Something’s wrong. When should you speak up? When should you hold your tongue? These biblical reflections help you decide whether it’s the right time to use your voice at work.

We would like to thank the Theology of Work Project for providing this plan. For more information, please visit https://www.theologyofwork.org/devotions/when-to-speak-up-devotional/

Scripture Reading: Esther 3:1-15, 4:1-17

There are many problems at work that leave you asking whether it’s right to speak up. Maybe a project isn’t going well and you don’t know if your boss has all the facts. Maybe your company is cutting corners in a way that will hurt it in the long run. Or maybe there’s even unethical behavior going on around you. Any of these situations might leave you asking yourself: Should I speak up?

It’s a question worth considering carefully. Speaking up at work can be risky business. You might jeopardize your job by pointing out unpleasant truths. On the other hand, speaking up might make life better for the people around you, deepen your relationships with others, and positively impact the problem. How do you know if it’s your time to speak up? Do what Esther did. Start by thinking about the people affected and your responsibility to them.

Are you uniquely positioned to help someone else by speaking up on this issue? In other words: Do you have a responsibility to speak up on behalf of someone who can’t speak up for himself or herself? This was what Esther conceded in the end.

Initially, Esther was hesitant to speak to the king about Haaman’s plans to revenge himself on the Jews. Getting involved could have jeopardized Esther’s position in the palace, and even her life. But Mordecai convinced Esther to use her voice by saying that Esther had the opportunity to speak for those who couldn’t speak up themselves. Maybe this was Esther’s destiny – the very reason she had risen to a position of power in the first place.

Esther’s dilemma was an extreme case – life, death, and royal intrigue. But you can use the same criteria when deciding whether or not to speak up yourself. Do you have a responsibility to other people? Are there coworkers, customers, or stakeholders who would be harmed if you don’t speak up? If so, then you may have a holy responsibility to use your voice.

Prayer: God, help me know if it’s my responsibility to speak up. Show me where I have been placed in a position of power to speak on someone else’s behalf.

Further Exploration: Read more about God’s Hidden Hand in the book of Esther

Author: Theology of Work Project

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