Sermon Title: Who is your Master? Who is your God? On the Theology of Work: our ultimate accountability and sacred task doing good work.
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. (Ephesians 6:5-9)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Indeed, by the Power of the Holy Spirit, let us be empowered Christians; and let us be an effective Church!
In the last few weeks we have established that for Christians, our every relationship must be rooted in the unity of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:3), and deepened “out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21); and that it is impossible to be Christian, which constitutes our fulfillment of the Great Commission and the Cultural Mandate – as we would learn today - without the Presence, Purpose and Power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
In recent months, news of the toxic culture of racial discrimination within society, and toxic work environments amongst the famous and powerful have made daily headlines the world over; and it has become very evident that injustice and oppression entrenched in both (i) culture – in how one group treats the other – and (ii) work relationships in the marketplace arena is rooted in the brokenness and wickedness of the human heart.
In reality, most of us have personally experienced such toxic culture and work environments in the marketplace, or perhaps, in our lives before Christ even contributed to perpetuate such wickedness.
How did you cope? How did you break out of such a vicious cycle of relational degeneration and damnation?
Only – by the Grace and Mercy of God.
In today’s passage, the Apostle Paul extends the Christian life beyond marriages and families, and establishes the Christian testimony into the marketplace – a marketplace in which Paul frames between masters and slaves, a kind of relationship which would be unacceptable to us.
But for today’s purposes, we need only to understand that:
(i) The Apostle Paul is addressing Christians;
(ii) The Christian slaves Paul was addressing have the liberty of hearing his letter being read out to the Ephesian Church – a liberty that would not be granted to slaves in our definition; and
(iii) Paul addressed Christian masters who have the desire to attend such gatheringa – a desire which speaks positively to the character of those who have slaves in their employ.
Thus in many regards, this master-slave relationship that Paul refers to in this passage is civil – to say the least – and not unlike a modern day relationship between an employer and an employee, or between a supervisor and a subordinate.
Before we begin to unpack today’s passage, we need to understand the theological foundation of work – in that, human beings were created, and tasked, from the beginning to establish God’s Cultural Mandate in all of Creation through good, sacred work.
We read of this Cultural Mandate – which is, the nature of Christian Work, as a perfectly cohesive narrative of our divine creation and purpose - in Genesis 1:26-28:
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Pastor’s note: as Imago Dei: as our holy images and representatives)
27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
And in Genesis 2:15: The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
God’s task to humankind: “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth” and in stewardship, rule over every living being as ‘co-regents’ of God; manage their relationships in pattern and participation of God’s continued work in creating an even more thriving world.
God is essentially saying to us:
“I am Your God; Work the Garden which I planted, and take care of it”;
“I am Your God; Manage their relationships; ensure that Creation thrives, and reap the rewards of its abundance.”
Sacred work, good work.
To an unfallen human race was bequeathed – by the Creator God - the sacred and good work of the flourishing of Creation.
The boundaries of Eden marked the separation of the Garden from the ‘un-gardened’ portion of the earth; of which – under God - humankind was meant to work the garden, take care of the garden and extend the garden; pushing away into the boundaries of the ‘un-gardened’ space of the world, working and then taking care of it, in the divine pattern that God has ordained in the original space known as the Garden of Eden.
Even after the completion of Creation, God invites humankind into the holy day where, “he rested from all the work of creating that he had done” (Genesis 2:1) - to participate in the Work that He begun; in fullest reverence to the holy pattern of relationships that He instituted in the Garden where He placed Adam.
It was going to be hard work – no doubt; but it was going to be good work; joyous, and fulfilling work – work meant to exalt and glorify the Lord, our God.
Do you consider your work – all the enterprises of your life - ‘good’ in the eyes of God?
Does the work that you do in your life – paid, and unpaid – exalt and glorify God?
Is exalting and glorifying God the key objective of the work in your life?
At work, who are you truly accountable to?
Gardening is always hard work; and it is work that is constant and consistent.
Though tiring, we find that at the end of the day, there is a fulfillment like no other – in enjoying the sight of a well-kept garden. It does not have to be ‘Butchart’ by any standards, but as long as it is simple and tended to, there is a balance in nature – between animals and plants - that brings much joy and fulfillment to the soul.
I have a sense of that joy and fulfillment in Creation care and stewardship as my family have been engaging, this past summer, in transforming the ‘un-gardened’ portion of our property – felling trees, cutting down the wild undergrowth, chipping it up, making soil, and creating a garden and farming space where we can introduce productive livestock, through developing sustainable, symbiotic relationships between animals and plants in the very pattern of God’s design for Creation.
