Who do you serve on this earth? Who’s your boss?
Are you employed and have an employer? Are you an entrepreneur who provide services to you clients?
The story of Saul and David moved me to write this article – about masters and servants – basically the same as an employer-employee relationship, or an entrepeneur-client relationship.
Just put yourself in the shoes of these “servants” and then see what their “bosses” tried to do to them, that with God’s help, they have overcome.
Because it is way too easy to get embroiled into any boss’ or client’s evil intentions or treatment – choose to do good anyway, BUT protect yourself – even if you have to “flee” – God does not teach, anywhere in the bible, to “condone” or to “put up” with ANY evil.
You don’t have to, because it will destroy you!
How?
With the sins of anger and unforgiveness that will stress you out with anxiety – and now there are clinical studies that shows that stress has physical manifestations in our own physical bodies. And then you get saddled with guilt as you will realize, you have sinned against God.
So putting up with any evil against you is never good for you, as it will destroy you and your health, and will drive a wedge between you and God.
We can pray all the challenges UP to Him – and He will guide you to do the right thing, and He will give you justice, BUT protect yourself – that’s why it is taught to “PUT ON” (you have to act on it by “putting on” – The Full Armor of God ).
Because, even in the Old Testament Days – all up until now, and into the future, it is ALL a spiritual warfare – it is THAT easy to see.
And when you can see clearly, there is no confusion, no stumbling.
In case you fall, just stand right back up again, and pray some more, study the bible some more. Ask for God’s forgiveness. And turn away from any wicked ways that caused you to stumble.
When you learn and know the truth – it is EASY to spot falsehoods, or wickedness in people. So you have the power to “discern” this – and then act accordingly and choose to follow the guidelines of what God has given, so that you can do the right thing in His eyes.
Because for evil people, there is nothing good that you can say or do, so once you recognize this, it’s a simple formula, and you will have peace.
33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” – 1 Corinthians 15:33
But it requires action on your part too.
The Twelve Disciples; Instructions for Service – (Matthew 10:1-15)
The environment that we are in is often our own “mission field”. God always provides for His children. Jesus said so:
The story of David and Saul, will give you insight on how an earthly boss can behave “on the extreme”, so that by reading David’s story, you can see that even in that extreme situation that David’s earthly boss, Saul, was really trying to kill David, God still guided David on what to do! And delivered David!
David Anointed King – (1 Samuel 16:1-13) KJV
David in Saul’s Service – (1 Samuel 16:14-23) KJV
David and Goliath – (1 Samuel 17:1-58) KJV
Saul’s Jealousy of David – (1 Samuel 18:6-16) KJV
And often the challenge can go on for years and years – but God is ALWAYS here with us. He was with David then, He is with you now. And He will deliver you from evil, too.
Just pray without ceasing, and keep Him with you, remember Him in your thoughts and actions.
Make it a habit to ask yourself in the performance of your duties and obligations, “If I was doing this for God, will I give it my best?”
We all get challenged by our “earthly bosses” to sometimes do what is “not good in God’s eyes”.
How do we know what is in God’s eyes?
If you have read it in the bible, if you have read His instructions in the bible, and you are being instructed to do something that “opposes” it, just know – that is every Christian’s challenge in dealing with their earthly bosses.
How does that apply?
Have you been instructed by your boss to lie to your clients or customers?
What did Jesus teach?
If we all just let everything we do, pass through what Jesus taught:
12 “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 7:13
No one appreciates being conned, duped, lied to, etc. So don’t do it, period.
Because if you end up “following orders” to do evil, you have fallen into a trap. Ensnared. And that sin, would then put a “block” between you and God.
Because in the choice between following an “earthly boss” versus a “Heavenly Boss AND God”, well, that is the shrewd type of evil deception that even Christians fall for at times, since more than anyone else, Christians are more prone to temptation as they are constantly going to be challenged by people or the evil in people.
Anchor yourself in The Truth.
That’s why Jesus commanded, “Spread The Gospels“.
The four books:
Really read and study the gospels. That would be our anchor, to the God that we choose to serve.
We can be submissive or be subject to “earthly bosses” – provided that we do not end up doing things that would directly oppose what our Heavenly Father, our God, teaches or commands.
