This is especially true in the workplace, where many injustices are carried out by those in positions in power. And because many of these issues exist in the world among people, they are carried into marketplace culture as well.
Just Rulers Worthy of Submission
Romans 13:1 tells us to submit ourselves to the authority that God has placed over us. This not only applies to governmental bodies, but also to the rules, policies, and leaders at our places of work. Rules are established for a reason, and everyone must follow the rules — even those that rule over you. We see this concept in action with the centurion in Matthew 8. He, being in authority, understood the rulership of Jesus and counted it worthy of submission. His understanding of this led Jesus to honor his request.
Leaders that understand that they are also accountable for how they handle those under them are worth following. If we find that there’s a leader that mishandles our coworkers or even our subordinates, we have a responsibility to advocate for those being treated unjustly. This is beyond handling offense, as in Matthew 18; we must be willing to point out the wrong to ensure it is corrected.
Workplace Advocacy for Believers
The centurion man from Matthew 8 is worth mentioning again. His story is one of workplace advocacy. You see, this man came out of his ‘office’ to meet Jesus, a person of higher authority than him, and lift up the concerns of his subordinate — in this case, advocating for the health of a sick servant. Because he believed Jesus was a ruler worthy of submission, the centurion used his position of authority to make sure the needs of those underneath him were met, even exercising faith that Jesus could heal his servant from right where he stood. Jesus was moved by this and honored the petition.
Workplace advocacy may not look like this for us. We may feel that we are simply paper pushers and that no one will listen to what we have to say. We might even hold a position of rank among the corporate ladder but are too anxious to throw our weight around.
Wherever your name is listed on the organizational chart, there are people you work with everyday that value the input you provide. They admire you and hang onto every word you say. Therefore, if you pointed out how a policy targets a specific department, or brought up how important it is for everyone to get that second fifteen-minute break, they would be sure to listen to you. We just have to find strength in the Lord to do this. Pray, seek the Father on what to say, and when the time is right, advocate for whatever cause God has placed on your heart to advocate for.
Featured photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash; in-text photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels
Have You Taken The Marketplace Mission Trip & Want to Encourage Others?
You can encourage members of your church community to take their faith to work when you purchase a copy of the Marketplace Mission Trip Workbook. This workbook takes the two-week Mission Trip experience and expands to six weeks. You are able to go more in depth with each of the five daily habits and engage in meaningful discussion. If you are a church or ministry leader or lead a small group, unlock keys to living a bold faith today. Purchase your copy today.
