What does the Bible say about being an employer?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

All authority structures receive delegated authority from God (e.g., Romans 13:1). An employer is therefore one to whom God has given authority to lead those under him or her. Employers are to treat their employees with kindness and gentleness (Ephesians 6:9a), not lording their authority over them (Matthew 20:25–26). Additionally, an employer is not to have favorites (Ephesians 6:9c), for example, by promoting some while demoting others. As much as possible, an employer is to ensure fairness in the work environment while being merciful when an employee errs, including fair and timely compensation (James 5:4). Finally, an employer is to remember that, above all, they are under Christ (Ephesians 6:9b). They are accountable to Him for how they treat their employees and run their business. Leadership is a high calling, and believing employers are to live in a way that reflects Christlikeness to their employees.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Mosaic Law protected laborers, saying, “You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning” (Leviticus 19:13; cf. Deuteronomy 24:14–15). An employer is one who both pays for labor and doesn’t delay in doing so. This passage refers to day laborers, whose pay should be paid promptly, as they often live day to day. However, the principle of timely wages applies to regular or salaried workers as well, enabling them to plan their lives and support their families.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• All authority is delegated by God, such as governments (Romans 13:1) and family structures (Ephesians 5:22–23). This also includes the employer who has been given authority over their employees. Because of that, the employers are accountable to God for how they execute their authority.
• In Scripture, the master/slave passages provide the primary teaching on employer/employee relationships. Unlike slavery today, in the first century, it was often closer to our employment structures, with slaves earning living wages and so forth.
• Ephesians 6:9, about how masters are to treat their slaves, is particularly helpful in understanding how an employer is to be. First, an employer is not to treat their employees harshly (Ephesians 6:9a). This includes not demeaning them when they make mistakes or demanding more work of them than is reasonably fair for their position, talent, and pay. Believing employers, in particular, are never to lord their authority over others (cf. Matthew 20:25–26).
• Second, an employer must not show favoritism (Ephesians 6:9c). In the workplace, this can take many forms, such as preferential treatment in promotions and unequal pay while expecting the same level of productivity and/or experience.
• Third, an employer is to remember that he or she has a delegated authority, and thus has a Master also (Ephesians 6:9b; Colossians 4:1). That Master will hold them accountable for how they treated their employees, so they must lead carefully.
• In addition to the Ephesians passage, we also learn that employers are to pay fairly. Regarding day laborers, James said, “Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts” (James 5:4). An employer should be rightly afraid of God’s discipline if he or she is withholding due wages from anyone.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Being in authority isn’t just a job title—it’s a responsibility God has entrusted some people with. Every leader is accountable for how they treat the people under them because authority is meant to reflect God’s justice, not personal advantage. True leadership means using your position to serve with fairness, integrity, and respect, knowing your influence carries real weight and lasting impact.

If you are an employer, manager, or in authority, you must remember that they have that role because God has given it to them. That may sound surprising, as being a “boss” is a natural part of every business. However, God ordains everything. Whether that’s the government (Romans 13) or the small mom-and-pop business with just a couple of employees, every structure exists because God has ordained it for His purposes.

That results in a few things. First, every employer must answer to his or her ultimate “boss,” namely, God. God judges everyone not only for what they do but also for how they treat others. When it comes to someone in authority, that judgment is stricter because of the authority figure's (such as an employer's) influence over those under them (such as employees). Second, given that God has placed them into their position, an employer must remember that his or her authority is delegated. He or she has only been permitted to lead others in a way that honors and reflects God. This includes treating employees respectfully, not overworking or underpaying them, not promoting or demoting based on favoritism, and so forth. In short, being an employer means being just and fair with your employees because God is just and fair.

While these principles apply to every employer, they are especially true for believing employers, who also represent Jesus in the workplace. Every Christian is to live in a Christlike manner, but those in authority have an ongoing opportunity to influence others with the good news of the gospel. But such an opportunity necessitates the employer acting in a way consistent with being a follower of Christ!

UNDERSTAND

• Authority is delegated by God—every employer leads because God has allowed and assigned that role.
• Leadership is accountable and ethical—employers are called to be fair, kind, just, and free from favoritism or exploitation.
• Leadership is ultimately spiritual stewardship—employers answer to God and are meant to reflect His character in how they lead and treat people.

REFLECT

• How does understanding your authority in the workplace, as delegated by God, change the way you think about how you treat those under you?
• In what specific ways might you be tempted to lead in unChristlike ways in your leadership?
• How does knowing that Christ will hold you accountable for how you treat your employees inform the way you approach leadership?

ENGAGE

• How should a Christian employer navigate the tension between running a profitable business and treating employees the way God calls us to?
• What does Jesus' model of servant leadership reveal about the relationship between authority and humility, and how does that challenge common cultural assumptions about what good leadership looks like?
• What difference does it make when believing employers lead in ways that reflect the character of Christ in their workplaces?