourself: "would my actions at work change if I fully put this principle into practice?" What would that look like? Would it change the way you talk to your supervisor? Your coworkers? Your clients/customers? Would you treat your subordinates differently? Would you act differently toward the custodians you pass on your way in the building? What about how you interact with a secretary or administrative support person? Use this weekend to plan what you can do differently on Monday. How will the Golden Rule affect your workplace through you?
Monday, November 22, 2010
Blessed are the Merciful
Matthew 5:7; Matthew 18:22-35
cf Matthew 5:38-42; Luke 6:29
For the next few posts, I would like to look at the idea of mercy in the workplace. Today, I'm giving an overview and looking at supervisors and mercy. Wednesday, it will be the idea of forgiveness, particularly in terms of relating to coworkers and others at work. Friday, we'll stop and think about thankfulness. Finally, Monday, we'll talk about why do this at all, what is our motivation for thinking about mercy when those around us often don't.
Mercy is not a popular concept in what is generally thought of as a "dog-eat-dog" world where you have to "look out for number one" to "get ahead" in the "rat race." Those metaphors are much more widely accepted than "be merciful."
What does it even mean to be merciful? Does it mean that your supervisor can treat you like dirt and get away with it? Should coworkers be able to backstab you and know that you won't do anything? Does it mean to let employees slack off?
For me, one of the easist things to remember is to "turn the other cheek," which is found in Matthew 5:39 and in Luke 6:29. That really speaks to the first two situations presented above. Yes, your supervisor can treat you like dirt, and you should still respect, obey, and pray for your supervisor. Yes, your coworkers can backstab you and not expect retaliation. I don't think that means that you have to constantly put yourself in position to be backstabbed, but if it happens, you need to turn the other cheek. I'll continue this line of thought on Wednesday.
Perhaps one of the easiest ways to show mercy in a workplace is in relating to your subordinates. Think about the parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18:22-35. The servant was forgiven a debt that he could never repay. Even if the servant worked all of his life, he could never repay his debt, so the Master forgave it. No questions asked. Balance equals zero. What did this servant do? He went out and found another servant that owed almost nothing, assaulted and threatened him, and demanded money "or else!" Naturally, the Master was dismayed and threw the unmerciful servant in jail until he could pay his debt (which basically equated to a lifetime sentence). So think about your situation. God, the Master, has forgiven you a debt of sin that you could never repay. No matter how hard you worked and how much your job paid, you would never be able to repay the debt, so God said, "no problem, I got this one." What's your move? Are you the unmerciful servant, ready to pounce on someone that crosses you? Remember that, however they wrong you, it cannot compare to the sin that you've been forgiven! Hold your subordinates to a high standard. But remember to supervisor them with an ample supply of mercy for you have been shown incredible mercy yourself (which will be the subject of Friday's post).
cf Matthew 5:38-42; Luke 6:29
For the next few posts, I would like to look at the idea of mercy in the workplace. Today, I'm giving an overview and looking at supervisors and mercy. Wednesday, it will be the idea of forgiveness, particularly in terms of relating to coworkers and others at work. Friday, we'll stop and think about thankfulness. Finally, Monday, we'll talk about why do this at all, what is our motivation for thinking about mercy when those around us often don't.
Mercy is not a popular concept in what is generally thought of as a "dog-eat-dog" world where you have to "look out for number one" to "get ahead" in the "rat race." Those metaphors are much more widely accepted than "be merciful."
What does it even mean to be merciful? Does it mean that your supervisor can treat you like dirt and get away with it? Should coworkers be able to backstab you and know that you won't do anything? Does it mean to let employees slack off?
For me, one of the easist things to remember is to "turn the other cheek," which is found in Matthew 5:39 and in Luke 6:29. That really speaks to the first two situations presented above. Yes, your supervisor can treat you like dirt, and you should still respect, obey, and pray for your supervisor. Yes, your coworkers can backstab you and not expect retaliation. I don't think that means that you have to constantly put yourself in position to be backstabbed, but if it happens, you need to turn the other cheek. I'll continue this line of thought on Wednesday.
