Untitled Sermon (8)

Introduction

We have been looking at our responsibilities in relationships. We have looked at those responsibilities within the family (wives and husbands). We will deal with the children next week on Mothers’ Day. Today we look at our responsibilities within the work place. However, before we get to the text and the message at hand, I want to begin by helping us understand our responsibilities as we gather together with each other. There are a couple of things I want us to understand in the context of corporate worship. First, it is not the music and singing, as important as both of these are, but the Word of God that directs and gives authenticity to genuine worship and corporate life together. The primary purpose of our gathering here today is to both hear and heed the voice of God in His Word. If this is not our primary purpose and motivation for coming together, there is no foundation for the existence of this church. Please never forget that.

Here is something else I never want you to forget. The main goal of biblical preaching is not merely for biblical understanding with practical points of application to put to work in your life. The main goal of biblical preaching after the text is proclaimed is that you and I would encounter the sovereign God of glory in a life changing way. In other words, the chief end of a sermon is that the Word of God will make a transformational difference in our lives. My prayer for us today is that the Word of God would do just that-produce transformational change. [read text]

The apostle Paul has been telling us one main thing since chapter four. Being a Christian ought to make a difference. We ought to be different as believers in Christ. Because we are in Christ and He is in us, we are no longer what we used to be. We are different because of God’s grace. It is the grace of the gospel that is being worked out in our lives. This produces changes in our individual lives, our marriages, our families, and even in the workplace.

We are now brought up close to the particular circumstances that Paul was writing in. The historical and cultural context Paul was writing in was the situation of slavery. It is estimated that close to thirty-five percent of the Roman populace was in slavery. Further, some estimates place the Ephesian populace well over that percentage. It is believed that there were more slaves in Ephesus than there were free people.

The question often arises, “Does the Bible support slavery?” No, most certainly not. However, to support or reject the institution of slavery is outside the purposes of Scripture. For the Bible to take such a stand, one way or the other, would mean that a particular social issue, even a bad one, would take superiority over the gospel. That is the reason that Paul neither condones nor decries the situation of slavery. Paul was writing in the current “sitz en laben,” the situation of life. Slavery was the reality of that day. Paul couldn’t change that situation even if he wanted to. Christianity was seen as a minor aggravation, a gnat of the Roman Empire’s landscape. As such, Christianity during this time had no influence on the Roman government whatsoever. It would be the continuous proclamation of the gospel that would eventually bring down the house of cards of the Roman Empire and with it the institution of Roman slavery.

These were the particulars of Paul’s day. These are not the same particulars of our day. However, the principles found in Paul’s day are still present with us today. We do not understand the slave market of Paul’s day. However, the same principles apply to the employee-employer relationship in every age. The text will reveal two man biblical principles for us to consider.

PRINCIPLE #1: THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THOSE WHO SERVE (6:5-8)

We are presented with the WHAT of this verse. What are the “bondservants (doulos)” to do? The Greek term used here is literally “slave.” Specifically, the reference is to house slaves. Their obligation was to obey (upokouo) their masters. This is the command: slaves obey your master. This was a hard command and it is still a hard command. In general, most people have a problem with doing what we are told. Yet, the power of the gospel will change the way we respond to what an employer requests. Remember that before you were changed by Christ, you were part of the same group that fights against any type of request, and usually with a bad attitude.

All that has changed because of Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10

Ephesians 2:1–10 CSB

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

We are no longer in the “Sons of Disobedience” club. We are now “I Have Been Redeemed” club. Thus, we are to be examples of how to do it by being willing to take directions from a supervisor. By the way, this would do wonders for our gospel witness. Wait a minute, pastor. Are you telling me that an employer can tell me to do anything at all and I have to obey it? No, not at all. There are qualifications even in this relationship. There are three main areas where we are biblically prohibited from obeying.

We cannot obey any direction that is biblically immoral.

We cannot obey any direction that is biblically idolatrous.

We cannot obey any direction that prohibits the gospel and its proclamation.

The WHAT of this principle is that we are to obey those in authority over us, yet being aware of the qualifications of this command.

Now, we have come to the HOW of the matter (5-6). How are we to carry out the command? In verses 5-6 we are confronted with five truths concerning how we are to fulfill the command to obey.

Truth #1: The Witness of Our Behavior (5a).

The witness of our behavior is that we are to obey human authorities placed in our lives. We have already mentioned the difficulty that this brings to our American sensibilities. The word in verse five is not the word we have already encountered-hupatasso, the term for willing submission. The term used here is hupakuo, the term for obedience. Just as children are to obey their parents, so slaves are to obey their masters. In our context, it means that employees are to obey their employers. Remember that this is not absolute obedience.

Truth #2: The Witness of Our Attitude (5b).

The witness of our attitude is one of “fear and trembling.” Are we saying that there is to be a sense of dread and panic whenever we encounter the boss? No, that is not the case. We need to understand what these terms mean.

The word “fear” is the Greek term “phobos” from which we get our English word “phobia.” Literally, this word refers to “absolute terror.” However, that is not the sense that the word is used in this verse. The use of these words are in the figurative sense. In this sense the term fear means “reverence” or “respect.” In its current context, it is really a warning to believers not to misrepresent our own Master. Thus, as you follow the directives of your employer, be careful not the misrepresent Jesus. Thus, our attitude toward our employers is to be one of respect.

Let’s get this one right. Our greatest potential is not when we are gathered here. Our greatest potential is when we are not here, but out there.

