THE WALK OF THE CHRISTIAN BELIEVER

J.  BELIEVING SLAVES & MASTERS (Employees/Employers)
ARE TO WALK UNDER GOD’S AUTHORITY

-- { Ephesians 6:5-9 }  ⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ; ⁶ not only while being watched, and in order to please them, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. ⁷ Render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to men and women, ⁸ knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are slaves or free. ⁹ And, masters, do the same to them. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and with him there is no partiality.    -- NRSV

Breath Prayer For The Week (A "breath prayer" is a brief sentence or simple phrase that can be repeated often to Jesus in one breath.)

Lord, bless my workplace.

Dear Friend, grace and peace be unto you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ.  Amen.

St. Paul in an unexpected way points out what the world’s problem really is.  It is not an economic problem.  It is a spiritual problem.  The problems between individuals and nations can only be solved when hearts are changed by the Lord Jesus.  When Jesus is your Lord and you serve Him, you serve Him in all that you are and do.  This means that in whatever work you do or direct, He is part of it.  This work that is done is done for a greater good than one’s self.  Work serves others.  God has put us here to serve.

There were millions and millions of slaves in the Roman Empire during the days of St. Paul.  One source says that there were over 6 million.  The Good News of Jesus was going to reach many of these all over the Roman Empire.  For this reason the New Testament has much to say to slaves.  Paul’s whole letter to Philemon is to a slave owner about a slave.

However, slavery is never directly attacked in the New Testament.  If it had been there probably would have been so much bloodshed the scene would have been unimaginable.  The slave owners and government would have…

It would have been much worse than it already was.  Paul knew that slaves were, on a daily basis, crucified to keep a reign of terror present so that they would not rebel.  If you walked down a street in Rome you could hear a slave being crucified over a wall in a citizens yard.  This was a common occurrence to strike terror in the slave population.  The KKK in America used similar terror tactics with the burning of crosses and whippings and hangings to control Black slaves. 

The Expositors Greek Testament has an excellent statement on how Christianity went about destroying slavery: “Here, as elsewhere in the N.T., slavery is accepted as an existing institution, which is neither formally condemned nor formally approved.  There is nothing to prompt revolutionary action, or to encourage repudiation of the position… the institution is left to be undermined and removed by the gradual operation of the great Christian principles of: the equality of humankind in the sight of God, a common Christian brotherhood, the spiritual freedom of the Christian, the Lordship of Christ to which every other lordship is subordinate.”

The instructions Paul gives here concerning masters and slaves are applicable to every generation of workers.  In our day we apply them to employers and employees.

First, we look at the worker’s obedience (6:5-8)  “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.  Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.  Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.”

Employees are to obey the instructions of the employer in matters involving the workplace.  The employer has no authority in the spiritual realm, however.  Six specific instructions are given to the Christian worker.

1. Work with fear and trembling.  This doesn’t mean to work with a slavish fear of your boss.  It means to work with a reverence for God.  Do your work as unto the Lord.  Work the best you can with integrity.  Seek to make God proud of the work you do.

2. Work with a sincere heart to Jesus alone.  Work with purpose and focus.  Be committed to your work.  Don’t be a faker or slacker.  Be a good worker doing your best.  Your work is an offering to the Lord.

3. Do not work with eyeservice as a bosspleaser.  In other word, don’t just work when the boss is looking.  Don’t slow down when the boss leaves.  Remember, the one you are really accountable to is able to see you at all times.

4. Work as the servant of Jesus doing the will of God from your heart.  This means with interest and energy.  Your heart must be in your work – in the areas the Lord has gifted you.  You are to work to serve Jesus, and to do the will of God.

5. Work wholeheartedly as unto the Lord.  As a Christian worker you serve the Lord.  No matter where you work and no matter what you do, if you know the Lord you will not be involved in immoral, unjust or illegal work.  

6. The result of your work in the Lord will bring a reward.  God doesn’t play favorites.  Everyone is going to be treated the same.  There is one salvation for every believer.  There is only one way to work during your lifetime on earth - doing everything as unto the Lord.  You work because of the gift of salvation you have freely received through your baptism and faith in Jesus.  God is good and you will be rewarded as He sees and knows best.  Who would want to be rewarded in any other way?

Second, we look at the employer (6:9)  “And masters, treat your slaves in the same way.  Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him."

The employer or manager is given two clear commandments governing how he or she is to treat workers.

1. The manager is to do the very same things that are required of the workers.  That is, to treat them just like he expects his workers to treat him.  What a difference this would make in labor relations if it were practiced.

2. The employer is not to manage by threats.  This does not mean that an employee cannot be corrected, released or fired if necessary.  Every worker is to be encouraged to work to the best of their ability.  The employer is to provide work incentives and extra training to help workers succeed.

The warning here is that employers need to be on guard against being harsh, because they too have a Master in heaven who is looking down upon their work.  And He doesn’t play favorites according to class, race or economic status.  He judges all fairly and equally.

In conclusion, it is clear that the employee and the employer are held accountable to God for how they go about their work.  Is it with the very Spirit of God within them directing their actions or are they simply caught up in the world’s way of doing things?  

The world’s real problem is the hearts of people.  Are they hearts of love and compassion, help and encouragement?  You as a Christian employer or employee are unique to this world.  I hope you know that and I hope you live that uniqueness in the workplace.

Heavenly Father, we are workers in the world.  Let us be, by the power of Your Spirit, workers that do Your will.  Help us be loyal to Your principles.  Help us be employers and employees who work with integrity because Jesus is our Lord and Savior.  In His name we pray.