Answers

By   •   August 20, 2014   •   Topics:

Q:

My boss is asking me to do something on a government contract that isn't legal. I need my job, and as a Christian I've always been taught to be loyal, but this makes me uncomfortable. What should I do?


A:

Let me be clear on what you should NOT do: You shouldn’t give in to the pressure to do something wrong, even if your boss thinks he can get by with it. The Bible’s warning is clear: “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out” (Proverbs 10:9).

Realize also that if you give in this time, your boss will probably expect you to do so again in the future — and then it will be even harder for you to say no. And if you are a Christian, neither your boss nor your fellow workers will respect you or your faith if you agree to do something wrong. The Bible calls us to “live a life worthy of the Lord” so that we may “please him in every way” (Colossians 1:10).

What can you do? It won’t be easy, but you need to tell your boss that while you respect him and want to do your job well, you can’t do what he’s asking you to do in this case. Let him know that you aren’t disloyal or rebellious; in fact, you think it’s in the company’s best interests to be honest. Hopefully, he’ll back down, but if he won’t, you may have no choice but to resign.

I know this is a hard situation, and frankly it may get harder. But the Bible says God takes care of those who seek to do what’s right. Ask God to give you the courage to do what’s right — and also change your boss’s mind.