Truth #3: The Witness of Our Commitment (5c).

The witness of our commitment is to be one of an undivided heart and mind. This speaks of having a pure heart. This means that this obedience is to be carried out with integrity and singleness of purpose.

Truth #4: The Witness of Our Motives (5d).

When it comes to the workplace, the believer is to view his work as being done for Christ-because it is. That is why Colossians 3:23 states,

Colossians 3:23 CSB

Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people,

Many years ago I had been working with this particular company. The time came when Elaine and I began packing up our belongs to go to seminary. The district supervisor gave me a great recommendation to a unit in the area to which we were about to move. When it came time to meet my new supervisor, the subject came to pay. We had a great discussion. I explained to my new supervisor that I was in need of making as much money as I could. He showed me the figure, which was not bad. I relayed to him that if that was what he could do, that would be sufficient. Then I explained that I was a Christian and that I ultimately did not work for him; I worked ultimately for Christ. He got a strange look on his face. So, I quickly began to explain. He listened as I told him that since that was true, I had to endeavor to be the hardest and best working employee he had. To which he looked like he was about to pass out as he fell back in his executive chair. Once he recovered, he took the form with the figure of pay on it and replaced it with a higher figure.

The point of the account from my life is to let you know that whether or not I got the instantaneous raise or not, my motive in my work is that I work for Christ in my work, no matter what the work is in which I work.

Not only do we do this through fear and trembling, we also do this through “sincerity of heart.” This means that we do this with an undivided mind. This emphasizes the purity of motivation with which this is done.

Truth #5: The Witness of our Faithfulness (6).

We obediently serve our employer, not as eyeservice or men pleasers, but as slaves of Christ who desire to do the will of God from the heart. Eyeservice means that work is done when the boss is looking, but stops or slacks up when an employer is not around. This is not the way Christians are to operate. Men pleasers are similar to eyeservice in that the motivation is to “butter up” the boss. This too is contrary to the witness of the believer. We are to be faithful in obedient service because we understand that such service is faithfulness to Christ. Christian employees ought to be known for their good attitudes, integrity, and hard work. Such truths demonstrated in the work place says much about us and much about what we truly believe about Jesus.

We move from our witness at work, to our ministry at work (7).

The principle here is so far removed from of American Christianity. We see ourselves coming to “my” church and going to “my” Sunday School class and then siting in “my” pew and then going home. That is what you call Churchianity. That is not biblical Christianity. We are to see ourselves working for the Lord, not ourselves. This is what our forefathers were taught. This was the spirit of Adonirim Judson when this church was first constituted. This was a common message in the home and a common message in the workplace. The issue boils down to this. It is not necessarily what you do; it is why you do it. It is about who you are impacting. Our work is our mission field. We either honor God in our work or we don’t. Every task is an opportunity to honor Him or refuse to honor Him. In doing so, you may be the only model a person ever sees of what Jesus Christ truly looks like. Matthew 5:16

Matthew 5:16 CSB

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

We are to give a winsome witness at work and we are to see our ministry in our work. There is another responsibility those who serve are called to understand. We are to realize the blessings of God in our work. Our work is not merely the means for making a living so that we can pay our bills. I see how many on social media misunderstand the blessings of work in their comments of degradation concerning work. The blessings of God is not about what we get out of it. The blessings of work concerns being able to have a platform in which to magnify the Lord and shine forth the glory of the one we claim to follow.

Do you know the last promise of Jesus in the Bible? The last promise of Jesus in the Bible is found in Revelation 22:12

Revelation 22:12 CSB

“Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work.

The time you spend at work or at school is not time that is to be wasted. Some of you are not going to like this. However, it is true no matter how you might twist the Scripture to make it say what you want. The truth is that Christ is going to put His x-ray vision upon the faithfulness of our lives and will examine every single thing we have done. It is going to happen.

Will God hold you accountable for your honesty or dishonesty to your employer? Yes, He will. You decide that you will call in sick even though you are not sick. You just wanted to stay home. Will God hold you accountable for that? Yes, He will. If you agree to get paid a certain amount for eight hours work, then you ought to work those eight hours for the pay you received.

Principle #2: The Responsibility of Those Who are Served (6:9)

We have talked for four verses about the responsibilities of the one doing the serving at work. What about the one who is served? Does the employer have any responsibilities to the employee before God? [read verse 9]

Just as servants and employees are to work hard and honestly for their masters and employers, so they are to do the same on behalf of those who work for them. What does this mean? It means several things.

It means those in authority are to have the same sense of submission to Christ as those under their authority because Christ is their ultimate Master, just as He is for those who are in subjection.

It means that both masters and slaves (employers and employees) have the same Lord. Therefore, both have the same standard of conduct in their relationship to each other.

With this understanding, although earthly authorities wield power, they will not abuse it by heavy-handed threats of punishment. They will not treat those under them with contempt and treat them as property. Rather, they will treat them like brothers. Yes, employers do have a responsibility before God to treat their employees with respect and dignity. Why? Because God is the ultimate judge and He is watching and He does not play favorites. Christian employers are still employees of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the boss even over the boss.

Conclusion

We are responsible as servants and servants who are being served to honor God in that assignment of servanthood and submission. This is important in the home and it is important in the work place. In the end, it matters not what we are called upon to do. It matters much the manner in which we do it. The why is because Jesus asked me to and doing that brings Him glory and will bring His blessing. To put it another way, we obey Him because we love Him. If we have an obedience problem, we have a love problem. What does your work reveal about you?