Godliness at work may prove to be challenging for some Christians whose supervisors are “bossy”, whose co-workers are “unfriendly”, and whose employers are “stingy.” How do we conduct ourselves as “salt” and “light” in our workplace?

Paul gives us four instructions in his letters to Timothy and Titus as to how to be godly at work. While these passages are directed to slaves–masters relationships, we may apply the same principles today in employees–employers or workers–supervisors relationships.

Submit to your master in everything.

Obey as unto the Lord. Obey as unto the Lord. 1.Submit to your master in everything. “Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything…” (Titus 2:9a) “Slaves, obey your earthly masters 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.” (Colossians 3:22)

Obey as unto the Lord. Obey as unto the Lord. 1.Submit to your master in everything. “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.” (Ephesians 6:5)

Obey as unto the Lord. Obey as unto the Lord. 1.Submit to your master in everything. “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.” (I Peter 2:18)

Obey as unto the Lord. Obey as unto the Lord. 1.Submit to your master in everything. “Whatever you do, work at it 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)

Submit or obey “in everything” is not absolute. The qualifier is obeying as “unto the Lord.” We are to submit and obey in everything that does not contradict the will of our Master in heaven – the Lord of all. Submit or obey “in everything” is not absolute. The qualifier is obeying as “unto the Lord.” We are to submit and obey in everything that does not contradict the will of our Master in heaven – the Lord of all. 1.Submit to your master in everything.

Please your master in every way.

Go the extra mile. Go the extra mile. 2.Please your master in every way. Be conscientious and hardworking. Be conscientious and hardworking. Be careful, thorough, organized, driven, motivated, reliable, trustworthy…acting according to the dictates of your conscience. Be careful, thorough, organized, driven, motivated, reliable, trustworthy…acting according to the dictates of your conscience.

2.Please your master in every way. Fulfill what is required and expected of you. Fulfill what is required and expected of you. Be willing to perform tasks outside your job description when asked. Be willing to perform tasks outside your job description when asked.

Serve your master with respect.

Don’t talk back. Don’t talk back. 3.Serve your master with respect. Don’t argue with your boss with the presumption that he or she knows less than you do. Don’t argue with your boss with the presumption that he or she knows less than you do. Don’t gripe about your boss to others. Don’t gripe about your boss to others.

Don’t grumble. Don’t complain. Don’t grumble. Don’t complain. 3.Serve your master with respect. Don’t be cheeky, rude or surly. Don’t be cheeky, rude or surly. Do not work with a resentful spirit and with resentful words. Do not work with a resentful spirit and with resentful words. “Do your work heartily as for the Lord rather than for man.” “Do your work heartily as for the Lord rather than for man.”

Work for your master with integrity.

Don’t steal. Don’t steal. 4.Work for your master with integrity. No pilfering of little items like paper clips, pencils and office stationery then reporting that they had been broken, used up, or lost. No pilfering of little items like paper clips, pencils and office stationery then reporting that they had been broken, used up, or lost. Don’t give in to reasoning like: “They owe it to me!” or Don’t give in to reasoning like: “They owe it to me!” or “I’ve earned it!” “I’ve earned it!”

The reasons for godliness at work are: CONCLUSION So that in every way we will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. (Titus 2:10) So that in every way we will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. (Titus 2:10) So that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. (I Timothy 6:1) So that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. (I Timothy 6:1)

Non-Christians need to know the truth. Non-Christians need to know the truth. CONCLUSION Non-Christians need to see how the truth works in our lives. Non-Christians need to see how the truth works in our lives. “They need to see the pleasant and lovely difference that Jesus has made to us.” (Campbell) “They need to see the pleasant and lovely difference that Jesus has made to us.” (Campbell)

CONCLUSION You are evangelizing every minute you spend at your workplace.