Christian Managers and Supervisors

Christian Managers and Supervisors

The late Pierre Elliott Trudeau, one of Canada's most noteworthy prime ministers once campaigned for a 'fair and just society'. Perhaps the defining moment of his public career was his Just Society speech.  But we can't push God out of a country or a school or the workplace and expect to achieve fairness and equality - because God Himself is the source of all that is just and fair.

Imagine the impact of the Apostle Paul's words in Colossians 4:1 

"Masters,

give unto your servants that which is just and equal;

knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven."

Many Christians because of their clean lifestyle, integrity and work ethic end up in management positions. If any manager should be gracious in her supervision, gentle in her style and generous in her remuneration, it should be the Christian employer - the Christian manager.

For years trade unions justifiably pushed for 'pay equity' and 'equality' in the workplace.  Why?  Because equity in pay was lacking and there were many deficits in equality. Management often paid women less for work of equal value. Women and minorities only rose so high in a business before hitting a glass ceiling - the invisible barrier that prevented them from other promotions.

Christian managers should not be a part of cheapness, meanness, selfishness, skimpiness, harshness, discrimination, favoritism or bias. Many in business management claim that a high percentage (90%+) of union grievances and issues can be traced back to the attitudes, behaviors, faulty decisions and questionable practices of supervisors and managers. Maybe you find that shocking.

Christian employers should strive to reflect Christ in the workplace and in their treatment of employees. If we honored the Scriptures, we would.  A.T. Robertson, a noteworthy Christian Greek scholar said if employers always gave to employees 'that which is just and equal', there would be NO labor problems.

There is much in the world we can not change because we have little or no influence in those realms. Where Christians are not in leadership positions, we can expect to find favoritism, biases, prejudices, and unfairness. However, we are responsible to be a Christ-like influence in the sphere where God has placed us. If the Lord has given you supervisory responsibilities of any kind in any place, as a Christian, you are to be above reproach and criticism in all your dealings, interactions and decisions related to your work.

Would you like your Master in Heaven to treat you the way you deal with others? May the Lord help us to be more Christ-like in all our interactions with people today.   

Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.

Warmly in Christ

Peter Ramsay

peter@heaven4sure.com