Perhaps one of the easiest ways to show mercy in a workplace is in relating to your subordinates. Think about the parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18:22-35. The servant was forgiven a debt that he could never repay. Even if the servant worked all of his life, he could never repay his debt, so the Master forgave it. No questions asked. Balance equals zero. What did this servant do? He went out and found another servant that owed almost nothing, assaulted and threatened him, and demanded money "or else!" Naturally, the Master was dismayed and threw the unmerciful servant in jail until he could pay his debt (which basically equated to a lifetime sentence). So think about your situation. God, the Master, has forgiven you a debt of sin that you could never repay. No matter how hard you worked and how much your job paid, you would never be able to repay the debt, so God said, "no problem, I got this one." What's your move? Are you the unmerciful servant, ready to pounce on someone that crosses you? Remember that, however they wrong you, it cannot compare to the sin that you've been forgiven! Hold your subordinates to a high standard. But remember to supervisor them with an ample supply of mercy for you have been shown incredible mercy yourself (which will be the subject of Friday's post).
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
How to Disagree with Your Boss
Daniel 1:8-14
Grumbing and complaining get a bad rap as people think about how to live as Christians. But there's a difference between the grumbling that angered God as the Israelites wandered in the wilderness and complaints/suggestions that are designed to improve your workplace or help you to do your work more effectively. Most of us have experienced those times in our work where we could do our job more efficiently or more satisfyingly if it wasn't for this particular policy. Or maybe you've had the experience of dealing with a boss that was unaware of some habit or practice that he or she did that was really holding the organization back. In those moments, you have a choice: Disagree or remain silent. And if you disagree, you have another choice regarding how you disagree. Do you say something to your supervisor or vent to your coworkers? Do you present a solution to the problem or make sarcastic comments?
I've posted before about the importance of honest disagreement in organizations, and I've encouraged supervisors to listen to employees' dissent. Daniel gives more details in terms of how to do so. Daniel and his friends have been taken from Judah and brought to Babylon, to the king's court. They are told to eat rich foods so that they will appear healthy, but Daniel doesn't want "to defile himself." So look what he said to his overseer. First, Daniel 1:8 says that he "asked for permission." That means that he was probably pretty humble as he disagreed with the supervisor. Second, he was dissenting from the right motives, in this case, faithfulness to God. It wasn't to get ahead. That's important. Third, he recognized his supervisor's goals and sought to match his own goals with those of his supervisor's. That's too important to overlook. The overseer explains what he needs to accomplish in verse 10. Then, in verses 11-14, Daniel explains how both he and the overseer can get what they want.
That's three keys to dissenting in the workplace. First, be humble. That automatically rules out sarcasm and threats. Remember to respect your supervisor. Second, dissent from the right motives, which generally will exclude selfishness. That doesn't mean that you can't pursue personal benefits. Maybe it just limits you to not pursuing personal benefits at the expense of others. Third, recognize the organization's goals and your supervisor's goals and try to frame your dissent in such a way that it accomplishes what you want and what he/she wants.
Dissent can help an organization to grow. Don't be afraid to disagree. But there is a right way and a wrong way to do so. Friday's post will continue to explore what Daniel says about healthy dissent.
Grumbing and complaining get a bad rap as people think about how to live as Christians. But there's a difference between the grumbling that angered God as the Israelites wandered in the wilderness and complaints/suggestions that are designed to improve your workplace or help you to do your work more effectively. Most of us have experienced those times in our work where we could do our job more efficiently or more satisfyingly if it wasn't for this particular policy. Or maybe you've had the experience of dealing with a boss that was unaware of some habit or practice that he or she did that was really holding the organization back. In those moments, you have a choice: Disagree or remain silent. And if you disagree, you have another choice regarding how you disagree. Do you say something to your supervisor or vent to your coworkers? Do you present a solution to the problem or make sarcastic comments?
I've posted before about the importance of honest disagreement in organizations, and I've encouraged supervisors to listen to employees' dissent. Daniel gives more details in terms of how to do so. Daniel and his friends have been taken from Judah and brought to Babylon, to the king's court. They are told to eat rich foods so that they will appear healthy, but Daniel doesn't want "to defile himself." So look what he said to his overseer. First, Daniel 1:8 says that he "asked for permission." That means that he was probably pretty humble as he disagreed with the supervisor. Second, he was dissenting from the right motives, in this case, faithfulness to God. It wasn't to get ahead. That's important. Third, he recognized his supervisor's goals and sought to match his own goals with those of his supervisor's. That's too important to overlook. The overseer explains what he needs to accomplish in verse 10. Then, in verses 11-14, Daniel explains how both he and the overseer can get what they want.
