Servant/Master relationship Col. 3:22-4:1

Introduction

Paul in his letter to the church at Colosse addressed more than just church issues, he also spent some time on the family and now he is going to spend some time on the work relationships.

It is a biblical thing to work. Even before sin entered the world Adam and Eve were told to tend to the garden. We know that even Jesus did carpentry work.

1 Tim 5:8 “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

2 Thess 3:10 “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”

There were to be six days of work and the seventh day was meant for rest.

Deut. 5:13-14 “Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work:” “Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.” “Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work:”

Paul is going to give instructions to the servants (workers) and the masters (boss)

His challenge to the servants

Obey in all things your master (your boss)

As Christians in the work place we should do what our boss says as long as it doesn’t contradict what God commands us to do.

I’ll give two examples:

I knew a guy who went to school to be a welder, and when he got done with school he went to work for GE in there locomotive division. He only wanted to weld, so one day when his boss told him to sweep the floor he refused, telling him he didn’t get hired to sweep the floor, he was hired to weld.

Think about Joseph as he went to work in Potiphar’s house and he would do anything he was told until Potiphar’s wife told him to come have relations with her and he ran as fast as he could.

As a Christian you should be your bosses smallest headache. You should show up on time, with the right attitude, do the work your’e told to do with the right attitude. Remember we are ambassadors of Christ, we must act like it.

As a believer our boss should want 10 more of us.

Cross reference

Eph. 6:5-8 “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”

Then Paul tells them how to obey

not with eyeservice, as men pleasers

eye service- Service performed only under inspection or the eye of an employer.

How many of us know someone who only works when the boss is watching? As believers we should have integrity, we should do the right thing even when no one is watching.

But in singleness of heart, fearing God

singleness - Simplicity; sincerity; purity of mind or purpose; freedom from duplicity;

The single goal of our work should be to please God

We should act this way because of the respect and reverence we have for God

do it heartily as to the Lord and not into men

Heartily - From the heart; with all the heart; with sincerity; really.

We should work for man as we are working only for the Lord

Phil. 3:13 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,”

Jesus should be the focus of everything we do in life.

There is an eternal blessing for working the right way for God vs. 24a

I like what John Phillips said in his commentary of this passage.

“All work for the believer is elevated to the eternal plane and will be rewarded at the Judgement seat of Christ. There will be a reward for the man who followed the plow, just as for the man who filled the pulpit. There will be a reward for a man who worked faithfully in a factory, just as for the man who went to the mission field.”

Paul reminded us who we serve. vs. 24b

When we serve the Lord in our work, while we might not be rewarded on earth, we will be rewarded in heaven.

Pauls reminder to those unfaithful workers

God isn’t just going to bless you in your work because your’e saved. You must do the work God’s way if you want his blessing on you.

faithful service will be rewarded, shoddy service will be punished.

As a worker, do your very best every time. Don’t do it for your boss, do it for your heavenly father. He is the one you are truly working for.

Pauls challenge to the masters

Paul not only challenged the workers in the church, he also challenged the masters.

Cross Reference

Eph. 6:9 “And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.”

1 Tim 6:1-2 “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.”

He challenged them to treat there workers right.

As a boss, especially as a christian boss you should treat your employees fairly.

you should pay them a fair wage

you should treat them right

Think about how Jesus would have been if he were your boss at his carpenter shop.

He would have paid you fairly

he would have treated you right

He would have taken a personal interest in your spiritual, financial, and social welfare of you and your family.

This is the kind of employer God expects us to be as believers.

He reminded them that they have a master in heaven.

As a owner you must remember that really your’e just a steward of what God has intrusted you with.

We must remember that our goal is Christ and our lives whether the employee or the employer should lead others towards Christ.

They will given an account to the Lord of what they have done as a boss.

How you treat your employees reflects you relationship with your heavenly father.

Conclusion

Whether your’e a master or a servant you should reflect Jesus in the way you work.

As a worker think about how Jesus would’ve worked and work like that

As a master think about how Jesus would’ve treated you and treat others like that