1 Timothy 6:1

‘Let as many as are slaves under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and the doctrine be not blasphemed.’

All Christian slaves are to treat their masters with honour. In view of the fact that Christians are called on to show respect to all men that was only reasonable. It might suggest that some Christian slaves, recognising that they were sons of God and that their masters were not, had actually taken advantage of their easy conditions and behaved disrespectfully. But they were not to do so, for by it they would bring God’s Name into disrepute. And then it would soon become common knowledge that Christian slaves were difficult and untrustworthy, as a result of which all Christian slaves would suffer. For Paul’s further teaching on this topic see 1 Corinthians 7:20-24; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:22-25; Colossians 4:1; Philemon all; 1 Peter 2:13-25).

While most of us are not literally slaves today, many are slaves to their jobs. And the same principle applies. Christians, even if they are trade union leaders, should treat their employers with respect (and expect the same respect in return) and work diligently. Being rude or arrogant or slapdash is not a Christian virtue.