That's three keys to dissenting in the workplace. First, be humble. That automatically rules out sarcasm and threats. Remember to respect your supervisor. Second, dissent from the right motives, which generally will exclude selfishness. That doesn't mean that you can't pursue personal benefits. Maybe it just limits you to not pursuing personal benefits at the expense of others. Third, recognize the organization's goals and your supervisor's goals and try to frame your dissent in such a way that it accomplishes what you want and what he/she wants.
Dissent can help an organization to grow. Don't be afraid to disagree. But there is a right way and a wrong way to do so. Friday's post will continue to explore what Daniel says about healthy dissent.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
What Will the Little Birdy Hear?
Ecclesiastes 10:20
Ecclesiastes 10 closes on an interesting note, with wisdom that almost sounds like it belongs in a storybook or cartoon. The Teacher describes a person, in his or her bedroom, complaining about the king. A bird in that room goes and relays your complaint to the king. Sounds funny, right? But here's the thing--the point is that you never know when something that you say will get back to someone that you didn't intend. Now think about that in the workplace. "Do not revile your [boss], even in your thoughts." Let's face it. There are some terrible bosses out there. You may have one. Even if you do, be very careful about how you think about him or her. When you dwell on how much you hate your boss, those thoughts are probably going to leak out, no matter how much you try to hide it. People are going to find out. And when they do, either because your tone and behaviors betray you or because you vent to someone, you never know when those thoughts will get back to your boss. Instead, better to pray for your boss. Better to support him or her. Obey. Respect. Even if they are against you, be subject to them. Above all, don't "revile" them.
Ecclesiastes 10 closes on an interesting note, with wisdom that almost sounds like it belongs in a storybook or cartoon. The Teacher describes a person, in his or her bedroom, complaining about the king. A bird in that room goes and relays your complaint to the king. Sounds funny, right? But here's the thing--the point is that you never know when something that you say will get back to someone that you didn't intend. Now think about that in the workplace. "Do not revile your [boss], even in your thoughts." Let's face it. There are some terrible bosses out there. You may have one. Even if you do, be very careful about how you think about him or her. When you dwell on how much you hate your boss, those thoughts are probably going to leak out, no matter how much you try to hide it. People are going to find out. And when they do, either because your tone and behaviors betray you or because you vent to someone, you never know when those thoughts will get back to your boss. Instead, better to pray for your boss. Better to support him or her. Obey. Respect. Even if they are against you, be subject to them. Above all, don't "revile" them.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Slaves
Ephesians 6:5-9
cf Colossians 3:22-4:1
I've said before that, although not every Bible scholar might agree, I think that the master-slave relationship described in the Bible is very analogous to Supervisor-Employee relationships today. I've already noted several passages that reference relating to supervisors, and many of those refer to masters and slaves. Two of the more prominent passages regarding how masters and slaves should treat each other are found in Ephesians and Colossians.
In both passages, Paul begins by exhorting slaves to obey their masters. Applying this to our situations, I believe this passage means that we as employees need to obey our supervisors. The next part of both passages is important--Not just when those supervisors are looking! Even when our supervisor has no way of knowing whether or not we are following his/her directive, we need to respect and obey. Another way to approach that is that we are to obey our supervisors, whether or not doing so will win their favor. Colossians 3 adds that we should obey with sincerity of heart. I take that to mean that following a supervisor is not about brown-nosing, making sure that everyone knows you're obeying. It's about day-in and day-out working with the knowledge that you're not in charge. And being ok about that. Both passages say that the reason you should do this is that, really, you're working for God. I think that's true in two ways. First, when you obey God's word, you show Him respect. So in that sense, obeying a supervisor is obeying God. But second, by being different from human nature, which says only obey when it will get you ahead, by being different from that, you demonstrate that you subscribe to a different standard. Some people won't appreciate that and may even laugh it off. But you never know when your differentness is planting a seed. It's within the context of obeying your master that we see, "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart." I think this means that you should not half-heartedly obey, but fully engage with what your supervisor has you do.
cf Colossians 3:22-4:1
I've said before that, although not every Bible scholar might agree, I think that the master-slave relationship described in the Bible is very analogous to Supervisor-Employee relationships today. I've already noted several passages that reference relating to supervisors, and many of those refer to masters and slaves. Two of the more prominent passages regarding how masters and slaves should treat each other are found in Ephesians and Colossians.
