SERVING FOR THE LORD’S SAKE
1 Timothy 6:1-2
INTRODUCTION:
A. 97,760
1. 97,760 – that’s a big number
2. Many would like to see that on their year’s end W-2
3. Many would like to see that in their pockets right now
4. 97,760….that’s an interesting number, why?
5. That is the number of hours the average person will spend at work – considering 40 hours a week from age 18-65
6. 1/3 of our life will be spent at work!
B. Whether we like it or not work is a very important chunk of our lives
1. Most people see work as a necessary evil, necessary to get what they need and want.
2. Unfortunately many, if not most, Christians think the same way.
3. Have we ever stopped to realize that God supplies our needs and that our job is OUR area of ministry?
4. Jesus is recorded as saying, in Matt 6:33, Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
5. Now with that in mind – what do you think our heart should be centered on for this 1/3 of our life – those 97,760 hours?
C. Well, lets look at 1 Tim 6:1-2 and see if we can find out: Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
1. Now I know what your thinking: This passage is directed at slaves, not workers
a. I will commend you for your that astute observational buible study skills.
b. But know this about slaves in the Roman Empire
1) It has been estimated that about 15% (modest estimation) to 33% (high estimation) of the population were slaves
2) A great majority of the work was done by slaves – they were the labors/employees sometimes receiving only room and board and sometimes receiving wages, of a sort.
3) They worked in unsafe, unsanitary and uncomfortable conditions
2. So if Paul’s words to them as slaves was to be heeded, I believe we who have a much better standard of living should be much more able to live according to these words!
3. So our outline is simple
a. A General Word For Christian Employees
b. A Specific Word For Christian Employees
4. May the Lord bless us as we see our work places as a place where we are Serving For The Lord’s Sake
PRAY
We will begin with
I. A GENERAL WORD FOR CHRISTIAN EMPLOYEES, 1 Tim. 6:1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
A. As I sought to unwrap this verse and apply it to our lives today two words stood out to me: Honor & Blasphemed – lets define them
1. Honor – to be given high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank
2. Blasphemed – to speak evil or reproachfully of, in this case God.
3. In this context it meant that Christian slaves were to respect their masters so that God would not be evil spoken of.
B. To understand how this would work out in life, we can go to a parallel passage in Eph 6:5-8 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. Here we have a number of things we can do as we are Serving For The Lord’s sake:
1. First, Have the Right Behavior: Obedience
a. Did you know that people are watching us – especially if we openly claim to be a Christian?
b. What do they notice about us? What is our reputation?
c. I don’t know about you, but I’m afraid that too many Christians are seen as something other than loyal honest followers of Christ.
- Many outright disobey their bosses, some do it deceptively; some cheat their bosses, some do not respect his position; you get my point.
d. Listen, we are to do our jobs and do them well – we should be the best employee the company has – we should be doing what the boss tells us to do.
e. If it is our job or our boss has told us to do it, it should be as good as done!
2. Second, Have Right Attitude – do the job with fear and trembling
a. I like what Jeffery Anselmi said about this phrase, The idea 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 God has called you to.
b. Folks, we should display a good can do attitude on the job
1) Paul writes, Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
2) But Pastor you don’t understand
3) I might not but God does and it is He who said serve your masters Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; Eph. 6:6
4) Besides I know this – we are not as bad off as a Roman slave!
3. Third, Have the Right Motive
a. We are to work, With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Eph 6:7
1) If we see our jobs as more than just a way to make money so we can have things
2) If we see our jobs properly, as our God given mission field, we start to have the right motivation for working!
b. Our motivation to do a good job should not be money, promotion, acknowledgment or benefits, it should be to please the Lord and glorify Him!
c. Remember what I said, If you are claiming to be a Christian people are watching you: do they see an example of Christ or Judas?
d. It depends heavily on your motivation!
4. Four, We Should Look forward To Receiving Righteous Bonuses, Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. Eph. 6:8
a. God knows your heart, your motives, and your deeds
b. God is going to reward those who live for Him
c. You may not see the bonus in your pay check directly, but God has His ways of rewarding His own
C. Finally, Let Me Give You A Personal Word Of Testimony.
1. One of the greatest changes God made in me, came many years after I was saved.
a. It was though hearing a message from right here, and for the first time hearing that God did not put me in the job I was in primarily to meet my needs, He did it to minister the gospel to others who needed to hear and see the love of God – thereby receiving the glory!
b. Hence Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you took on an entirely new meaning!
2. One of the things I miss most about not being in the secular work place is that I do not have those unsaved bosses, unsaved co-workers and unsaved people working for me and around me
- What a privilege is was to live for Christ and be a witness to others of what He could do for me and for them.
3. You still have that opportunity – don’t miss out or sell yourself short.
a. Listen to Paul’s words in Eph 4:1-2 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
b. Employees, live for Christ right where you are
c. Seek to exalt Him and glorify Him and God will bless you!
But God has a further word for those who have believing bosses
II. A SPECIFIC WORD FOR CHRISTIAN EMPLOYEES, 1 Tim. 6:2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
A. Again two words jump out to me: Despise & Service
1. Despise means to treat or regard with disdain, scorn, or contempt.
2. Service, meaning to yield obedience or to submit
3. In context it means that slaves who have believing master are to give them preference and honor and submit themselves to their masts, that is give themselves fully to them for service
B. So how does this play out in out no-slavery society? As dealing with bosses and employers?
1. First, and foremost, it means if we have Christian bosses, we should see them as a brother or sister in Christ and this should turn our minds to what we read in Phil 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
a. This would do wonders in the work place – building rapport with one another
b. It also helps those who are not saved to see the love that Christians can have for one another
2. Second, we are to serve them this way because it benefits them – did I just say that, “Benefits them?”
a. Yes, listen how the ESV states this verse, Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.
b. My responsibility to my Christian boss is to make them look good!
3. You say, that sounds strange, and it is, but we must remember that our first responsibility in any area of life is not to self but to the Lord.
a. Matt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
b. We are not to seek our own glory but live to glorify God, Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31
4. This is the intent of the passage, initially for slaves and now for us as employees.
CONCLUSION: As we close
A. Paul told Timothy to “teach these things and exhort the brethren to do them.
1. So I lay before us the principles of this teaching and encourage us to live for the Lord in every aspect of our life, even our job
2. Writer William E. Diehl once said We need to begin to search for God in our places of work. God is already there, make no mistake about it; we simply have not trained ourselves to see our creator.
3. May we search for our creator and glorify Him at our place of employment
B. May God be glorified and may we see fruit form our abiding in Christ.
Lets be Serving For The Lord’s Sake!
