Someone once said “Developing a good work ethic is key. Apply yourself at whatever you do, whether you’re a janitor or taking your first summer job, because that work ethic will be reflected in everything you do in life.” A good work ethic is vital for any business to thrive and succeed. However, as a society, we are seeing more and more of a decline in the area of work ethic among many people in the work place. I have been in the workforce for over a decade with being in various positions from entry level to management. I have had the privilege to work with hundreds of people in different companies, and it has been a common complaint of employers as of late, that it is very hard to get people to come to work. Some people prefer to stay home and collect unemployment benefits when they are fully capable of working and earning a living.
Even in the workplace among those who do choose to work, some people I have worked with simply just do not care about their jobs. They just want to do the bare minimum and collect a pay check. On the other hand, let’s not be too quick to judge the workers! Some employers are just as guilty in not taking care of their workers as they should. When I was searching for jobs, I read the reviews of many companies that I was thinking of applying for. Many of these reviews are not positive. It seems that these companies do not treat their employees well. Having worked for a few companies myself, I can also testify to the fact that some of my previous employers were not treating their people well either.
Does God have anything to say concerning the roles of employers and employees at the workplace? He sure does! In Colossians 3:22-25, God commanded Christians to have a good work ethic at the place of employment “not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God.” As children of God, we are to have an excellent work ethic at the workplace, not to be people pleasers, but because we serve the Lord Jesus Christ first and foremost. He wants us to give Him our best in all that we do. We ought to do the right things, work honestly with our hands and have integrity of character at the companies we work for. God promises that we shall receive a good reward from Him when we obey His command in having the right attitude and work ethic.
God has something to say about how a Christian should be at their place of employment, but He also specifically commands employers or to be just and equal in their treatment of the people who work for them. This is also knowing that their ultimate Master is the Lord Christ (Colossians 4:1). Employers should take care of their people by giving them fair wages for the service they provide and not defraud or undercut them. In addition, they should provide a safe and healthy working environment for their workers. Employers’ lack of care or bad leadership can create a very toxic working environment for their people.
What kind of an employee are you? Are you giving God your best when you show up to work each day knowing that you serve the Lord Christ and not just your employers? Can God be proud of you at the workplace for your excellent attitude? If you are a manager or above, are you treating your workers justly and fairly according to God’s standards? Can your people who have worked for you honestly say that you have done everything you can to take care of them? None of us is perfect, and we all make mistakes with much room to improve upon. However, as Christian workers and employers, we should all strive for an excellent work ethic at our place of labor. What we do should bring honor and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that our ultimate reward will come from Him.
