By Rachel Loe, December 11, 2023

I was in a conversation with a friend of mine yesterday about end of year performance reviews. It brought to mind a trend I have seen among my believer friends more than my secular peers and that is an uneasiness with asking for a raise or negotiating a pay increase after a review or at the outset of a promotion. Why is that? What is it about having a conversation about an increase in pay with your employer, or potential employer that makes us so uncomfortable? Well, we as Christians, strive to rely on the Lord for all our needs. We can feel as though we are falling into the trap of taking matters into our own hands. We know that the “love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10 ESV). These are good and healthy protective barriers to have as Christians. There is the danger, however, that this view can be taken to its extreme and we take on an almost gnostic stance that all the material world is to be shunned and avoided.

Our Lord instructed us to be in the world and has set up a kingdom economy in which He uses us to help further the gospel message, some of which comes from wealth. Acts 16:40 tells us of Lydia, who was a seller of purple cloth, which was one of the most lucrative businesses at the time. She, along with Priscilla and Aquila (Romans 16:3,5), Nympha (Colossians 4:15), and Philemon and Apphia (Philemon 1:1-2) all supported the early church through funding and opening up their homes as meeting places.

There are over 100 verses around “a workman being worthy of his wages” (1 Timothy 5:18 ESV). Yes, dear believer, we can confidently say that it is appropriate for us to ask for a raise when it is earned. So, how do we approach this conversation in a Christlike manner?

1. Check your heart.
Before entering this conversation, ask yourself, what is your heart’s intention? Are you seeking the raise for the material gain you might have? Is it a power play? Are you seeking this from a place of humility and obedience to God?

2. Evaluate your own work performance.

Be honest with yourself. Have you truly followed Colossians 3:23 (NIV) “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”? Gather the real data that proves your work. What value have you added in pursuit of the company’s goals? Have you taken on additional responsibilities that are invaluable to the organization?

3. Be Confident and Humble.

When you are in the conversation, be confident in the body of work you have provided, but recognize where your gifts and abilities have come from. God has gifted us all uniquely (1 Corinthians 12:4-7; Psalm 139:14), and He is to receive the praise and glory for it.

4. Hold the results with an open hand.

We are called to obey the Lord in all things (1 John 5:3) and do all things as unto Him. The Proverbs are filled with practical outcomes as a result of godly living because God built this world in a logical way. The end result, however, is in His hands entirely. We serve a sovereign Lord, who loves us and works all things for our good (Romans 8:28). We can trust in Him and follow the example Paul laid out in Philippians 4:12 (ESV), “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.”