In both passages, Paul begins by exhorting slaves to obey their masters. Applying this to our situations, I believe this passage means that we as employees need to obey our supervisors. The next part of both passages is important--Not just when those supervisors are looking! Even when our supervisor has no way of knowing whether or not we are following his/her directive, we need to respect and obey. Another way to approach that is that we are to obey our supervisors, whether or not doing so will win their favor. Colossians 3 adds that we should obey with sincerity of heart. I take that to mean that following a supervisor is not about brown-nosing, making sure that everyone knows you're obeying. It's about day-in and day-out working with the knowledge that you're not in charge. And being ok about that. Both passages say that the reason you should do this is that, really, you're working for God. I think that's true in two ways. First, when you obey God's word, you show Him respect. So in that sense, obeying a supervisor is obeying God. But second, by being different from human nature, which says only obey when it will get you ahead, by being different from that, you demonstrate that you subscribe to a different standard. Some people won't appreciate that and may even laugh it off. But you never know when your differentness is planting a seed. It's within the context of obeying your master that we see, "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart." I think this means that you should not half-heartedly obey, but fully engage with what your supervisor has you do.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Philemon and Onesimus
Philemon 8-21
I've written several times recently about the importance of submitting to authority at work. I don't want to be one dimensional, and there are certainly other important points as well. So this will be my last post on the subject for a while. Philemon provides an opportunity to review some ideas about relating to supervisors as well as nuance those ideas a little more.
The book of Philemon is an interesting letter that addresses the issue of how a Christian slaveowner should treat a Christian slave, particularly when that slave has wronged his owner according to the laws of the day. By law, Onesimus could be killed or tortured for escaping (and possibly stealing from Philemon, see v. 18). But as an escapee, Onesimus had become a Christian. Paul appeals to Philemon that he not treat Onesimus harshly but "as a very dear brother."
I see two very important applications here regarding how supervisors and subordinates should treat each other. First, Paul tells Philemon to forgive Onesimus and to accept him back as a brother. We don't know for certain whether Paul is arguing for his emancipation, but at the very least, Paul is suggesting that Philemon not punish Onesimus for running away. He is advocating for forgiveness. The application to supervisors is that, when employees have messed up in some ways, forgive them. Even when those mistakes cost you money, use mercy as you deal with your subordinates. Especially when those subordinates are Christians. If you cannot treat Christians with love and mercy, how can you model Christ to others? This doesn't mean getting rid of performance standards, but it does mean recognizing the humanity in others and recognizing that we all need forgiveness from time to time.
Second, Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon. That's important to note. You can probably imagine the conversation between Paul and Onesimus as they were discussing this. "You want me to go WHERE?? But you know what he's going to do when he sees me!" Nevertheless, Paul knew that Onesimus had to come clean. I see this as indicating that subordinates need to fulfill their obligations, even those obligations that aren't pleasant. If you accept the connection between slave masters and supervisors, Paul talked in other letters about respecting your boss and being subject to your supervisors. Onesimus returned to Philemon before he knew what his fate would be, and we need to fulfill our duties at work, regardless of how our supervisor treats us. Remember, Peter says to obey your supervisor, regardless of whether he or she deserves that respect (Peter says to obey harsh supervisors as well as considerate supervisors). Don't miss the fact that Paul promises to restore everything to Philemon. Paul says, "if he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me...I will pay it back." Don't think that being a Christian with a Christian supervisor allows you to slack off on doing what you are supposed to do. If anything, work harder so that others can see Christ in how you treat your boss. Work so that, as the Hebrew writer says, you are not a burden to your supervisor.
