Lord of the Workplace

Lord of the Workplace o Colossians 3:22 – 4:1 o January 19, 2020 THE BIG IDEA: The Supremacy of Christ includes where we work. If God’s Word to Ancient System of Workers & Masters (Colossians 3:22-4:1) Jesus is my Lord, it means He is Lord of my job, whether I’m labor or management. The ultimate solution to workplace problems is not an updated policy or law, but a change in the hearts of those who work there. § § The Critical Question About Slavery: Why didn’t Paul (and the New Testament) call for the abolition of slavery? § • • • • We make a terrible mistake if we read the New Testament through the filter of the American Civil War. 35% of the Roman Empire were slaves. The entire economy was built upon it. And, there was no racial component to the system. Christians were a tiny fragment of the Empire’s population. The solution to any social sin is not for the Church to preach endlessly about that social sin, but to preach the Gospel. The ultimate answer to social ills will always be to change hearts through an encounter with Jesus. Colossians 3:22–4:1 (ESV) 3 22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. 4 1 Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. A Partial Theology of Work (what the Bible teaches about work) o o o o God works. [Genesis 1-2:1] God rests from work. [Genesis 2:2] God made Man to work – it is part of being made in God’s image. [Genesis 2:15] Work is not a result of sin – “pain … thorns and thistles … sweat of the brow” are the results of sin. [Genesis 3:17-19] As with everything else in our sinful lives, God desires to redeem our work lives. The supremacy of Christ extends to His Lordship over my job. § § § § Bondservants should do what their masters command. Obedience was to be genuine, not simply “appearing to comply” when the master was present and for a deeper reason than pleasing the master. Paul ties obedience in work to the ultimate authority of the Lord over us. For the Christian, Paul’s argument was that you work for the Lord, not for a man. For the Christian, rewards and punishments are a part of servanthood, but the Lord’s review and reward are the ones that will ultimately matter to us. Christian Masters, who by definition had complete autonomy to do as they pleased with bondservants, were called to a higher standard – justice and fairness. Christian Masters are reminded that they too are bondservants and the Lord is their Master. The Christian Workplace – As Christians … ü We view work as one of the ways we get to reflect the image of God and display His glory. ü We work with “sincerity” – we are consistently the same person, producing at the same level, regardless of who is present. ü Our work is an outflow of our walk with the Lord. So, what does my work product say about my relationship with the Lord? ü THE KEY: We don’t do “good enough” – we work “heartily” (with soul), because the Lord is our Boss. ü Jesus promises He will settle accounts with all the “wrongdoers” in workplaces. ü Christian employers are to be the most just and fair of all employers, since we know that we are responsible to Jesus for how we deal with our employees. The heart of every problem is the problem of the heart, and only God’s Spirit and God’s Word can change and control the heart. - Warren Wiersbe