Ron Ray

First and foremost, you are a slave to Jesus Christ, not a slave to your employer. You have entered into a business agreement with your employer whereby you perform certain services for financial compensation. If you feel that your current situation is not adhering to the deal you made with your employer, then you are free to leave that situation and make a new business deal with another employer. Just ensure that what you do is done with a Christian attitude and reflects Christian values.

July 27 2013 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Scott Wright

Even though you may ask others their opinion about your difficult job situation, you may feel that the answers reflect a lack of understanding your particular situation. I don't know if that applies to you, but it sure applies to me.

I said this because there is no easy answer, especially when I don't know you and your exact situation. Yet there is no doubt that you are not alone in dealing with this issue.

Do to many political and economical situations many employees are having hours cut below full time, or laid off. But all the previous answers are what we really need to keep in mind and take to heart.

I personally have feelings that many things are going to be changing for true believers in this country. Christians are not unique to people seeing hours cut back, or to layoffs; I'm one of them; but hopefully we are unique in our response to these situations. Yet I am concerned that more and more we will be faced with difficult job situations just because you are committed to Jesus.

Lately I have giving a lot of thought to my own ability to maintain my own Christian attitude and faith when I am faced with real persecution.

I realize my answer isn't directly related to your question, but as others stated, I pray that Jesus gives you the ability to maintain a Christlike attitude in all you/we deal with. I pray that you may find work that is better conditions for you, but until that happens you may have the spirit of contentment each day as you work.

Jesus, let your light shine brightly through this person who sounds discouraged and tired. Please let them know the presence of the Holy Spirit and that the Spirit would quicken their mind and heart each day on what to say and how to act so that you will shine through them!

July 29 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Susan Mateo

I believe the most applicable scripture comes from Colossians 3:22- 25; 4:5-6;

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Also, 1 Corinthians 7:21 may also have some bearing:
Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you--although if you can gain your freedom, do so.

in this section, (1 Corinthians 7:17-24) Paul is telling the believers that they should not be overly concerned about or seek to change their circumstances in life over fear of "when" Christ will return, thinking their circumstances will cause them any loss in this life should He delay His coming or come sooner than we might think. (I have always understood this passage to be exhortation to simply stay focused on serving Christ "as we are called" and if he desires a change in our circumstances He will make the change and give us confirmation of it as being from Him). However, in the midst of this, he says if a slave is able to gain his freedom, the he should. So, in this day of employers and employees, I think we must take into account that in difficult situations at work, our call is to remember we work for the Lord, Keep our testimony and be faithful, not knowing to whom we are demonstrating Christ's love. If opportunity arises for you to secure other employment, pray about it and be certain God is providing this as a way out and then turn in your notice and leave in good standing. As was mentioned prior, yes it is hard, but allow this time of difficulty to pull you to Christ in prayer and praise. Give Him your anger, hurt and frustration so that His grace, mercy and love will shine and overflow to others I hope this helps you clarify things.

July 27 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Cheryl Cole

I think it would be wise to deal with your boss in a respectful manner but also to stand up for yourself. Lay out your complaints to him clearly and concisely. Stand up for what is right. Keep a good attitude and make sure not to complain to co-workers. But we are to take a stand against evil and it is wrong to use and abuse people. I think he will have more respect for you if you do this and it may reveal something about himself to him that he hasn't seen.

July 27 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Billy P Eldred

Probably the first answer that I should give to this question as well as all questions I try to answer is to pray about it. Prayer not only is effective but healing. I am going to assume you have already been praying but if you have not, then start there. 

Slavery in the Bible, for the most part, was not the same situation as we see in our nation's history where one person owns another person. Biblical slavery, again, for the most part, was an indentured period of one's life that was owed to another based on a "contract" on indebtedness. Some were sold into these contracts by their parents to cover their parents debts. Some may have been placed there for legal transgressions. Others may have chosen to sell themselves into slavery to cover their own debts or temporary needs such as ship passage, etc. Most, if not all of these "slaves" were really hired servants who even received a small wage in addition to their debts being paid. I believe that the scriptures dealing with being a servant or slave with a master deal with these temporary contracts and the attitudes expressed are applicable to our employment today with one exception. You most likely are not legally required to "serve" your employer.

If you have signed a contract to work for a specific period of time, then biblically, you should honor it as well as keep the attitudes the Bible teaches in regards to being a servant. Joseph is probably the best example in the Bible for this situation. He never compromised his Godly principles yet made himself dedicated to his masters. When your contract is up, you will be able to look for other opportunity and the better job you have done at emulating Joseph, the better you prospects will be. If you have not signed or orally agreed to a contract you may not be legally or biblically and morally obligated to stay with that employer but you may feel as trapped by you own circumstances and debt as those who sold themselves into slavery. If so, I urge you to bring this up with your Pastor and others in your church. There are other organizations as well that may be able to help. 

