RELATIONSHIPS – EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES
King Edward of England appointed William Wickham to build a church. William Wickham performed his duty and finished by writing in one of the windows, "This work made William Wickham." When the king saw this he confronted William for assuming the honor of building the church himself when he was really only the overseer. He answered that he did not mean that he made the work, but that the work made him. Before he had been poor and unknown, and now he was well known and established financially. His words were not based in arrogance but reflected his deepest gratitude. When it says in the Bible that we are to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling” this does not mean that we make salvation but that salvation makes us. Our relationship with Jesus changes our perspective in all areas including our vocation.
Today we are continuing our series on relationships from the book of Ephesians.
Eph 6:5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free 9 And 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 favoritism with him.
1. Instructions to Employees –
The word used here for slave is the Greek word DOULOS. I know this word well because I lived on a ship called Doulos for two years! You may be thinking “how does this verse apply to me?” I am not a slave – slavery is wrong. While the word DOULOS can mean slave it’s broader meaning is bond-servant – a person who works in exchange for something. In other words it means an employee. Many of us here are employed in some form or another. Employment means that you have committed yourself to an occupation from which you derive your livelihood. You are selling your time to another person.
The average person will spend almost 100,000 hours at work during the course of their lifetime. Someone once estimated that from age 18 to age 65, working 40 hours a week, you’ll spend more than 1/3rd of your life at work! Let me ask you a question - do you enjoy your work? What kind of an employee are you? Do you find it fulfilling and look forward to it or do you dread it and see it as something to be endured – a necessary evil?
Few men ever drop dead from overwork, but many quietly curl up and die because of under satisfaction. -- Sydney Harris
If you are struggling with your present occupation then perhaps the following questions might help:
a. Do you see your work as your ministry?
Do you see your work as the Lord’s will for your life. Do you see it as the mission field to which God has called you to at this particular time and place. What is it that you want to get from your job? Do you see it as a means to an end – just a way to provide for your family?
No one can make a real masterpiece of life until he sees something infinitely greater in his vocation than bread and butter and shelter. -- Orison Swett Marden
No life can be dreary when work is delight. -- Frances Havergal
Nothing is work to you unless you would rather be doing something else. -- Sir James Barrie
When we see our work as the place to which God called us we begin to make the most of every opportunity we have. Instead of just trying to get through the day so that you can get home you begin to see opportunities for ministry all around you.
I was excepted to go on a summer missions trip to China in 1988. I had a months after school before the trip so I got a job at Canada’s Wonderland to make money for the trip. I almost missed the great opportunities around me to tell others about Christ because I figured the job was unimportant and I was just focused on the trip. Are you proud of what you do and try to be the very best at doing it.
The name Stradivarius is synonymous with fine violins. This is true because Antonius Stradivarius insisted that no instrument constructed in his shop be sold until it was as near perfection as human care and skill could make it. Stradivarius said, "God needs violins to send His music into the world, and if any violins are defective God’s music will be spoiled." His work philosophy was summed up in one sentence: "Other men will make other violins, but no man shall make a better one."
b. Are you thankful for your job?
One of the keys to contentment in your work and finding fulfillment in every area of life is learning to be thankful for what you have been given. Wanting to move forward in your career is not a problem unless it means that you take where you are for granted. As one person once wrote “If you are not thankful for what you have got, it is doubtful if you'll be thankful for what you will get.” Contentment and peace is found in a thankful heart.
When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude. -- G. K. Chesterton
A certain king needed a faithful servant and had to choose between two candidates for the office. He took both at fixed wages and told them to fill a basket with water from a nearby well, saying that he would come in the evening to inspect their work. After dumping one or two buckets of water into the basket, one of the men said, "What is the good of doing this useless work? As soon as we pour the water in, it runs out the sides." The other answered, "But we have our wages, haven't we? The use is the master's business, not ours. He is a wise King, and must have his own purpose that we do not understand." "I'm not going to do such fool's work," replied the complainer. Throwing down his bucket, he went away.
The other man continued until he had drained the well. Looking down into it, he saw something shining at the bottom—it was a diamond ring. "Now I see the use of pouring water into the basket!" he exclaimed. "If the bucket had brought up the ring before the well was dry, it would have been filtered out in the basket. The King was looking for his diamond. Our work was not useless." The King found his most faithful servant!
c. Are you a faithful worker?
The Message translates this passage from Ephesians:
Eph 6:5-9 Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free.
This passage says that employees are to work for their employer as they would for Christ. Our attitude should never be to only do what we need to in order to get by. We are not working for our employers only. As Christians we are working for and representing Christ.
After my first year in University I got a summer job working at the Imperial Oil refinery in Sarnia. I was grateful for the job and I wanted to work hard at it. The problem was that there was not much to do. The other guys that had worked there a long time told me “just find a place that is out of the way and relax. Don’t work too hard. When you see the boss coming just try to look busy!” That was one of the longest summers of my life!
There was a man applying for a job. The manager reviewing the application said, “I’m sorry I can’t hire you, but there isn’t enough work to keep you busy.” The applicant replied, “You’d be surprised how little it takes.”
If a man does only what is required of him, he is a slave. If a man does more than is required of him, he is a free man. -- Chinese Proverb
Prov 18:9 One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.
Let me ask you, do you take pride in your work? Do others see you as a faithful worker?
An inventor was trying to interest the Duke of Wellington in a bulletproof vest he had made. He claimed it was absolutely marvelous and could save the Duke's life if somebody tried to assassinate him. The Duke asked the man to put it on, and he examined it carefully, and then, to give it a test, he sent for a rifleman - but the inventor bolted out of the other door!
Years ago, the cleaning of Michelangelo’s frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was undertaken. As the workers carefully removed the buildup of dirt and stain accumulated over the centuries, they marveled at some of the treasures the grime had hidden. Among these unseen portions of the paintings were fingerprints of the artist left unnoticed through time. Now they stood in testimony to the painter’s identity. Here was the evidence that the master artist had done the work. A part of his identity remained with the product. What fingerprints of our lives do we allow as evidence of our work?
Women who stay at home with children work as hard as those who labor in the workplace. It is important that they recognize that they are part of the team and that their ministry and efforts are just a important and valuable as that of their husbands.
2. Instructions to Employers –
Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s, used to say that the three most important things in his life were God, his family, and McDonald’s and that when he got to the office, the order was reversed. As Christians we must never reverse that order. We are an ambassador of Christ wherever we go. Our behavior and words must represent the one who we serve.
It is important to remember that you as an employer are also accountable. You are a servant of God. Every person in your care is a child that God has made and has worth and value in His sight.
Paul, in writing to an employer named Philemon intercedes for an employee of his called Onesimus.
Philemon 1:10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains… 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good-- 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. 17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back--not to mention that you owe me your very self.
Paul here asks for mercy on Onesimus by adding “you owe me your very self”. Remember as employers that the people who work for you are God’s. Be faithful and fair to them out of submission to Christ. Everyone is accountable to someone – even the boss!
At the end of World War I, Herbert Hoover, later to become President of the United States, led the allied relief efforts in Europe. He kept hundreds of thousands from starving, and a new word entered the Finnish language. In Finland, to “HOOVER” means to be kind, to help. If someone coined a word from your name, what would it be? Would it signify character? Helpfulness? Cheerfulness? Or would it mean something ugly?
