WORKING FOR A LIVING
EPHESIANS 6: 5-9
NOVEMBER 17, 2002
INTRODUCTION: One man told his friend: I lost my job because of illness and fatigue. Second man: Really, how awful! First man: Yeah, my boss got sick and tired of me!
I am told that when President Bush was governor of Texas he had to deal with a lot of conflict. According to the sources I heard on the news one night, He came into office with a legislature that was in the opposite party. Early in his term he met with the opposition leader of the legislative branch with the hopes of building a cooperative coalition for the future.
The meeting was a failure. There was no trust and no agreement. There was plenty of conflict.
At the end of the session as Bush got up to leave he suddenly reached over and grabbed the opposition boss with both hands on his neck and gave him a big kiss on the cheek.
The man was completely stunned. He got red faced and stammered "What did you do THAT for!"
Bush said, "If I can’t get your cooperation and help, I’m at least going to get a kiss!"
The opposition leader broke up laughing and that was the beginning of friendship and the end of conflict.
TRANSITION THOUGHT: Learning to work together is one of the real struggles of life. Everyday I talk with someone about their job and they make comments like, “Well, just pray about it,” “It’s a job,” “It pays the bills,” or “it will do until something else comes along.” The other side of the coin is not just the job, but how we function on the job with those with whom we have to work. I hear all kinds of comments about employees and employers. Some are positive and some are negative, but the reality of life is that we all work for someone! So what does it look like to be a Christian and have a job? What does it look like to honor God at work? What does it look like to “Work for a living?”
THESIS SENTENCE: OUR WORK ETHICS REVEAL OUR GOD!
I. WORKING FOR A LIVING IS A MATTER OF INTEGRITY (VV. 5-6)
A. IT’S ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING (V.5)
1. First things first! Our text speaks of “slaves” and “master.” This however is in no comparison to the slavery issues America faced. This was more of an employee/ employer relationship.
2. The first words we here are of “Obedience”!
3. It is about doing what we are supposed to do.
4. It is about doing the right thing and living up to the job description.
5. It is a matter of respect and “Fear” which is really about reverence, which is really about honoring someone based on their position over us!
6. If this isn’t enough, we are to obey with sincerity of heart. We will discuss this later.
B. IT’S ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE RIGHT REASON (V. 6)
1. Not only are we to do the right thing, but also in verse 6 we are told to do the right thing for the right reason!
2. We are not only to obey to win the favor of our employers.
3. Yes, we don’t want the boss to hate us, but we are not to base our work on a popularity contest.
4. We are also not just to base our work ethic on whether or not the boss is watching us.
5. We are to do the right thing for the right reason!!
6. Colossians 3: 23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart!”
ILLUSTRATION: I read an amusing story about the first Duke of Wellington. An inventor was trying to interest him in a bulletproof waistcoat he had made. It was absolutely marvelous and could save the great man’s life if somebody tried to assassinate him. The Iron 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!
YOU SEE, IT IS A MATTER OF INTEGRITY, STANDING BEHIND WHAT YOU DO!!
II. WORKING FOR A LIVING IS A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE
A. IT’S ABOUT KNOWING YOUR PLACE: EMPLOYEE
1. We are not employees of a company or a boss; we are employees of the living God, regardless of our vocation!
2. We are to obey, just as we would Christ (V. 5)!
3. We must remember, as verse 6 states, we are “Slaves” of Christ!
4. The term is doulos and can be translated “Servant,” or “Slave”!
5. Verses 7 & 8 make it all too clear, we are to “Serve… as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does…”
ILLUSTRATION: A few years ago, a major Multinational company was looking for a new Marketing Director.
After much advertising and many applications, three candidates entered the final selection process.
A mathematician, a statistician and a solicitor.
The first to be invited in for the final interview was the mathematician and the Managing Director asked him a simple question: What is 2+2. The mathematician was surprised, thought about it for a bit, wondered if it might be a trick question and then simply answered 4.
The Managing Director looked at the Board, shook his head and thanked him for coming, but he wasn’t the candidate they were looking for.
The statistician was the next in and the Managing Director asked him too the simple question: What is 2+2. He paused, thought about it for a bit and then replied that statistically it was a number between 3 and 5. The Managing Director smiled and Board were quite impressed. The candidate was thanked and ushered out.
The last candidate, the solicitor was then invited in to the interview and the Managing Director asked him too the simple question: What is 2+2. Without batting an eyelid he replied: “What do you want it to be”. And was promptly hired on the spot.
You might call it creative accounting – sometimes things don’t always add up.
B. IT’S ABOUT KNOWING YOUR PLACE: EMPLOYER
1. The admonition for the Employers is to treat your employees “In the same way (verse 9).”
2. This knowing your place is about mutuality.
3. It is about “NOT THREATENING!”
4. Colossians 4:1 states that employers are to provide what is “right and fair…” 5. But what is this issue of perspective?
6. Let me make this clear, The Apostle Paul is writing to Believers, whether slave or free, Employers and Employees!
7. And just as Employees are to serve as serving Christ, Employers are to know “That you also have a Master in Heaven (Colossians 4:1).”
8. Our text in Ephesians pushes the issue a little further, “Since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him (verse 9).”
9. You see this matter of perspective is that God sees all of us as equals while we may differentiate, HE DOES NOT!
10. To the Father in heaven, “We are all just working for a living and He expects us to include Him in our Work Ethos!
III. WORKING FOR A LIVING IS A MATTER OF THE HEART
ILLUSTRATION: 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."
Antonius Stradivarius expected his workers to do their very best in producing violins.
How much more should we as Christians strive for excellence in the work assigned to us!
A. IT’S ABOUT A HEART RIGHT WITH CHRIST
1. The overwhelming issue in our text for this day is “HEART!”
2. The first verses in our text make this clear. It is truly a matter of the heart! 3. “Sincerity of heart,” “from your heart,” and wholeheartedly” is the call! 4. And the focal point beyond the heart is the to whom the heart is given. 5. “Just as you would obey Christ,” “But like slaves of Christ,” “As if you were serving the Lord,” “Because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does.”
6. The writer of Hebrews makes it clear, as Christians, we are to “Fix our eyes on Jesus (12:2)!”
7. The heart is not right, until it is right with Christ!
B. IT’S ABOUT A HEART RIGHT WITH OTHERS
1. And if our heart is right with Christ, we will SERVE!!
2. And real service is not a matter of Employer/ Employee, it is a matter of having a heart right with others.
3. Once we are clear in our focus on Christ, people become much easier to work with, because we not represent the LIVING GOD!
4. We are now serving on His behalf and we begin to have His heart for all people, SLAVE OR FREE, Boss or the person at the bottom of the corporate ladder. 5. Now we have one goal, to reveal the Lord our God in every way possible!
ILLUSTRATION: 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?
CONCLUSION: Did you realize whose fingerprints you were representing every day you go to work? Did you realize that there is no area of life that our Lord is not concerned about? Did you realize that EVERY HUMAN RELATIONSHIP IS IMPORTANT TO GOD?! How is your heart? How is your serve? Are you honoring God with your Work Relationships? WORKING FOR A LIVING IS REVEALING OUR GOD TO OUR WORK PLACE! ARE YOU MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR HIM, OR ARE YOU DISCREDITING HIM TO THOSE THAT REALLY NEED TO SEE HIM IN THE WORK A DAY WORLD?
BENEDICTION: 2 THESSALONIANS 2:16 & 17
