Who Are you Working For?

Stressed, Sad, and Anxious: A Snapshot of the Global Workforce by Ryan Pendell June 14, 2022 While some leaders may feel like things are beginning to return to normal, data from Gallup’s new State of the Global Workplace report suggests that the emotional side of work has not healed from the pressures of the last two years. Under the surface, people around the world are stressed and anxious: 44% of employees say they experienced stress a lot during the previous day. These negative emotions are at a new high. In 2020, the world’s employees saw an increase in stress, worry, anger, and sadness. In 2021, worry, anger, and sadness remained above pre-pandemic levels, and stress continued to climb to a new high.

77% of workers in the world are not engaged in their work.

We hear the terms the great resignation and quiet quitting.

The consequences of unproductive workers are lower wages for employees, lower profits for companies, and less prosperity for the country. That is why our government pays close attention to these statistics.

For Christians work is a sacred act of service to God. Our bottom line is not personal wealth, or even common wealth, but love for God who owns all things.

You, as a worker fit into one of two categories. You either work for a non-believer or you work for a believer.

Paul breaks down the heart attitude of the employee/employer relationship.

I. Honor Unbelieving Bosses

1 Timothy 6:1 NASB95

1 All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against.

Slaves - We must separate what Paul calls a slave from the practice of enslaving of black people in America and treating them like sub-human animals. We must also not read our modern economic system into the economic system of that day.

The treatment of dark skinned people as slaves in American history was morally wrong, it was an abuse of power, and it was degrading to those black men and women forced into that life. no human being should ever have to endure that kind of treatment.

The kind of slave mentioned by Paul is not that kind of slave. The social relationships were different.

A δοῦλοσ is someone who does what another tells them to do.

Matthew 8:9 NASB95

9 “For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

There were 2 types of workers then. Day-workers who were hired a day at a time. The benefit for them was that they could choose what work they wanted to do based on their skills. The downside was that they had no security that work would be available and they cared for all their own expenses such as food, clothing, and living quarters. A δοῦλοσ was someone who sold themselves out for a certain term. These servants were were bakers, farmers, butlers, money managers, teachers, musicians, clerks, carpenters, etc. The master in turn would often provide them food, living quarters, and clothing. The benefit was security of employment. These servants were usually paid an average of 60 denarii/year + room, board, and clothing. Sometimes a δοῦλοσ would even hire his own δοῦλοσ. The downside for them was the loss of freedom to do whatever they wanted whenever they pleased. They were under the yoke and had to do what the master said.

Abuses in this system did happen just as abuses of workers in all systems of laborers and bosses do. But for the most part this system was mutually beneficial. A δοῦλοσ was often considered part of the family.

Galatians 4:1–2 NASB95

1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.

And, like in the case of Eliezer (Abraham’s servant), they could receive all of their wealth when they died if there were no heirs in the family. A good servant was an honored position. Paul even uses δοῦλοσ to describe his relationship to Christ Jesus.

The masters for their part could keep their δοῦλοσ in their service or if they no longer could afford to have their services or didn’t think the servant was doing their work well, they could sell the services of the δοῦλοσ to someone else.

The Bible describes this system and instructs those who are in the system but does not endorse it. It was a social reality, just as our system with all its strengths, weaknesses and abuses is a social reality. That is why Paul says,

1 Corinthians 7:21 NASB95

21 Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that.

Why should slaves obey their masters?

To glorify the name (character of the person behind the name) of God. Even if people don’t believe in God, they will have nothing bad to say about Him. This is the REAL mission field. Your work outside the church gathering is far more impactful than your work in the church.

To preserve the reputation of the doctrine of Jesus Christ (gospel). Unsaved people might not know the gospel or might not agree with it, but your actions will silence them from speaking badly about it.

How?

Ephesians 6:5–8 NASB95

5 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; 6 not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 7 With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.

If you own your own business, you work for your customers and if they are unsaved then you have an opportunity show them how much you revere the name of Jesus Christ by quality of the work that you do.

II. Don’t Despise Believing Bosses

1 Timothy 6:2 NASB95

2 Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles.

Negative

Don’t be disrespectful to them. Why would they be disrespectful? Maybe because they know that they are equals in the Lord and that they should be treated differently than other worker.

Galatians 3:28 NASB95

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Equality in Christian position does not mean we ignore the differences in roles.

Some slaves in the Roman empire were elders and deacons in the church. Imagine being an elder who was a slave and having your master in your church — Awkward!

Maybe they disrespected them because they felt they should receive special treatment as fellow believers (ie. take longer breaks because they were “praying.”

Positive:

Serve them even more.

Your work is sacred. It is God honoring. The work itself might not directly honor God, but your attitude in doing it will speak volumes to an unsaved world.

Who do you work for? Work for Jesus.