It’s easy to be a Christian in church, but in a secular setting or at work, talking about your faith is sometimes difficult, even forbidden. What to do? Follow what the Bible teaches! Our actions and attitudes allow us to bear witness without saying a word!

God has given us His Holy Spirit to enable us to share the good news of salvation with others. Jesus says the Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnesses. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8 NKJV). A witness is someone who has seen and experienced something and can speak about it. In this case, it is after experiencing the transformation of salvation that we can share our testimony with those around us.

But sometimes, especially in our workplaces, we can’t openly discuss our transformation. Yet, we don’t need to talk about Jesus to testify to the grace God has bestowed upon us. Our salvation must be evident in our actions. How? There are many verses that address our interactions with those in authority, but those in Titus 2 are particularly enlightening.

“Tell bond servants to be submissive to their masters, to be pleasing and give satisfaction in every way. Warn them not to talk back or contradict, nor to steal by taking things of small value, but to prove themselves truly loyal and entirely reliable and faithful throughout, so that in everything they may be an ornament and do credit to the teaching which is from and about God our Savior” (Titus 2:9-10 AMPC). Okay, yes, Paul is talking about servants here; some versions mention slaves; it’s not exactly the same as salaried employees, but we understand the principle!

…being submissive… means showing deep respect for our employer. This means not making derogatory remarks about our boss, not being arrogant, and not participating in the mockery other employees might make about the boss. This doesn’t mean being a suck-up, but rather remaining respectful of the hierarchy. We can do this by striving to recognize their talents, participating in their projects, and above all, praying for them.

…seek to please… Another good way to show respect for our boss is to try to understand what they value, what they truly desire behind their orders. And then do it! The satisfaction won’t always be well expressed (especially if this boss has dealt with condescending employees), but if we do our work on time, it will please those in charge. This, of course, starts with arriving at work on time!

…avoid contradicting them… Just because they’re the boss doesn’t mean they won’t make mistakes. But we must exercise great wisdom when pointing out a mistake. A subordinate should not correct their superior, nor should they contradict them (especially not in front of other employees!). With the same tact Daniel used in his interactions with management, we can propose a different approach, gently and without confrontation. It’s not enough to know what to do; we must also do it wisely.

…to guard against any fraud… It can sometimes be tempting to appropriate certain company assets, even small objects, or use our employer’s time and resources for personal transactions. But we must resist this.

…to be entirely reliable… Our talents and qualifications can give us credibility, but trust takes time to develop. It requires consistency, kindness, and respect, and it doesn’t happen overnight. Our superiors have reason to be wary; they have often been criticized and challenged. For our boss to trust us “entirely,” as the verse says, we must demonstrate consistent wisdom over a considerable period of time.

And why act this way at work? Because when we display Christlike character at work, we “do credit to the teaching which is from and about God our Savior”, as the verse says. Other versions say it makes the teaching of God our Savior attractive. Our respect and wisdom are a clear testimony that we are different from the world. This gentle difference will draw people to the gospel. Ask for the Holy Spirit’s help to conduct yourself at work as God desires.