Lots of work. Lots to do.
Lots of planning, and lots of preparation.
It is tough work, but deeply, deeply fulfilling.
It is also interesting to note that Adam was created in the ‘un-gardened’ portion of the world – in the ‘wild’ as we would call it – and subsequently placed in the Garden; whereas the woman was created in the Garden itself; which speaks deeply and substantially to the fundamental difference between men and women, and how we must always regard each specific gender as sacred - as how we would regard our creation in the image of God as sacred; for it is in His own image, we were created, “male and female”. (Ref: Genesis 1:27); distinct in character and nature, and at the same time, collectively representing God.
With the Fall of Man, every relationship pertaining to humankind was broken; the relationship between (i) God and Man; (ii) Man and Man (human society); and (iii) Man and Creation.
Today, in Christ Jesus - who died on the Cross for the atonement of our sins and for the restoration of the people of God to His Kingdom - it is due entirely to the Holy Spirit’s continuing and progressive work of consecrating and sanctifying us, that we participate in His simultaneous restoration of these three sets of relationships in our lives.
That in Christ, we are on the mend – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually – in our relationship with God, with one another, and with Creation.
A fundamental part of this progressive restoration requires that we ask this question:
Who is our Master? Who is our God? - in asking to whom, we – as Christians - are ultimately accountable to.
“Who is your Master?”. “Who is your God?” - are also questions that reflect our lives in the eyes of the world; a world that judges our bearing in life, and our behaviour through life, with the real intention of ascertaining the very substance of our existence, and perhaps God-willing, come to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour – as we have.
In our marriages, families and even in our work – paid, or unpaid - in the marketplace; it must be very clear to us – that, as Christians, we must be “as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.” (Ephesians 6:6)
For Christ to truly be our Lord, our Master and our God, we must be His slaves.
In our work and in our relationships at work, we must be fully accountable to Christ; and be fully dependent upon Christ.
This is a radical relationship between God and ourselves that speaks to our utter commitment and devotion to love and serve Christ Jesus our Lord now and forevermore; and this is the only relationship that truly exists between God and humankind – and we must be found in this relationship.
The Apostle Paul articulates the basis for every Christian’s relationship - in that, we must “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2)
Church, we must be deeply mindful that the world’s perception of our lives are through the lenses of our relationships – as husbands, wives, parents, and in the precise context of today’s passage, as productive and life-bringing participants with God in the marketplace.
To this, we must “follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love…” (Ephesians 5:1)
When we consider the work in our lives – which includes our livelihoods, careers and vocations – we must recognise that, regardless of our station in life, we are ultimately “serving the Lord, not people.” (Ephesians 6:7)
In every assessment and review of our performance in the marketplace, Christians must be deeply mindful that our work is constantly scrutinised by the world around us.
For most of us, this attention is unwarranted and unwanted.
However, it is this unwarranted and unwanted attention that presents to us the greatest opportunity to witness for our Lord Jesus Christ.
In our engagement in the marketplace, as with our families and communities, our ultimate accountability is to the Lord Jesus Christ.
It has been my consistent, personal experience; in my desire
(i) To put God first in my work;
(ii) To find favour in His sight in my work;
(iii) To be fully cognizant of my role as ‘slave of Christ’ in my work;
(iv) To fulfill God’s Will in my work; and
(v) To “serve wholeheartedly, as if … serving the Lord, not people” –
that “it is the Lord who established the work of my hands.” (Ref: Psalm 90:17)
Church, we are to accept this word in Ephesians 6 from the Apostle Paul in direct application to our lives today - with no translations in cultural paradigms, with no necessity in making the Scriptures more relevant to our contexts, and with absolutely no exceptions; wherever within marketplace structures and systems you may find yourself in, you are ultimately accountable to King Jesus.
As His People we are called to exalt God, glorify Christ and move in the Power of the Holy Spirit.
(1) As Christian employees, we are to “obey our earthly masters (employers) with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as (we) would obey Christ.
Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on (us), but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from (our hearts)” because we know that God is watching us.
We are to “serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because (we) know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good we do, whether we are slave or free.
(2) As Christian bosses or employers, we are to “treat your (employees) in the same way” – and this is radical – we are to be “as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from (our hearts)” and we are to “serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,”
And as such, Christian bosses and employers are to treat their subordinates with kindness in the knowledge that we all have to be accountable to Christ the Judge who is perfectly impartial.
