The Right Way To Work

Ephesians 6:5-9

INTRODUCTION

Work. How does that word make you feel? What images does that word produce in your mind? Do you view work as good or bad? What do you think of work?

Many view work as a burden. For them, work is something to be avoided. Rather than something which gives them dignity, work is viewed as demeaning. Why is this? Why do many view work as a burden? Whatever happened to the idea of the dignity of work? Whatever happened to taking pride in work well done? Have we, as a society, become lazy?

Of course, it is not true that our society can be categorically labeled as lazy. On the other hand, we might ask ourselves whether we sufficiently promote the value of hard work. To the extent we do not, is the problem one which should be laid at the feet of business, or parents? I heard of a farmer who had several boys. He worked those boys extremely hard around the farm. One day one of the neighbors pointed out that it wasn’t necessary to work the boys that hard in order to raise a crop. The farmer, quietly but firmly responded, “I’m not just raising a crop. I’m also raising boys.” Perhaps the real education concerning the value of our work ought to be held in the classroom of the home.

READ EPHESIANS 6:5-9

King James Version Chapter 6

5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, iin singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. 9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, qforbearing threatening: knowing that kyour Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

It has been estimated that more than 1/3 of the population of Rome was in slavery during the time of Paul. We have one letter that dealt with a run away slave and his master in Philemon.

Slaves were not treated well by there masters. The Roman statesman Cato said, “Old slaves should be thrown on a dump, and when a slave is ill, do not feed him anything. It is not worth your money. Take sick slaves and throw them away because they are nothing but ineffective tools.”

This is just one example of the attitudes that people had toward slaves. It is important that we remember this when we are looking at applying these passages to ourselves.

Sometimes we feel that we can justify our work habits because of lack of pay, poor conditions, etc. We need to remember that Paul was admonishing people who were slaves. If we dislike our work so much that we are not willing to give our best, at least we are free to move on to another job.

Instead of trying to do something with themselves to find a better job, people just complained.

Some will look at this passage and say that it doesn’t apply today, but I believe that we can apply the principles found in this passage to the employee, employer relationship.

Let us look at the Right way to Work!

SERMON

The Right Behavior. Verse 5.

1. Obedient. The word is a present tense indicating uninterrupted obedience.

2. We are not to just be obedient to get our way, but all of the time.

3. As Christians we should be the model of proper behavior and obedience. When our boss tells us to do something, he or she should be able to count it as done!

4. We are called to please God, one way to do it is to be obedient to our bosses.

5. Our obedience will help to verify our testimony about Jesus to others.

6. IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK WE SHOULD ALSO BE OBEDIENT TO GOD’S WORD:

SETS EXAMPLE FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND CO- WORKERS: WORLD SEES IF WE REAL

CHRIST DEMANDS IT- IF YOU LOVE ME YOU WILL OBEY OR KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS JOHN 14:15

MUST HAVE A CHANGING RELATIONSHIP WITH SIN- FLEE FROM IT AND RUN TOWARDS JESUS CHRIST

CANNOT BE OBEDIENT AND LIVE AS CHRIST DEMANDS IF WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE WORLD

SO MANY DON’T LIKE TO WORK BUT WE LOVE TO PLAY

SHOWS FOCUS ON SELF AND FULFILLING OF SELF DESIRES

7. VERY LITTLE FOCUS ON OBEDIENCE AND HOLY LIVING TODAY

The Right Perspective. Verse 5.

1. “According to the flesh.”

2. We know that the submission relationship with our employer or masters do not last eternally. The people we have to deal with are not going to be the one’s who judge us, it will be God.

3. If we realize who we are really serving, then we can endure things we do not like!

4. SO MANY CHRISTIANS TODAY ARE LIVING AND WALKING IN THE FLESH AND NOT JUST IN THE WORKPLACE BUT IN EVERY DAY LIFE

WAY WE LIVE, CHOICES WE MAKE, HOW WE SPEND OUR TIME AND MONIES

WHAT ARE THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART AND THE FOCUS OF YOUR HEART- ARE THEY ON THE THINGS OF GOD AND BEING ABOUT HIS WORK OR ARE YOU FOCUSED ON THE THINGS YOU WANT AND YOUR OWN DESIRES, ARE YOU LIVING TO SERVE YOURSELF OR TO SERVE GOD??

The Right Attitude.

1. Fear and trembling.

2. The idea here is not to cower in fear, but instead it points to a great moral anxiety resulting from the thought of failure to carry out the task that God has called you to.

3. 1 TIMOTHY 6:1 Let all who are under the yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and {our} doctrine may not be spoken against.

4. The place that we work is our field of service to the Lord. Our attitude can make or break us.

5. The noted English architect Sir Christopher Wren was supervising the construction of a magnificent cathedral in London. A journalist thought it would be interesting to interview some of the workers, so he chose three and asked them this question, "What are you doing?" The first replied, "I’m cutting stone for 10 shillings a day." The next answered, "I’m putting in 10 hours a day on this job." But the third said, "I’m helping Sir Christopher Wren construct one of London’s greatest cathedrals."

6. AT WORK, AT HOME AND AT PLAY OUR ATTITUDE SHOULD BE ONE THAT IS FOCUSED ON GOD

WE SHOULD LOOK AND LISTEN FOR HIS LEADING IN ALL THAT WE DO

WE SHOULD SEEK TO SET AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL THOSE AROUND US WATCHING

The Right Motive.

1. COLOSSIANS 3:23

King James Version Chapter 3

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for sye serve the Lord Christ.

2. Our motive is not to just please people, but God! 1 Samuel 16:7 God knows heart!

King James Version Chapter 16

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

3. We are to do our work as if we are doing it for Jesus Himself!

4. 1 Cor 10:31

King James Version Chapter 10

31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

5. God has not called all to the preaching ministry or the foreign missions field, but we can serve Jesus whether we farm or work in a factory.

6. Maybe we are stuck in jobs we do not like because we are not faithful in the work that we already do? EXAMPLE FROM SALARY JOB.

7. When we are Christians we are not just doing well only when the boss is around, but all of the time (Not by way of eyeservice)

8. We do not just do the minimum required of the job. READ VERSE 7.

King James Version Chapter 6

7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men

9. We are motivated to do well because of our love for Jesus!

A Word To The Boss.

READ VERSE 9!

King James Version Chapter 6

9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, qforbearing threatening: knowing that kyour Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

CONCLUSION

There are three basic reasons for being good employees.

1. We are really serving Christ. Verse 9

2. It is God’s will for His children

3. Our reward is more than a paycheck. Verse 8.