If you are determined, you can rise above the situation with God's help and I believe with his favor. If you are not in a "contract" where you have pledged your services to someone then your situation is probably more like the Israelites situation in Egypt. God sent them a deliverer and it was NOT his will that they remain in that situation. At least in America no one owns another person. If you do chose to remain with your employer, then through prayer joyfully adopt Joseph's attitude. You might even want to reread his story in Genesis daily for a while to help you and believe God will improve your situation as He did for Joseph.

March 29 2015 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Lynn Willis Obedient Daughter of the High King of the Universe

I hear what you are saying in huge, loud tones... for I lived this for seven years... and it was BEFORE I was saved by Jesus yet in retrospect, God was using this situation to bring me to Him.

I talked the talk about God for most of my life, but I never committed my life to God or followed Jesus I just talked about Him. I lived in sin thinking I wasn't 'a bad person' and when met with 'bad people' I always told myself that I didn't have to choose to be like 'them'. But I didn't realize I was demonized myself with strong demons of arrogance and stubbornness and anger and judgement ruling my psyche, along with other areas too. But I was self-righteous in my work ethic and right from wrong view = blinded by satan.

So in sharing this with you Mofe, I'm not sure I handled it all very well, so perhaps you can learn from my mistakes.

I worked in an environment where I was systemically abused as you are being for seven long years that ALMOST broke me. I worked diligently alongside the manager's favourites who never got into trouble for not working as they were all very dedicated to a manager who allowed them so many infractions and freedoms it suited them to do so. It was MOST aggravating to me! Still I toiled and hoped my hard work and dedication in taking the bad shifts, the awful jobs, being reliable and honest would change my manager's view towards me but nothing worked. EVERYDAY I would think to myself 'today is a new day perhaps things will be different' and i would TRY to be kind to my coworkers, who also harrassed and maligned me - the gossip was so bad it was so debilitating and toxic an environment in which to work. And I truly believed I had no choice but to continue to work there. Satan ran the show there that's for sure!

After 3 years, I ran for shop steward with the hope of improving relations with the manager and staff, but lost because no one at the store really wanted change or even representation, they just wanted their manager to keep doing them favours and felt I would rock the boat. I was oblivious to all of it. After that the harrassment increased tenfold and for 4 more years the manager was on a rampage trying to break me and make me quit. But I had, at that point, embraced the possibility of working for this company full time. All the things you are experiencing and more were what I endured, and then after the last time he threatened to fire me, I grieved through the union his scheduling infractions, and then he threatened to fire me if i didn't withdraw my grievance, and I didn't, and two weeks later he fired me, which I grieved also. It took 4 months to win my grievance, without reinstatement however, but in those 4 months my abject poverty began and it lasted a LONG time too! Now I know that God's hands were in all of it because I was prideful, stubborn, angry and well arrogant even after all I had been through, which almost broke me psychologically and spiritually, but I know now that my strength came from God and no where else. It took a few more years of poverty for the Lord to truly get through to me - for me to hear His call to me and to respond fully in surrender and truth. But He never gave up on me and did what He needed to do to break through.

ALL i can say to you is this... is that job worth the fight of hanging on to it? If it is NOT, why are you fighting to keep it? You can NOT change those people, only God can change them. Rely NOT on other human beings for your validation and acceptance and love but turn to GOD for ALL of that! Do NOT believe the lies satan is telling you (that he told me) that you can NEVER find another job and aren't worth enough TO find another job. TAKE those lies and push them BACK at satan, and take your experience and dedication and find a new job AND through it ALL? Trust in the Lord and let HIM lead you to where He wants you and keep Him close in every choice and desire, and He will allow you to prosper!

Blessings,
in HIM,
Lynn

March 29 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Johnny Dinescu

oppinions will be different... at least me, I have a problem with bad authority so probably my first impulse would be to encourage you to put a stand...
however, you are more than right with that verse... but God had also provided you with wisdom. and since your boss use you at 150% i'm sure God had give you a lot of wisdom.
Now... whatever you do, keep your christian image intact. you can take attitude but not that kind of attitude that wouldn't fit with a 
christian... for that you have wisdom.
also... can't find it now... there is a verse in Bible (old testament) that says something like: the bad people and crazy, work for the benefit of God's children.
I believe you it's hard, but after every rainfall must come a rainbow, praise God and ask him for guidance, in the end, you are God's child :) Gbu!!

July 27 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report