In our marketplace relationships, are we governed by our reverence for Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him?
As you consider your engagement in the marketplace – in your work situation - do you strive to represent Christ in your relationships, or are you so won over by your work that you forget that the essence of work is bringing glory to God in being witnesses for Jesus Christ in your every interaction?
Be very careful of any work which causes you to be distracted from your primary reason for the work you have; for if you do, you would either lose your work, or you would lose yourself – and all things considered, losing the former is much better for the sake of your eternal life in Christ.
Many Christians worship their work; when Christ should be worshipped through our work.
The singular concern of every Christian at work should be absolute focus and total concentration on God; and this means that our every expression of work (the type of work that we do) and our every engagement at work (our interactions with fellow colleagues) must become an extension of our worship unto God; the outcome of which: is to bring glory and honor to His Name.
The Christian who does not have this commitment and devotion to God at work would have to carry the burden of the Christian faith with the weakness of being human, devoid of the power of God; and soon be crushed into submitting to the ways of the world.
In instructing us to be obey our earthly masters “with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart”, just as we would obey Christ; to win their favor “as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from our hearts”, to “serve wholeheartedly, as if we were serving the Lord, not people”, the Apostle Paul is directing us:
(i) To keep in constant touch with the living God;
(ii) To trust Him in allowing ourselves to be like Christ; and in so doing,
(iii) Introduce Christ into the marketplace.
Church, in recognition of God’s Love and Sovereign Will, we need not determine where we should be placed, or what our jobs ought to be; or have preconceived notions of what God is preparing us to do, for in faith “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”(Romans 8:28); and as such, our only goal is to be utterly committed and devoted to Him in all our work; expressed in our constant conversations with Him through the course of our work – in the knowledge that in our work - as in our marriages, families - Christ is our ultimate accountability.
In Christ, we work for God; “we are co-workers in God’s service” (1 Corinthians 3:9a); we are created for the sacred and good work for the flourishing of humanity and Creation; and in so doing, exalt our Father in Heaven, glorify Christ Jesus our Lord, and live in the Power of the Holy Spirit.
May we live and work daily in the favour of our Lord; and each experience His Love, Grace and Mercy as He establishes the works of our hands for us.
Christ redeemed us from death unto eternal life; from the wilderness unto His Garden.
My brother and sister in Christ, you belong to Jesus.
Church, we belong to Jesus.
Let us offer our whole lives to Him; serving wholeheartedly in the world as we would serve the Lord our God; in-breaking His Kingdom through the sacred and good work of our hands.
Indeed, let us glorify Christ in all that we are, and in all that we do; for You are our Master, and our God!
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Lord, we offer our lives to You – may You use our lives for Your glory!
We recognize and embrace Your Love and Sovereign Will; may the work of our hands be sacred and good in Your Holy sight.
Holy Spirit, grant us the courage, strength, wisdom and resolve to be utterly committed and devoted to You in all of our work. Guide us in daily and constant conversations with You through the course of our work in the knowledge that we are accountable directly, presently and ultimately to Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Help us frame our relationships in the marketplace; and in our work – that through our testimony, our colleagues and community would come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for Your revelation and for our faith that in Christ, we have been created, redeemed, called and restored to fulfill sacred and good work for the present flourishing of humanity and Creation, and for the in-breaking of Your Holy Kingdom – and in so doing, exalt You, our Father in Heaven, glorifying King Jesus, our Saviour, through living fully in Your Power.
Lord God, we desire to live and work daily in Your favour, and experience Your Love, Grace and Mercy as You establish the works of our hands for us.
Lord Jesus, we believe with all our hearts that through Your death and resurrection, You have redeemed us from death unto eternal life; from the wilderness unto Your Holy Presence, destined for the eternal Kingdom of our Heavenly Father.
We declare that we belong to You; and that all our work is Christian ministry – designed to bring glory to Your Holy Name; through godly relationships and our lives lived out of utter reverence for You.
And in this, we offer our lives to You – that we may daily serve wholeheartedly in the world, as we would serve You, our Lord – fulfilling Your Cultural Mandate and Commission over our lives, inbreaking Your Kingdom through the sacred work that You have placed in our lives.
Thank You for establishing the work of our hands for us, O Lord!
Thank You for Your anointing, blessings, guidance, providence and protection over our lives.
Indeed, may Your favor rest on us; and Lord, establish the work of our hands for us - yes, establish the work of our hands.
Holy Spirit, grant us power that we may glorify Christ in all that we are, and in all that we do; for Christ, You are our Master, and our God!
We thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. (Ephesians 6:5-9)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Indeed, by the Power of the Holy Spirit, let us be empowered Christians; and let us be an effective Church!
In the last few weeks we have established that for Christians, our every relationship must be rooted in the unity of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:3), and deepened “out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21); and that it is impossible to be Christian, which constitutes our fulfillment of the Great Commission and the Cultural Mandate – as we would learn today - without the Presence, Purpose and Power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
In recent months, news of the toxic culture of racial discrimination within society, and toxic work environments amongst the famous and powerful have made daily headlines the world over; and it has become very evident that injustice and oppression entrenched in both (i) culture – in how one group treats the other – and (ii) work relationships in the marketplace arena is rooted in the brokenness and wickedness of the human heart.
In reality, most of us have personally experienced such toxic culture and work environments in the marketplace, or perhaps, in our lives before Christ even contributed to perpetuate such wickedness.
How did you cope? How did you break out of such a vicious cycle of relational degeneration and damnation?
Only – by the Grace and Mercy of God.
In today’s passage, the Apostle Paul extends the Christian life beyond marriages and families, and establishes the Christian testimony into the marketplace – a marketplace in which Paul frames between masters and slaves, a kind of relationship which would be unacceptable to us.
But for today’s purposes, we need only to understand that:
(i) The Apostle Paul is addressing Christians;
(ii) The Christian slaves Paul was addressing have the liberty of hearing his letter being read out to the Ephesian Church – a liberty that would not be granted to slaves in our definition; and
(iii) Paul addressed Christian masters who have the desire to attend such gatheringa – a desire which speaks positively to the character of those who have slaves in their employ.
Thus in many regards, this master-slave relationship that Paul refers to in this passage is civil – to say the least – and not unlike a modern day relationship between an employer and an employee, or between a supervisor and a subordinate.
Before we begin to unpack today’s passage, we need to understand the theological foundation of work – in that, human beings were created, and tasked, from the beginning to establish God’s Cultural Mandate in all of Creation through good, sacred work.
We read of this Cultural Mandate – which is, the nature of Christian Work, as a perfectly cohesive narrative of our divine creation and purpose - in Genesis 1:26-28:
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Pastor’s note: as Imago Dei: as our holy images and representatives)
27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
And in Genesis 2:15: The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
God’s task to humankind: “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth” and in stewardship, rule over every living being as ‘co-regents’ of God; manage their relationships in pattern and participation of God’s continued work in creating an even more thriving world.
God is essentially saying to us:
“I am Your God; Work the Garden which I planted, and take care of it”;
“I am Your God; Manage their relationships; ensure that Creation thrives, and reap the rewards of its abundance.”
Sacred work, good work.
To an unfallen human race was bequeathed – by the Creator God - the sacred and good work of the flourishing of Creation.
The boundaries of Eden marked the separation of the Garden from the ‘un-gardened’ portion of the earth; of which – under God - humankind was meant to work the garden, take care of the garden and extend the garden; pushing away into the boundaries of the ‘un-gardened’ space of the world, working and then taking care of it, in the divine pattern that God has ordained in the original space known as the Garden of Eden.
Even after the completion of Creation, God invites humankind into the holy day where, “he rested from all the work of creating that he had done” (Genesis 2:1) - to participate in the Work that He begun; in fullest reverence to the holy pattern of relationships that He instituted in the Garden where He placed Adam.
It was going to be hard work – no doubt; but it was going to be good work; joyous, and fulfilling work – work meant to exalt and glorify the Lord, our God.
Do you consider your work – all the enterprises of your life - ‘good’ in the eyes of God?
Does the work that you do in your life – paid, and unpaid – exalt and glorify God?
Is exalting and glorifying God the key objective of the work in your life?
At work, who are you truly accountable to?
Gardening is always hard work; and it is work that is constant and consistent.
Though tiring, we find that at the end of the day, there is a fulfillment like no other – in enjoying the sight of a well-kept garden. It does not have to be ‘Butchart’ by any standards, but as long as it is simple and tended to, there is a balance in nature – between animals and plants - that brings much joy and fulfillment to the soul.
I have a sense of that joy and fulfillment in Creation care and stewardship as my family have been engaging, this past summer, in transforming the ‘un-gardened’ portion of our property – felling trees, cutting down the wild undergrowth, chipping it up, making soil, and creating a garden and farming space where we can introduce productive livestock, through developing sustainable, symbiotic relationships between animals and plants in the very pattern of God’s design for Creation.