Two powerful lessons in this short little book. These aren't the only places the Bible talks about masters and slaves, or if you will, supervisors and employees. But this letter presents a fascinating look into supervisor-subordinate relationships, especially between Christians.
I've written several times recently about the importance of submitting to authority at work. I don't want to be one dimensional, and there are certainly other important points as well. So this will be my last post on the subject for a while. Philemon provides an opportunity to review some ideas about relating to supervisors as well as nuance those ideas a little more.
The book of Philemon is an interesting letter that addresses the issue of how a Christian slaveowner should treat a Christian slave, particularly when that slave has wronged his owner according to the laws of the day. By law, Onesimus could be killed or tortured for escaping (and possibly stealing from Philemon, see v. 18). But as an escapee, Onesimus had become a Christian. Paul appeals to Philemon that he not treat Onesimus harshly but "as a very dear brother."
I see two very important applications here regarding how supervisors and subordinates should treat each other. First, Paul tells Philemon to forgive Onesimus and to accept him back as a brother. We don't know for certain whether Paul is arguing for his emancipation, but at the very least, Paul is suggesting that Philemon not punish Onesimus for running away. He is advocating for forgiveness. The application to supervisors is that, when employees have messed up in some ways, forgive them. Even when those mistakes cost you money, use mercy as you deal with your subordinates. Especially when those subordinates are Christians. If you cannot treat Christians with love and mercy, how can you model Christ to others? This doesn't mean getting rid of performance standards, but it does mean recognizing the humanity in others and recognizing that we all need forgiveness from time to time.
Second, Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon. That's important to note. You can probably imagine the conversation between Paul and Onesimus as they were discussing this. "You want me to go WHERE?? But you know what he's going to do when he sees me!" Nevertheless, Paul knew that Onesimus had to come clean. I see this as indicating that subordinates need to fulfill their obligations, even those obligations that aren't pleasant. If you accept the connection between slave masters and supervisors, Paul talked in other letters about respecting your boss and being subject to your supervisors. Onesimus returned to Philemon before he knew what his fate would be, and we need to fulfill our duties at work, regardless of how our supervisor treats us. Remember, Peter says to obey your supervisor, regardless of whether he or she deserves that respect (Peter says to obey harsh supervisors as well as considerate supervisors). Don't miss the fact that Paul promises to restore everything to Philemon. Paul says, "if he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me...I will pay it back." Don't think that being a Christian with a Christian supervisor allows you to slack off on doing what you are supposed to do. If anything, work harder so that others can see Christ in how you treat your boss. Work so that, as the Hebrew writer says, you are not a burden to your supervisor.
Two powerful lessons in this short little book. These aren't the only places the Bible talks about masters and slaves, or if you will, supervisors and employees. But this letter presents a fascinating look into supervisor-subordinate relationships, especially between Christians.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Submit to Others at Work
1 Peter 2:13-20
This is a tough passage, no doubt about it. "Submit ... to every authority instituted among humanity" (emphasis mine). Think about that in terms of workplaces. God is calling you to submit to your supervisors. Now I know what some of you may be thinking. "But my boss doesn't deserve to be the boss in the first place." Look at verse 18: "Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh." If you consider the master-slave relationship to be analogous to the employer-employee relationship of our society, then the application is very clear. It doesn't matter whether or not they deserve your respect and obedience. Unless they ask you to do something that is illegal, unethical, and/or immoral, you need to obey. Look at verse 20: "how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it?" In other words, if you disobey your supervisor and get punished (demotion, reprimand, fired), you deserve what you got. This doesn't mean that you can't disagree with your supervisor. But at the end of the day, if your dissenting voice isn't heard and accepted, you need to do things your supervisor's way. And hard as it may be, you need to pray for him or her.
