| 11.09.08 Employees & Employers Who Please the Lord |
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Employees and Employers Who Please the Lord Ephesians 6:5-9 When the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church in Why would the Bible urge slaves to obey masters and be good employees? Why would the Word of God command us to treat that undeserving boss of ours with deep respect? How can we be expected to work hard for someone who treats us like a tool, a commodity? · True Christians work for Jesus. · True Christians seek to please the Lord. · True Christians are consumed with God’s opinion; not man’s opinion. What does it mean to become a servant of Jesus? 1. We treat our employers with respect. “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ.” Ephesians 6:5 2. We work with diligence. “Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart.” Ephesians 6:6 3. We work with enthusiasm. “Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Ephesians 6:7 We are working for Jesus and we are His representatives. There is no such thing as spiritual work and secular work. For the Christian, all work is spiritual. What are God’s instructions for employers? Ephesians 6:9 “In the same way, you masters must treat your slaves right. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and He has no favorites.” 1. All of us, both employers and employees live under the authority of Jesus Christ. If we are authentic Christians, we all work for Jesus. 2. We are to live & work in a manner that will make our employees or our employers want to know Jesus. |