Background to passage: This is the next relationship in the household codes of Christians that are living Spirit-filled lives. Remember, the Spirit-filled life is one of close followership to Christ and moment by moment obedience to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. It requires sensitivity to the leadership of the Spirit and a determined obedience with joy once convinced.
Text today deals with servants and masters, thus we are going to make application in a couple of ways since we don’t have slavery in this fashion today (make a couple of comments about slavery then vs. 18th and 19th century American slavery). We are going to draw some work applications and some general Christian worldview applications related to how and why we treat people in all relationships and circumstances.
Ephesians 6:5–9 ESV
5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,
6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,
8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
Opening illustration: Facebook answers from my “least favorite job” post: waitress, dishwasher at a restaurant, working at a chicken house, car alternator production line, sardine packer, UPS driver, life insurance sales, warehouse, plumbing, cafeteria worker at school,
Main thought: Spirit-filled Christians work in God’s economic and relational system
1) To Those Who Are Employed (v. 5-8)
Ephesians 6:5–8 ESV
5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,
6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,
8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
1) To Those Who Are Employed (v. 5-8)
Explanation: This word, translated in our text as bondservants, is usually translated just servants (75%), although it can be translated “slave.” Regardless of how you translate it or the individual situations of the possibly huge percentages of servants in the congregation, there is only one instruction given: “obey.” No qualifiers, no exception clauses, no rationalizing situations. Paul elaborates in a number of descriptions of how they are to obey. The main underlying way is to the Lord. See it in every verse, 5-8.
Ephesians 6:5–8 (ESV)
Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
1 Peter 2:18–25 ESV
Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.
For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
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Illustration: missionaries and the president coming home on the same ship
Application: What are the specific instructions for obedience
with an attitude of respect: Do you respect your employer?
with a genuine commitment: Are you committed to your employer?
with the right motivation, unto the Lord: Who is the One you are working for?
with the right work ethic, diligence, doing the will of God for you: Do you work hard? Are you lazy?
with the right expectation, reward from the Lord: Do you seek the praise and admiration of men?
A teacher could easily go through the routine, present material, give tests, and go home. Everyone would agree the teacher had fulfilled his or her contract, but it would not be enough. If the teacher teaches as to Christ, teaching is no longer a job; it is the care and nurture of souls. It is excellence of thought joined to the value of a person.
A waitress could give menus, take orders, bring food, and clean up. Maybe it would be enough, but if she serves as to Christ, she values herself and the people she serves.
You work for Jesus regardless of the name that is on your uniform.
2) To Those Who Are In Charge (v. 9)
Ephesians 6:9 ESV
9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
2) To Those Who Are In Charge (v. 9)
Explanation: Some servants were treated well, but some were not. Ultimately they were property and could be done with as the master saw fit. Here is where we see Paul not seeking to overthrow social/cultural systems, but putting into place a change of worldview for believers. As with servants Paul gives a couple of specific ways, but the ultimate reason is still to glorify Christ in this way… “he who is their Master is also your Master.
Philemon 16 ESV
no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
Illustration: “Chains shall he break, for the slaved is our brother...” -O Holy Night, 1847
Application: So ask yourself these questions if you are over others in the workplace.
Do you treat them like you would treat yourself?
“That masters are to treat their slaves “the same way” is cryptic but still shocking. For them to follow this instruction, they would have to treat their slaves with respect and fear and with sincerity of heart as to Christ. That alone should have abolished slavery for Christians!… The ethics move beyond the Golden Rule … to treating others as we would treat our Lord”
Are you harsh with those under you? Correction is necessary, even discipline, but how do you handle it?
Do you show partiality among your employees for inappropriate reasons? Do you treat people different because of their social status, their socio-economic level, their race or sex, their politics, even their morality?
You do business for Christ. He is your boss, even if you are the boss.
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3) To Those Who Are Not Working
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3) To Those Who Are Not Working
Explanation: I include this point for two reasons. First, I do know that there are those here who are retired, not old enough to work, or in a station or season of life that gainful employment outside the home is not where you are. Second, these principles apply to all the relationships in our lives.
Argumentation:
Illustration: you might be a stay at home mom or dad, working maybe the hardest with the least amount of monetary salary.
Application:
Do all that you do, say all that you say, treat everyone to interact with to the glory of Christ. This is your aim. It’s the reason for which you exist. It is the place where you will find the most fulfillment. This is what the purpose of the church is: to glorify the risen Lamb of God in all his radiant beauty.
Deal with each other and those around you with integrity. Keep your word. Look out for their interests. Maintain high ethical standards. Be seen as trustworthy - you can’t make people see you a certain way, but you can act as a genuine Christian, and it will be more likely.
Treat people justly. God shows no partiality, neither should we. Most of us are the most judgmental people we know, and don’t know it. We size someone up in and instant and formulate an evaluation and treat others in a predetermined way. This doesn’t mean don’t be discerning, but that we must guard against injustice and prejudice, and that begins in our hearts.
We will all be called to the judgment seat of Christ as believers. We will have to answer for every harmful word, every piece of gossip, every evil thought, every evil deed. You are accountable to God. You are not saved by works, but it is not that works don’t matter. We are saved in order that we might walk in good works that God has prepared beforehand. Just BTW, unbelievers, if you are here, you will also stand before God with a handful of empty works that will amount to nothing, you can’t be good enough. Your judgment will be that you are cast into the Lake of Fire that burns forever.
Closing illustration: Les Cox’s job
Recap