This is a tough passage, no doubt about it. "Submit ... to every authority instituted among humanity" (emphasis mine). Think about that in terms of workplaces. God is calling you to submit to your supervisors. Now I know what some of you may be thinking. "But my boss doesn't deserve to be the boss in the first place." Look at verse 18: "Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh." If you consider the master-slave relationship to be analogous to the employer-employee relationship of our society, then the application is very clear. It doesn't matter whether or not they deserve your respect and obedience. Unless they ask you to do something that is illegal, unethical, and/or immoral, you need to obey. Look at verse 20: "how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it?" In other words, if you disobey your supervisor and get punished (demotion, reprimand, fired), you deserve what you got. This doesn't mean that you can't disagree with your supervisor. But at the end of the day, if your dissenting voice isn't heard and accepted, you need to do things your supervisor's way. And hard as it may be, you need to pray for him or her.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Obey Your Leaders
Hebrews 13:17
This passage is referring to church members respecting the authority of church leaders, but based on other passages, I think the same principle could be applied to respecting the authority of workplace bosses as well. Work for your supervisors in such a way that "their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you." Think about that. What good is it to you to not obey your supervisor? Now I'm not talking about those times when your supervisor asks you to do something illegal, unethical, or immoral. Acts 5:29 says "we must obey God rather than men." But when your supervisor asks you to do something that is not inherently wrong, you should do it. It doesn't help you if your supervisor feels "burdened" because you're not doing what he or she wants. In fact, it may hurt you in the long run (and possibly in the short run). God wants you to be a peace with people at work, and one easy way to do that is by obeying your supervisor.
This passage is referring to church members respecting the authority of church leaders, but based on other passages, I think the same principle could be applied to respecting the authority of workplace bosses as well. Work for your supervisors in such a way that "their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you." Think about that. What good is it to you to not obey your supervisor? Now I'm not talking about those times when your supervisor asks you to do something illegal, unethical, or immoral. Acts 5:29 says "we must obey God rather than men." But when your supervisor asks you to do something that is not inherently wrong, you should do it. It doesn't help you if your supervisor feels "burdened" because you're not doing what he or she wants. In fact, it may hurt you in the long run (and possibly in the short run). God wants you to be a peace with people at work, and one easy way to do that is by obeying your supervisor.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Be Subject to Your Boss
Titus 2:9-10
Again, this passage is about the master-slave relationship, but it is still applicable to workplaces in our culture. Paul says that Titus should "teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them." Isn't that interesting. We, as employees, should act as subjects of our supervisors in everything. Paul talked with Timothy about some of the negative manifestations of office politics like gossip and quarrels, but here, Paul says to teach some of the positive ways that employees can engage in office politics--try to do what is helpful to your supervisor and talk respectfully to him or her. That's not brown-nosing or any other idiom you want to use for it. It's just building good relationships. It's not being a yes-man or yes-woman. Disagreement may be the most helpful thing you can do in some circumstances, though you can still disagree respectfully. Our society teaches us that being "subject" to anyone means that we are inferior. I don't think that is how Paul is seeing it. Paul is saying that this person has authority over you by virtue of a position. You responsibility is to show yourself trustworthy and to demonstrate Christ. You can do both in respectful submission to a supervisor.
In the next chapter, Paul talks about submission to government authorities, but those lessons might also be applicable at work. Be obedient. Don't slander your supervisor. Be peaceable. Be considerate and act with humility. All of these paint a picture, not of the rebel looking out for Number One, but for someone who understands the hierarchy of his/her workplace, who respects it, and who is more concerned about reflecting the attitude of Christ than making sure that his/her ego is inflated. Rather than seeing your boss as a threat, consider treating him or her as someone to whom you should submit. Then look for ways to help him/her with work, to "try to please." It will likely take some time, but you may be amazed at the way God moves in your workplace.
Again, this passage is about the master-slave relationship, but it is still applicable to workplaces in our culture. Paul says that Titus should "teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them." Isn't that interesting. We, as employees, should act as subjects of our supervisors in everything. Paul talked with Timothy about some of the negative manifestations of office politics like gossip and quarrels, but here, Paul says to teach some of the positive ways that employees can engage in office politics--try to do what is helpful to your supervisor and talk respectfully to him or her. That's not brown-nosing or any other idiom you want to use for it. It's just building good relationships. It's not being a yes-man or yes-woman. Disagreement may be the most helpful thing you can do in some circumstances, though you can still disagree respectfully. Our society teaches us that being "subject" to anyone means that we are inferior. I don't think that is how Paul is seeing it. Paul is saying that this person has authority over you by virtue of a position. You responsibility is to show yourself trustworthy and to demonstrate Christ. You can do both in respectful submission to a supervisor.
