Serving two masters?

What does it mean to serve two masters, one on earth (that is, the company or the boss) and another in heaven (that is the Lord Jesus Christ)?

When it comes to God and Mammon Jesus told us it is not possible to serve two masters (Matthew 6.24). But the dilemma of having to serve two masters faces most Christians as they go about their daily jobs. How do we cope with this situation and respond rightly? This is one of the crucial questions which the New Testament addresses as it teaches on the Christian and daily work.

Here are four areas to think about.

Obligation to work

Scripture tells us that work is good. It was appointed by God before the Fall (Genesis 1.28; 2.15). To work is part of expressing the image of God in us — for the world is the work of his hands. Though the advent of sin made work difficult and frustrating, nevertheless work is God’s purpose for us and we can find satisfaction in it. So the NT always commends working. ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart’ (Colossians 3.23).

* Duty

Work, according to NT, is a duty for all who are capable. ‘We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat’ (2 Thessalonians 3.11-13). Even the rich ought to find some way of working for the good of the community (1 Timothy 6.17,18). Even Jesus, the Son of God, worked for a living as a carpenter (Mark 6.3).

* Gender

The Bible encourages that men, wherever possible, should be ‘breadwinners’. That does not mean a married woman should not work outside the home, but the Bible places particular responsibility upon husbands to do so. This is seen in the fact that Adam was formed to work the ground, whereas Eve was called to be his helper (Genesis 2.15,18).

* Purpose

There are many reasons to work. But the Scriptures underline providing for oneself and others. As God’s image, providing for others, in whatever way we do it, parallels God the great provider and giver of good things to our world.

So the Christian is never to see work as a necessary evil, but as part of the life of worship. Hence, at this most basic level, there is no conflict between the two masters. Both God and the boss want us to work.

Attitude to work

We are called to make the most of life and work with enthusiasm. Doing what we are asked and working hard is always valued by employers. But the NT points us to Christ to transform even our ordinary tasks into acts of worship moving us to work even better; ‘Work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men’ (Colossians 3.23).

What motivates you to work? Generally two things. The first may be because we enjoy a good working relationship with our boss, our colleagues or the company. The second is the wages we receive. In Colossians, Paul comments on both motives.

* Relationship

The daily chores of first century household slaves, often menial, tiring and dehumanising, are to be motivated by the greatest relationship of all. They are spurred on by reverence for Christ. So, while not promoting slavery, Paul nevertheless writes even to Christian slaves, ‘Obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it… with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord’ (Colossians 3.22). Realise that ultimately you work for the Lord who loves you and died for you.

* Reward

Workers are also motivated by the prospect of payment for their labour. Again Paul points Christians towards Christ and heaven. Paul says that hard-working Christians ‘know that they will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward’ (Colossians 3.24). Most slaves in the Roman world received meagre wages and by law could own little and inherit nothing. But by doing their work well as an act of worship they lay up treasure for themselves in heaven even in the work place. This is not to condone low wages but it is a great consolation to Christians caught in unfair work situations.

With this in mind, it is interesting to note that most of the great Christian spirituals of the black American slaves in the 19th century were both composed and sung in the fields where they laboured. These songs often celebrate visions of heaven and Christ’s rewards, and give the reason why they mostly continued to work well in spite of their terrible treatment. They had confidence in Christ knowing that he realised their true value and would one day give them back their humanity.

Once again this teaching solves the ‘two masters’ problem. Our employer will want us to work well. Our Christianity inspires us to do so, but from an entirely different motive — love to Christ.

Relationships at work

We further believe that relationships between staff and management are to be governed by the principles set out in the New Testament. Employees are to work conscientiously and honestly and employers are to be just and fair with their staff in the sight of God.

Jesus Christ is not only our Saviour, he is also Lord of all. This means that everyone, slave and free, employee and employer must one day answer to him. The NT brings this fact to bear as it considers how we treat one another in the work place.

* Employees

Jesus is absolutely against Christians misusing their employers. The temptation only to work hard when the boss is looking over your shoulder, but then waste time otherwise, is mentioned in 3.22. But there are all kinds of other ways in which we might be tempted to bend the rules. ‘Don’t do it’, says Paul. Because it is not just your earthly boss you are cheating, it is Jesus — and he knows what is going on. ‘Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favouritism’ (v.25).

* Employers

And, of course, there is the other side of the coin. The business is not going so well. So the boss is tempted to cut staff wages, etc. and increase hours. But perhaps he has no qualms in raising his own salary. He is tempted to sack faithful workers and bring in others who will do the job for less money. But the question is not, ‘Does this make business sense?’, says Paul, but ‘is this right?’. And they had better take that question seriously. ‘Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you have a Master in heaven’ (4.1).

It is difficult to serve two masters when they have two completely different sets of values. But if employees and employers are both committed to what is fair in the sight of the Lord, then once again we can see a way forward. And that is why Christians, no matter which side of the shop floor they come from, should always be seen to work for justice in the workplace.

Witness in work

The NT’s concern that Christians should be seen to be honest and good workers is at least partly for the reputation of the Lord Jesus Christ in the eyes of others. It is interesting that in Colossians, Paul’s thought moves from the workplace in 4.1, straight into a paragraph dealing with prayerful evangelism (4.2-6). The implication seems to be that we are encouraged to see our workplace as our primary opportunity for Christian witness.

Mark Greene of London Institute of Contemporary Christianity has underlined this emphasis. He reminds us that the workplace is where you spend probably 65% of your waking time. The workplace is the one place where Christians and non-Christians have to meet. The workplace is the one place where the non-Christian can actually see the difference that Christ can make to a life — not for just an hour over lunch, but for 30 or 40 hours a week over a number of years.

Our workplaces are filled with lost people with all kinds of problems: illness, fear of redundancy, adultery, bereavement, confusion, kids who have gone wrong. Despite the often hard exterior, they are lost sheep without a shepherd. And what a difference it would make if you became a servant, even a humble ‘pastor’, to that community in the workplace. It seems very likely that, with the workplace in mind, Paul tells the Colossians, ‘Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so you may know how to answer everyone’ (4. 5,6).

Concerning the workplace, the great thrust of the NT is not to keep Christ for Sundays but to walk with him on Mondays too. It is not to leave Christ at home as you shut the front door and get into the car, but to take him with you to work and let him influence all you do there. The challenge is to make the workplace a place of witness. We must not be so concerned to serve our earthly master that we forget the great job of evangelism which we have been given by our heavenly master.

Christian at work in Colossians 3.22-4.6