Lots of work. Lots to do.
Lots of planning, and lots of preparation.
It is tough work, but deeply, deeply fulfilling.
It is also interesting to note that Adam was created in the ‘un-gardened’ portion of the world – in the ‘wild’ as we would call it – and subsequently placed in the Garden; whereas the woman was created in the Garden itself; which speaks deeply and substantially to the fundamental difference between men and women, and how we must always regard each specific gender as sacred - as how we would regard our creation in the image of God as sacred; for it is in His own image, we were created, “male and female”. (Ref: Genesis 1:27); distinct in character and nature, and at the same time, collectively representing God.
With the Fall of Man, every relationship pertaining to humankind was broken; the relationship between (i) God and Man; (ii) Man and Man (human society); and (iii) Man and Creation.
Today, in Christ Jesus - who died on the Cross for the atonement of our sins and for the restoration of the people of God to His Kingdom - it is due entirely to the Holy Spirit’s continuing and progressive work of consecrating and sanctifying us, that we participate in His simultaneous restoration of these three sets of relationships in our lives.
That in Christ, we are on the mend – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually – in our relationship with God, with one another, and with Creation.
A fundamental part of this progressive restoration requires that we ask this question:
Who is our Master? Who is our God? - in asking to whom, we – as Christians - are ultimately accountable to.
“Who is your Master?”. “Who is your God?” - are also questions that reflect our lives in the eyes of the world; a world that judges our bearing in life, and our behaviour through life, with the real intention of ascertaining the very substance of our existence, and perhaps God-willing, come to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour – as we have.
In our marriages, families and even in our work – paid, or unpaid - in the marketplace; it must be very clear to us – that, as Christians, we must be “as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.” (Ephesians 6:6)
For Christ to truly be our Lord, our Master and our God, we must be His slaves.
In our work and in our relationships at work, we must be fully accountable to Christ; and be fully dependent upon Christ.
This is a radical relationship between God and ourselves that speaks to our utter commitment and devotion to love and serve Christ Jesus our Lord now and forevermore; and this is the only relationship that truly exists between God and humankind – and we must be found in this relationship.
The Apostle Paul articulates the basis for every Christian’s relationship - in that, we must “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2)
Church, we must be deeply mindful that the world’s perception of our lives are through the lenses of our relationships – as husbands, wives, parents, and in the precise context of today’s passage, as productive and life-bringing participants with God in the marketplace.
To this, we must “follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love…” (Ephesians 5:1)
When we consider the work in our lives – which includes our livelihoods, careers and vocations – we must recognise that, regardless of our station in life, we are ultimately “serving the Lord, not people.” (Ephesians 6:7)
In every assessment and review of our performance in the marketplace, Christians must be deeply mindful that our work is constantly scrutinised by the world around us.
For most of us, this attention is unwarranted and unwanted.
However, it is this unwarranted and unwanted attention that presents to us the greatest opportunity to witness for our Lord Jesus Christ.
In our engagement in the marketplace, as with our families and communities, our ultimate accountability is to the Lord Jesus Christ.
It has been my consistent, personal experience; in my desire
(i) To put God first in my work;
(ii) To find favour in His sight in my work;
(iii) To be fully cognizant of my role as ‘slave of Christ’ in my work;
(iv) To fulfill God’s Will in my work; and
(v) To “serve wholeheartedly, as if … serving the Lord, not people” –
that “it is the Lord who established the work of my hands.” (Ref: Psalm 90:17)
Church, we are to accept this word in Ephesians 6 from the Apostle Paul in direct application to our lives today - with no translations in cultural paradigms, with no necessity in making the Scriptures more relevant to our contexts, and with absolutely no exceptions; wherever within marketplace structures and systems you may find yourself in, you are ultimately accountable to King Jesus.
As His People we are called to exalt God, glorify Christ and move in the Power of the Holy Spirit.
(1) As Christian employees, we are to “obey our earthly masters (employers) with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as (we) would obey Christ.
Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on (us), but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from (our hearts)” because we know that God is watching us.
We are to “serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because (we) know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good we do, whether we are slave or free.
(2) As Christian bosses or employers, we are to “treat your (employees) in the same way” – and this is radical – we are to be “as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from (our hearts)” and we are to “serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,”
And as such, Christian bosses and employers are to treat their subordinates with kindness in the knowledge that we all have to be accountable to Christ the Judge who is perfectly impartial.
In our marketplace relationships, are we governed by our reverence for Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him?
