What does the Bible say about how a Christian should treat his/her boss?

Quick answer

We should be respectful of our bosses; however, we must prioritize God as our ultimate authority and work unto Him.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

In the Old Testament, we see biblical characters choose to do the right thing despite difficult situations while being enslaved. . In Joseph’s case, he was enslaved in Egypt but was promoted to the highest position in his master’s house. Esther was stolen from her home yet took the wise counsel of those around her to make the most of her circumstances. Proverbs 21:30 makes it clear that nothing can “avail against the Lord,” and that includes the power of our bosses. In the story of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we see that their devotion to God over their earthly master resulted in blessings.

The New Testament also has much wisdom that can be applied to our relationships with our bosses. While we should not sin against God to please our bosses, we should respect them . We must remember that like all areas of our life, we represent Christ in the workplace, and we should work diligently at our jobs as if we are working for the Lord.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

We can learn from Joseph’s example of how to make the most of a bad situation in the workplace. After he was sold into slavery to the Egyptians, it says that “the Lord was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2), and that his master saw this and understood that “the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands” (verse 3). Moreover, Joseph “found favor” in his master’s eyes to the extent of being promoted to being “in charge of all that he had” (verse 4). Joseph worked as unto the Lord, for the good of his master, and the results were clear. Although it can be hard to humble ourselves and work our best especially for employers who don’t treat us well, we can still maintain our godly character. As seen in Joseph’s case, his example pointed his master to the Lord.
Esther was unjustly put in difficult circumstances, yet she made the most of her situation and was faithful to God, following the wise counsel she received especially from Mordecai. After she was taken from her home to be put through a beautifying process for the Persian King, Ahasuerus, she quickly won favor in the sight of the King’s servant, Hegai, who advanced “her and her young women to the best place in the harem” (Esther 2:8-9). Esther stood out. Later, Esther was chosen by the King to be his Queen (verse 17). Similar to Esther, we should be faithful to God, seek wisdom, and listen to wise counsel when we are put in difficult situations (including challenges in our workplace).
Proverbs 21:30 says: “No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord”. While we should show respect toward our bosses, we should not put them above God. We should not compromise our godly morals for anyone, even if it means sacrificing our job security.
While slaves in King Nebuchadnezzar’s palace, Daniel and his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, risked their lives to uphold God’s law by respectfully refusing to eat the king’s meat (Daniel 1). In verse 15, we see that Daniel’s loyalty to God was a wise choice, because “it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food.” Later, in Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego joined forces to obey God’s law by refusing to worship a false idol. Again, God protected the men by allowing them to walk out of a fiery hot furnace unscathed by the flames. The King himself was so astounded at this that he acknowledged the Lord, calling Him “the Most High God” (Daniel 3:26). We must honor God above any authority figure, and that applies to our bosses.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

We should follow our bosses' instructions unless they are commanding us to sin—God's authority comes first (Acts 5:29).
Romans 13:1 says: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." Even our bosses are considered our authorities.
We must remember that we are representatives of Christ in the workplace (1 Corinthians 10:31). It could be that God gives us the opportunity to share Christ with our bosses; we need to represent Him well.
We are to submit to Christ in everything (Ephesians 5:24), and if He has established the authority systems over us, we should treat our bosses with respect, as we would treat Christ.
While instructions were given to slaves in the Bible, they can also be applied to those who have a supervisor at a job. In Colossians 3:22–24, Paul instructs: "Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." As Christians, we should consider the work we do for our earthly bosses as work that is being done for the Lord.
When a situation arises in which we are compelled to confront or go against a decision that we consider to be wrong or lacking in integrity, we should do so with humility and respect (1 Timothy 5:1). Our attitudes should always reflect the heart of Christ.
Not all bosses are good bosses; they can be domineering or difficult to work for. Even so, the Bible instructs us to respect them (1 Peter 2:18–20). We can take the high road and treat our bosses with honor, even when they are not behaving honorably.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The Bible has a lot to say regarding submission to those in authority. At the moment we accept a new job, we place ourselves under the authority of our new employer. God designed an orderly world. In this world, as there is in a workplace, there is a chain of command, which helps society to keep moving smoothly. Sometimes we will be put in situations that are not ideal with our bosses. Bosses may be overly demanding, impatient, or controlling. In situations where a boss is behaving abusively or breaking the law, we should report them to the appropriate authorities. Yet, even in difficult circumstances, we should extend respect to our bosses and be a godly example to them. Ultimately, we should do well in our jobs not to gain favor from our bosses but to glorify our Lord (Colossians 3:22–24). In extreme situations where abusive or immoral work-related activities are required, it would be expedient to ask the Lord to redirect you to another place of work.

UNDERSTAND

We are to recognize and respect our bosses as our authority.
We should work well as unto the Lord and for the good of our bosses.
We can hold bosses accountable while still honoring them and doing our jobs well, being an example to them.

REFLECT

How does recognizing your boss as part of God’s authority structure influence your attitude and actions at work?
How can you work "heartily, as for the Lord" in challenging workplace situations?
When faced with ethical dilemmas at work, how can you balance respecting your boss with prioritizing obedience to God?

ENGAGE

How can we support other believers in maintaining Christlike attitudes toward difficult bosses or work situations?
What practical steps can we take to ensure our work reflects God’s glory and not just human recognition?
How do biblical examples like Joseph, Esther, and Daniel inspire us to navigate challenges with our bosses today?