When the New Testament was written (during the first century), the Roman Empire dominated much of the known world, including the Middle East. The men who were God’s agents in writing the New Testament lived in the Middle East; they lived in a culture that was shaped by a Roman worldview.

One of the traits of a first-century Roman worldview was that Roman citizens did not work. Work was the purview of slaves. In the above text, therefore, when the apostle Paul wrote of masters and slaves, he was referring to employers and employees. This text provides insight into the authority structure that God instituted in his creation. God, as Creator, ordained that humans function under delegated authority. There is authority to govern individuals, families, local churches, organizations, and civil societies.

With regard to organizational authority in the workplace, God ordained some to be employers and some to be employees. Furthermore, there are some employees who serve as managers. These are people to whom the employer delegates authority to oversee various aspects of the organization, including overseeing other employees. Employees function, therefore, under managers’ authority who function under employers’ authority who function under God’s authority.

In a fallen world, humans can distort and abuse the authority granted to them. They can establish organizations outside of God’s will and they can operate organizations outside of God’s ways.

Clearly, we would expect that success in a created universe must come from alignment with the will and ways of the Creator. After all, why would the Creator bless people who are in rebellion against his will and ways? Enduring success in God’s universe can only be found through alignment with his will and ways.

One of the key principles of alignment with the will and ways of God is found in Colossians 4:1. Employers, and by inference managers, must function realizing that their authority to establish and operate an organization was determined by God. Furthermore, they must operate their organizations in accordance with the ways of God. The reason for this is simple: employers and managers will give an account to God for their stewardship. Surely the sovereign Creator expects nothing less than obedience to his will and ways. And the only way to accomplish this is through the empowering presence of Christ in their lives.

Here is your business tip : No organization will enjoy lasting success unless it is built according to the will and ways of God. One of the key ways to align with the will and ways of God is to understand delegated authority. To build an organization, for profit or not-for-profit, requires sound thinking about authority. All licit authority comes from God and must be subject to his will and ways. To achieve enduring success, employers and managers must always function knowing they will ultimately give an account to God for their actions. Obedience to the will and ways of God in the context of delegated authority is the only way to true success. And the only way to live obediently is to be empowered by Christ. Therefore to build enduring excellent organizations requires submission to divinely ordained authority throughout the organization and empowerment by Christ to live accordingly.