As you consider your engagement in the marketplace – in your work situation - do you strive to represent Christ in your relationships, or are you so won over by your work that you forget that the essence of work is bringing glory to God in being witnesses for Jesus Christ in your every interaction?
Be very careful of any work which causes you to be distracted from your primary reason for the work you have; for if you do, you would either lose your work, or you would lose yourself – and all things considered, losing the former is much better for the sake of your eternal life in Christ.
Many Christians worship their work; when Christ should be worshipped through our work.
The singular concern of every Christian at work should be absolute focus and total concentration on God; and this means that our every expression of work (the type of work that we do) and our every engagement at work (our interactions with fellow colleagues) must become an extension of our worship unto God; the outcome of which: is to bring glory and honor to His Name.
The Christian who does not have this commitment and devotion to God at work would have to carry the burden of the Christian faith with the weakness of being human, devoid of the power of God; and soon be crushed into submitting to the ways of the world.
In instructing us to be obey our earthly masters “with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart”, just as we would obey Christ; to win their favor “as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from our hearts”, to “serve wholeheartedly, as if we were serving the Lord, not people”, the Apostle Paul is directing us:
(i) To keep in constant touch with the living God;
(ii) To trust Him in allowing ourselves to be like Christ; and in so doing,
(iii) Introduce Christ into the marketplace.
Church, in recognition of God’s Love and Sovereign Will, we need not determine where we should be placed, or what our jobs ought to be; or have preconceived notions of what God is preparing us to do, for in faith “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”(Romans 8:28); and as such, our only goal is to be utterly committed and devoted to Him in all our work; expressed in our constant conversations with Him through the course of our work – in the knowledge that in our work - as in our marriages, families - Christ is our ultimate accountability.
In Christ, we work for God; “we are co-workers in God’s service” (1 Corinthians 3:9a); we are created for the sacred and good work for the flourishing of humanity and Creation; and in so doing, exalt our Father in Heaven, glorify Christ Jesus our Lord, and live in the Power of the Holy Spirit.
May we live and work daily in the favour of our Lord; and each experience His Love, Grace and Mercy as He establishes the works of our hands for us.
Christ redeemed us from death unto eternal life; from the wilderness unto His Garden.
My brother and sister in Christ, you belong to Jesus.
Church, we belong to Jesus.
Let us offer our whole lives to Him; serving wholeheartedly in the world as we would serve the Lord our God; in-breaking His Kingdom through the sacred and good work of our hands.
Indeed, let us glorify Christ in all that we are, and in all that we do; for You are our Master, and our God!
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Lord, we offer our lives to You – may You use our lives for Your glory!
We recognize and embrace Your Love and Sovereign Will; may the work of our hands be sacred and good in Your Holy sight.
Holy Spirit, grant us the courage, strength, wisdom and resolve to be utterly committed and devoted to You in all of our work. Guide us in daily and constant conversations with You through the course of our work in the knowledge that we are accountable directly, presently and ultimately to Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Help us frame our relationships in the marketplace; and in our work – that through our testimony, our colleagues and community would come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for Your revelation and for our faith that in Christ, we have been created, redeemed, called and restored to fulfill sacred and good work for the present flourishing of humanity and Creation, and for the in-breaking of Your Holy Kingdom – and in so doing, exalt You, our Father in Heaven, glorifying King Jesus, our Saviour, through living fully in Your Power.
Lord God, we desire to live and work daily in Your favour, and experience Your Love, Grace and Mercy as You establish the works of our hands for us.
Lord Jesus, we believe with all our hearts that through Your death and resurrection, You have redeemed us from death unto eternal life; from the wilderness unto Your Holy Presence, destined for the eternal Kingdom of our Heavenly Father.
We declare that we belong to You; and that all our work is Christian ministry – designed to bring glory to Your Holy Name; through godly relationships and our lives lived out of utter reverence for You.
And in this, we offer our lives to You – that we may daily serve wholeheartedly in the world, as we would serve You, our Lord – fulfilling Your Cultural Mandate and Commission over our lives, inbreaking Your Kingdom through the sacred work that You have placed in our lives.
Thank You for establishing the work of our hands for us, O Lord!
Thank You for Your anointing, blessings, guidance, providence and protection over our lives.
Indeed, may Your favor rest on us; and Lord, establish the work of our hands for us - yes, establish the work of our hands.
Holy Spirit, grant us power that we may glorify Christ in all that we are, and in all that we do; for Christ, You are our Master, and our God!
We thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.