Another place that it is difficult for Christians to submit is in the workplace. This was especially true for first century slaves. Yet if the Holy Spirit is in control of his life, a worker can submit and do his job as unto the Lord.

Transition

This evening we will note three ways in which the Holy Spirit’s filling will be evident in the lives of workers.

They will be Obedient Workers

  1. This is addressed to servants
    1. The Greek word for “servant” is δοῦλος which refers to a slave. Kenneth Wuest tells us that “These were Christian slaves working for the most part for pagan masters.” Marvin Vincent adds, “In many of the cities of Asia Minor, slaves outnumbered freemen.”
    2. The word “masters” is the same as lord and is frequently used of Jesus our Lord. To distinguish that he was not talking about our Lord, he called them “masters according to the flesh.”
    3. Christian slaves often had a difficult life, especially if their master was an unbeliever. They were often treated very harshly. Submission was extremely difficult.
    4. The children sing a helpful song called OBEDIENCE that goes like this: Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe, Doing exactly what the Lord commands, doing it happily. Action is the key do it immediately, joy you will receive. Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe.Though we are not slaves today, these instructions, given to the most difficult type of worker, certainly apply to workers today as well. We can also find application to children working in the home and Christians working in the Lord’s work.
  2. Servant are to obey their mastersJohn Eadie makes a good observation. The apostle, in the following clauses, hits upon those peculiar vices which slavery induces, and which are almost inseparable from it. The slave is tempted to indolence and carelessness. When a man feels himself doomed, degraded, and little else than a chattel, driven to work, and liable at any moment to be sent to the market-place and sold as an ox or a horse, what spring of exertion or motive to obedience can really exist within him?
    1. Obey with fear and trembling, v.5. These words describe the respect and reverence that workers are to have toward their boss. Bob Utley calls this phrase “a metaphor of respect.” It certainly takes humility and filling of the Holy Spirit to show respect to a person who abuses you.
    2. Obey in singleness of heart, as unto Christ, v.5. Singleness deals with mental honesty, without double-mindedness, or hypocrisy. We are to obey sincerely as unto Christ. Put your heart into the work as if you worked for Christ. Again, Utley reminds us that “a believer’s motivation is always the key to proper action, not observation.”
    3. Obey, NOT with eyeservice, as menpleasers, v.6. Eyeservice is being diligent when the boss is present but being lazy when he is gone. They work this way because they are menpleasers who seek to please just to stay out of trouble.
      1. Instead, work as the servants of Christ. Work as though you are a slave working for Christ. Why should this motivate us to work diligently? Christ gave his life to save us from eternal hell. We owe him far more than we will ever be able to repay.After all he’s done for me, after all he’s done for me, how can I do less than give him my best and live for him completely, after all he’s done for me?
      2. Instead of eyeservice, we are to do the will of God from the heart. What is God’s will? He just told us – obey with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart.
    4. Obey with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, v.7.
      1. The phrase “good will” speaks of kindness or heartiness.
      2. The words “doing service” speak of doing the work of a slave.
      3. So, workers are to put their heart into their difficult work as if they were doing it for the Lord.Note that three times the slave is commanded to work as unto Christ, as a servant of Christ, and as to the Lord. If we learn to do all our work as if we are working for the Lord, we will do our best.
    5. The Lord will give strength in difficult situations if we will depend on Him.Philippians 4:12-13 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do [endure] all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

They will Know that the Lord Repays Faithfulness

  1. They look beyond the present tough situation
    1. The slave had no hope of a better life. He had no rights, no freedom, and no rest. If he did not please his master he would be beaten, whipped, imprisoned, sold, or even killed. The life of a slave was tough! We too are tempted to focus on the hardness of our situation.
    2. However, as Christians, we must look beyond this to eternity. This is true when things are going good as well as when they are bad.Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
  2. They focus on the Lord’s rewards
    1. If we will work obediently with respect for the boss, working honestly, not just when we are watched, but heartily as unto the Lord, God promises to repay the same to us in eternity.
    2. Many of the Christian’s rewards will be based on our faithfulness and obedience to Him on this earth.
    3. This is true for both slaves and freemen.2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

They will Treat Those Under Them Properly

  1. Masters are to follow the same principles
    1. This is addressed to Christian masters. They had no right to treat their slaves as did the heathen masters.
    2. God does not show favour to the master or boss. He expects him to treat his slaves or workers as if they were the Lord.
    3. They are to forbear threatening. The word forbear means to relax, to hold back, to omit, to calm. Not only must masters withhold cruel punishment, but God commands that they relax their threatening. They must treat their slaves as the Lord would treat them.
  2. Even masters have a Master!
    1. No earthly master is without a Master over him. God is the Master of everyone.
    2. God is no respecter of persons, and He will not excuse the cruel master because of his position and condemn the slave because of his bondage. God’s judgement of Christians is always just and will be based on their obedience and faithfulness to Him.

Conclusion

Obeying, honouring, working honestly, avoiding laziness, and working heartily are often VERY difficult to do, especially if the boss is unreasonable. To submit to this command, we need the Holy Spirit’s filling. He alone can help us do right when it is not easy. Weather we are self-employed, working for a Christian or an unbeliever, or working for dad and mum, we need the Holy Spirit’s filling to work as we ought. If you have not been working as God commands, confess your sin and draw near to God so that the Holy Spirit can help you do right.

Song: Have I Done My Best – 368
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Spirit-filled Workers
15 June 2014 PM – Ephesians 6:5-9 – Eph 14 – Scott Childs