Ephesians 6:5-9 // Work that Matters

WELCOME

PASTORAL PRAYER

Church Together, Storehouse, Community Church, Willow Creek

INTRO: from last week…

GOSPEL: Christ died for the church, which displayed her sinfulness and His saving grace. The biggest problem in marriage/parenting, as we’ll see today—work, is sin.

The ultimate solution is the grace of Jesus. Because marriage is not merely a social convention but is rooted in the lordship of Christ, who is gracious, you have great hope in marriage!

Where do you turn when marriage/parenting/work are difficult?

Alcohol, fishing, shopping, your children, work, pornography? No! Those are the wrong places!

Look to Christ. The things we walk through in this life are intended to point us to our Redeemer.

Paul turns to focus upon the household employment situation of slaves and their masters to clarify some principles that, despite huge differences of social context, remain hugely relevant for our working lives today.

READ

Ephesians 6:5–9 (ESV)

5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

Paul is not trying to stir up a social-reform campaign, but directly addressing the slaves in the church in the reality of their daily struggles. It is worth noting that such advice was a dignity without precedent in Roman society, for these slaves now enjoyed equality in church with their owners!

But their spiritual freedom in Christ was not matched by their social conditions.

Paul provides a longer section for slaves than for masters, offering them many encouragements that reflect the challenge they faced to remain godly when being mistreated.

Explanation: Understanding Slavery and Paul’s Undermining of It (6:5–9)

The historical context for slavery

Estimates put slaves in Rome at around 60 million around this time.

They didn’t do menial work, often more educated than the owners of the house.

They could own property, even their own slaves, and were allowed to save money to buy their freedom.

There wasn’t a “CLASS” of slaves, they were so prevalent across society with the expection of the highest of economic and social strata

Most slaves gained their own freedom by age 30

This means there were regularly slaves and masters worshipping together, where slaves may have been giving oversight to masters in the church, gaining freedom even in the fellowship of the church, etc.

How did people become slaves?

various avenues: birth, parental selling or abandonment, captivity in war, inability to pay debts, even a voluntary attempt to better their life’s condition. RACE WAS NOT A FACTOR.

Exalting Jesus in Ephesians The Historical Context for Slavery

Slavery in America was mainly racial and executed by self-righteous people. As one can see from the history of Roman slavery, while for many slaves life was harsh and cruel, “their circumstances depended on their owners” (Snodgrass, Ephesians, 327). So Paul’s words to “masters” were important and life altering.

Opposition to slavery

Do the biblical writers endorse slavery? The answer is no.

Neither this passage nor other passages encourage the abuse of power or the mistreatment of human beings. Quite the opposite!

However, there seems to be a bit of silence about it. Why do Paul and other New Testament writers not call for abolition? Why do they not say more?

CONSIDER THIS; Christians were at first an insignificant group in the empire. Their religion itself was still unlawful, and they were politically powerless (Stott, Ephesians, 255).

we are called to love our neighbor, not own our neighbor

we are to treat others the way we would want to be treated

neither slavery nor masters are ever viewed positively in the Bible

one of the pictures of the gospel is that of freedom from bondage

Paul’s teaching and other New Testament teachings undermine slavery, seeking to destroy it from within

Paul tells us to imitate God (Eph 5:1)

the Psalmist says God is “a gather of the fatherless and a champion of widows (Ps 68:5)

God is a God of justice and compassion (Ps 146:9)

He stands against the oppressors and cares for the vulnerable.

This is quite the opposite of slavery!

Paul also calls human trafficking a vile sin. (1 Tim. 1:10)

Paul teaches equality among groups (Gal 3:28; Col 3:11)

Paul told the believers in Corinth if they could obtain their freedom, they should (1 Cor. 7:21)

Freedom was a benefit to Paul, this demonstrates that he was not a fan, nor condoned slavery.

Paul’s main concern is the spread of the gospel. He also describes the ethic required between Christian slaves and Christian masters which fundamentally changes the typical relationship between master and slave.

He admonishes both slave and master to treat each other as they would Christ.

He reminds both slave and master that they are under the lordship of Christ. and there is no favoritism with him.

He calls masters to show justice and reciprocity toward slaves.

In our modern context, the principles remain applicable in workplaces and other areas of life.

Exhortations: Paul’s Christ-Centered Words to Slaves and Masters (6:5–9)

To SLAVES: Do your work as unto Christ (6:5–8)

in each of these four verses, Jesus Christ is mentioned.

Christian slaves and employees should “obey” the instructions we are given by our bosses (Ephesians 6:5). Such obedience is always within the three main biblical boundaries—that the instructions are:

not immoral

BIBLICAL PRESIDENT: the Hebrew midwives would not obey their Egyptian masters in killing baby boys (Exodus 1)

MODERN APPLICATION: just as Christian doctors and nurses will not collude in abortions.

not idolatrous

BIBLICAL PRESIDENT: in Babylon, the young Jewish exiles, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, wouldn’t worship the emperor’s statue (Daniel 3)

MODERN APPLICATION: just as Christians will not participate in multi-faith services.

not suppressing the gospel

BIBLICAL PRESIDENT: the apostles would not obey the instructions of the Sanhedrin Council to stop preaching salvation through Christ (Acts 4)

MODERN APPLICATION: just as Christians cannot agree to be silenced from speaking about Christ (especially if it isn’t hindering our fulfilment of the duties for which we are employed).

