1. All you need to bring home from work is you.
There are four critical attitudes for the Christian worker:
-Sincerity of heart.
Vs. 5 "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ."
-Integrity
Vs. 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."
-Thoroughness
Vs. 7-8 "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free."
-Joy
Vs. 8 "because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free."
Question: Ever thought what God is doing?
John 5:17 "Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." (NIV)
You are motivated to work for one of three reasons:
1. External Motivation. I work for a pay check.
2. Internal Motivation. I work because it makes me feel good.
External and Internal motivation are good but they will not get you through crisis of work.
3. Eternal Motivation. You need to have an eternal motivation no matter what your job is in life.
That means you are working for the Lord.
Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."(NIV)
2. Every worker needs a bonus plan.
Vs. 8 "because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free."
3. Every boss has a boss.
Vs. 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."
In other words everyone is accountable to God.
John 13:3-5 "Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples¡¦ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him." (NIV)
Jesus was the master and he served!
Question: Will you focus on serving this week?