In the next chapter, Paul talks about submission to government authorities, but those lessons might also be applicable at work. Be obedient. Don't slander your supervisor. Be peaceable. Be considerate and act with humility. All of these paint a picture, not of the rebel looking out for Number One, but for someone who understands the hierarchy of his/her workplace, who respects it, and who is more concerned about reflecting the attitude of Christ than making sure that his/her ego is inflated. Rather than seeing your boss as a threat, consider treating him or her as someone to whom you should submit. Then look for ways to help him/her with work, to "try to please." It will likely take some time, but you may be amazed at the way God moves in your workplace.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Respect your Boss
1 Timothy 6:1-2
Paul is specifically referring to relationships in the passages before and after this one, and the specific relationship in verses 1 and 2 is that of slave and master. However, I think the things that he says are completely consistent with the way that employees should relate to their supervisors. Substituting "supervisor" for "master," this means that we should respect our superivsors. Doing so reduces the chance that someone will say bad things about Christianity because of your actions. Think about that. If you treat your supervisors poorly and are disrespectful, people might say, "well, Jones is a Christian and look how he treats the boss." God's name is not honored. There's no qualification in the passage, no "treat your boss with respect if he/she deserves it." Regardless of how your supervisor acts, we are to show respect.
That doesn't mean automatic agreement. I've blogged before about the value of dissent. But dissent can be respectful as well. Think about tone of voice, the words you use, where you speak to your supervisor (calling him/her out in public versus speaking privately).
The next verse is important as well. Be especially respectful of Christian supervisors. Don't let the values that you share be an excuse for not treating them well.
Paul is specifically referring to relationships in the passages before and after this one, and the specific relationship in verses 1 and 2 is that of slave and master. However, I think the things that he says are completely consistent with the way that employees should relate to their supervisors. Substituting "supervisor" for "master," this means that we should respect our superivsors. Doing so reduces the chance that someone will say bad things about Christianity because of your actions. Think about that. If you treat your supervisors poorly and are disrespectful, people might say, "well, Jones is a Christian and look how he treats the boss." God's name is not honored. There's no qualification in the passage, no "treat your boss with respect if he/she deserves it." Regardless of how your supervisor acts, we are to show respect.
That doesn't mean automatic agreement. I've blogged before about the value of dissent. But dissent can be respectful as well. Think about tone of voice, the words you use, where you speak to your supervisor (calling him/her out in public versus speaking privately).
The next verse is important as well. Be especially respectful of Christian supervisors. Don't let the values that you share be an excuse for not treating them well.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Pray for Your Leaders
1 Timothy 2:1-4
Pay particular attention to verse 2 in this passage. First, it says pray for political leaders such as kings. But then notice, "and all those in authority." That includes your boss at work. How long has it been since you prayed for your boss? Look at the types of prayers to be made in verse 1. Have you made a request on behalf of your boss (other than "please get rid of my boss")? Have you thanked God for his/her leadership? Do you pray for his/her salvation? Why is this important? Two reasons. First, "that we may live peaceful and quiet lives." If your relationship with your boss is a stormy relationship at best, consider praying for him or her. Not just prayers asking for a new boss, but prayers on your boss's behalf. The second reason to pray for your boss is in verse 4. Because God wants everyone "to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." Pray for your boss. See the change God can make in your workplace.
Pay particular attention to verse 2 in this passage. First, it says pray for political leaders such as kings. But then notice, "and all those in authority." That includes your boss at work. How long has it been since you prayed for your boss? Look at the types of prayers to be made in verse 1. Have you made a request on behalf of your boss (other than "please get rid of my boss")? Have you thanked God for his/her leadership? Do you pray for his/her salvation? Why is this important? Two reasons. First, "that we may live peaceful and quiet lives." If your relationship with your boss is a stormy relationship at best, consider praying for him or her. Not just prayers asking for a new boss, but prayers on your boss's behalf. The second reason to pray for your boss is in verse 4. Because God wants everyone "to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." Pray for your boss. See the change God can make in your workplace.
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