We can remain wisely quiet but we cannot deny Christ or be permanently silenced, but must take up our cross and not be ashamed of Christ or his gospel (Mark 8:34–38).

There is no divide between “sacred” ministry (in the church) and “secular” ministry (in the world).

we are “serving the Lord, not people” (v 7).

Since the whole earth belongs to the living God, who provides our daily needs, when we contribute to the farming business or IT company we work for, in a small way we are helping to govern God’s creation.

Although no business is purely motivated or practised (and we should choose more ethical businesses if we can), we can serve our earthly masters wholeheartedly, knowing that other employees, and consumers and clients, will benefit. We’re “serving the Lord” and not just the boss.

as we work like this, “the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do” (v 8).

Even though an earthly master may not notice or care what we do, or may be biased or miserly in how they reward us, our Lord sees everything, including the motives for doing it, and will delight to reward us in heaven.

Whatever our company position or social status, on a high salary or a minimum wage, Christ will generously reward good works done for him with a bonus in heaven among “the incomparable riches of his grace” (2:7).

For, “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (2:10).

APPLICATION:

Glorify Christ by working respectfully (6:5a)

Glorify Christ by working wholeheartedly (6:5b–6)

Glorify Christ by working willingly (6:7)

Glorify Christ by working expectantly (6:8)

To MASTERS: Treat your slaves as you would Christ (6:9)

now for the bosses: “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 favouritism with him” (6:9).

this principle extends to anyone in authority in the workplace today.

This doesn’t mean abdicating the role of leadership, or the responsibility to direct the workforce—leadership is a ministry of service, as we see most clearly in Jesus (and many businesses and churches suffer from a chronic lack of leadership ministry). Masters mustn’t abdicate their leadership, or there will be chaos in the workplace from which nobody benefits! But it does mean treating slaves and employees with exactly the same respect, fear and sincerity for Christ as the slaves should show in obeying them. A master like that is rare indeed!

Christian bosses know that their own heavenly Master is also their employees’ heavenly Master! They are accountable to the same Lord, who will judge their work impartially. Clearly, if we neglect or mistreat our employees, we risk facing his loving discipline now and receiving reduced rewards in heaven.

God doesn’t show any favoritism. Those who are in senior positions may be used to social privileges and advantages within the company and in the wider world—but there is no social bias with God! He will not be swayed to reward bosses more in heaven because of their better education or expensive suits!

APPLICATION:

Practice mutuality

Avoid hostility

Live with Christ-centered accountability

Remember God’s impartiality

Application/CLOSE: How This Passage Can Change Your Life

This passage should change the way we work

Employees: Work through Christ, like Christ, and for Christ

WORK THROUGH CHRIST: Paul is addressing the Christian church. These are believers in Christ who have been spiritually raised from death to life (2:4–7) and saved by grace (2:8) through the atoning death of Christ (2:13). As a result, they have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. They, and we, do not live our lives, love our spouses, raise our kids, or work our jobs alone. The living Christ abides in us. So do your work through Christ.

Do you pray before you go to work?

Do you pray for the Spirit to fill you and for God to use you as a missionary where you work?

YOU SHOULD!

WORK LIKE CHRIST: Jesus gives us the model work ethic.

WORK FOR CHRIST: Do your best, as if for Jesus himself.

Employer: Lead through Christ, like Christ, and for Christ

LEAD THROUGH CHRIST: the challenges of leadership, numerous responsibilities and sacrifices. You need the Spirit’s power!

LEAD LIKE CHRIST: Christ is not just the model Servant; He is the ultimate MASTER also!

LEAD FOR CHRIST: Paul says masters will give an account.

This passage should change the way we relate to people

We should relate to people differently from the way our culture relates to people. Do not give preferential treatment to a certain class or ethnic group. Care for the rich and the powerful as well as the poor and the powerless.

Be careful about your body language, your attention on others, and the way you communicate to others.

Do not give the impression that you are superior or that someone is not worth your time.

Do not dehumanize individuals by thinking less of them.

Do not idolize any human by thinking too highly of her or him.

This passage should change the way we evaluate what is important

The person who has Jesus and nothing has no less than the person who has Jesus and everything else. Do you belong to Jesus Christ? Then you have everything! Then what you do in this life matters.

It matters in this life, and it will be revealed in the next life.

What matters most to you? The economy? The president? Your team? Your grades?

We should all long to say it like Paul: “For me, living is Christ and dying is gain” (Phil 1:21).

If you do not have Christ, then you need to receive the One who, though being the ultimate Master, became the ultimate Servant, dying for sinners like us.

Jesus came to do for us what we could not do for ourselves: to free us from slavery to sin and bring us into loving relationship with the Father.

He came to give us what we could not earn: spiritual life.

He came to make us what we could not become: no longer slaves, but sons.

He is the obedient Servant, the best Master, and the sovereign Lord. Look to Him and live.