These days, we can say “Sorry, I won’t do it because it’s against my faith”.
A couple of months ago, I had that opportunity to say that to a “supervisor” who profess to also be a Christian.
And then I learned and saw the Truth about that based on how he reacted.
I was discouraged and depressed like heck afterwards, because I was led on to believe “something” but there is a “provided that I do something first“.
I already said and written my piece about “not doing it“, and in the last minute, they thought I was going to “change my mind and obey them, and still reinserted and insisted on their condition“.
That was tough for me. But NOPE. My no means no.
But it is never easy to do the “hard right”, versus the “easy wrong”.
I said “Sorry, I am still not going to do it because it is against my faith.” And started explaining the minutia of the scientific details that I know about it.
Even scientists, who know and study too much, end up with the question – who is behind all these?
God is.
We are not to make a god out of ourselves.
We are not to make a god out of our boss.
We are not to make a god out of our clients.
Our God is first. Whether we practice it or not, God IS first. The Alpha and the Omega.
God first, above anybody or any thing.
And once you have explained the “why” behind your faith, the “why” behind why you choose not to follow or obey an instruction that directly conflicts with what is taught in the bible, and you are falsely judged or maligned because of it?
That’s to be expected.
This difficult “truth” about an evil boss or client will surface, and powered by this knowledge, it’s easy for you to make the right decision. (Unfortunately, these types of people do not come or appear with horns, and are usually masked with beauty or something nice, that’s how they entice people onto their traps).
In you choosing to do the right thing, you share what you have learned, as Jesus taught, that we must do, as Christ Followers.
16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.
17 But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues;
18 and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
19 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.
20 For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
22 You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
23 “But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes. – A Hard Road before Them – (Matthew 10:16-25)
You can follow what your boss instructs you to do, provided that you will not sin against God in your performance of such an action.
“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” – Things to Avoid – (James 4:17)
These days there is a psychological phenomenon coined as “narcissism”, and all different types of psychiatric disorders labeled on people who “control” or attempt to control people, and cause sufferings and anguish in their victims.
It’s the same type of evil that Jesus directly dealt with in the Gospels, and He has taught His disciples to also recognize that and know what humanity is truly up against. It is evil that puts humanity in bondage to sin.
Here’s the story:
26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee.
27 And when He came out onto the land, He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs.
28 Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice,
“What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.”
29 For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard, and yet he would break his bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.
30 And Jesus asked him,
“What is your name?”
And he said,
“Legion”;
for many demons had entered him.
31 They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss.
32 Now there was a herd of many swine feeding there on the mountain; and the demons implored Him to permit them to enter the swine. And He gave them permission.
33 And the demons came out of the man and entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran away and reported it in the city and out in the country.
35 The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened.
36 Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well.
37 And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked Him to leave them, for they were gripped with great fear; and He got into a boat and returned.
38 But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might accompany Him; but He sent him away, saying,
39 “Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you.”
So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.” – The Demoniac Cured – (Luke 8:26-39)
So the formula is:
1) Identify what you are fighting against.
2) Verbally cast it out, in Jesus Name. Cast out – what is it you are fighting with? Evil thoughts? Spirits of depression, or disease? Or addictions? Verbally cast them all out, in Jesus Name. Ask for other Christians to pray for you too.
3) Once cured, notice how the man, in the story, “begged to accompany Jesus“.
4) Notice how Jesus commanded: “Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you.” (It’s like giving testimony, leading people to Christ, too).
5) And then notice how this cured man proclaimed “throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him”.
The “rescued” make better “rescuers”.
If you have a Boss who is asking you to do the “wrong thing”, you knowing the “right thing” have a Christian and moral obligation to explain why you choose not to do it.
If your Boss (or client) listens to you, then you’ve gained God’s favor, because having had stood your ground, you have chosen to follow the right thing by God.
If your Boss (or client) DOES NOT listen to you, then you have a choice. At least you have spoken up.
“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” – Things to Avoid – (James 4:17)
If you decide to leave, remember what Jesus said, and you can rest in that:
14 Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words,
as you go out of that house or that city,
shake the dust off your feet.
15 Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.”- The Twelve Disciples; Instructions for Service – (Matthew 10:1-15)