Word@Work Eph73 - Ephesians 6:5-6
Published: Thu, 01/15/09
Word@Work from BeaconLight
HEARTFELT COMMITTMENT
Ephesians 6:5-6 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favour when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. (NIV)
Work-related devotionals can hardly have a more pointed passage! Unlike today's employees, slaves had no rights and way out - unless they were bought out by a kind benefactor. Christians are 'slaves of Christ' who have been bought by Him at tremendous cost, and so His ownership of them is absolute. Paul's argument does not start at the needs of the slaves but at their responsibility to serve and please their Saviour. As in every relationship, it is our rapport with Christ that will condition how we respond to others.
Respect and honour is the right of every boss in the same way that soldiers salute the insignia on the officer's uniform. Whether or not they like the commander, they salute for the sake of his commission (in the UK, the Queen's Commission). There will be some who only perform well when others are watching: they obey because they fear censure but are reluctant to do any more than they have to - because their heart is not in it. That should not be the attitude of any Christian in any working environment, even home-workers.
Those who have learned a servant heart from Jesus will gradually be noticed as the consistent, diligent, non-complaining, eager and 'go the extra mile' worker. Those who rebel against His rule will be reluctant to serve anybody wholeheartedly. So the most effective workplace ethics are not primarily grounded in corporate-bonding exercises, but in the attitude of the heart which has learned to serve Jesus for all He is worth. Then we will serve our bosses out of reverence for our Boss. That is the will of God!
Prayer: Almighty God. Thank You for being my Lord and benefactor who has redeemed me out of slavery to sin. May I be more eager to choose to serve others in my workplace because I reverence you in my heart. For Christ's sake. Amen.
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and Spanish
Work-related devotionals can hardly have a more pointed passage! Unlike today's employees, slaves had no rights and way out - unless they were bought out by a kind benefactor. Christians are 'slaves of Christ' who have been bought by Him at tremendous cost, and so His ownership of them is absolute. Paul's argument does not start at the needs of the slaves but at their responsibility to serve and please their Saviour. As in every relationship, it is our rapport with Christ that will condition how we respond to others.
Respect and honour is the right of every boss in the same way that soldiers salute the insignia on the officer's uniform. Whether or not they like the commander, they salute for the sake of his commission (in the UK, the Queen's Commission). There will be some who only perform well when others are watching: they obey because they fear censure but are reluctant to do any more than they have to - because their heart is not in it. That should not be the attitude of any Christian in any working environment, even home-workers.
Those who have learned a servant heart from Jesus will gradually be noticed as the consistent, diligent, non-complaining, eager and 'go the extra mile' worker. Those who rebel against His rule will be reluctant to serve anybody wholeheartedly. So the most effective workplace ethics are not primarily grounded in corporate-bonding exercises, but in the attitude of the heart which has learned to serve Jesus for all He is worth. Then we will serve our bosses out of reverence for our Boss. That is the will of God!
Prayer: Almighty God. Thank You for being my Lord and benefactor who has redeemed me out of slavery to sin. May I be more eager to choose to serve others in my workplace because I reverence you in my heart. For Christ's sake. Amen.
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