3. God at Work?
•According to an article from 4 years
ago on the Forbes Magazine web site,
American workers’ job satisfaction,
then, was less than 46%
•Only 15.4% were “very satisfied” in their work
•Most of the people who responded to the survey
are relieved to be employed in this economy, eager
to stay employed, but stretched to the max at
work, hoping for a winning lottery ticket.
4. God at Work?
•Are you happy in your work?
•Does liking it (or not) affect your job
performance, or your relationship
with bosses or co-workers?
•Do your co-workers know you’re a Christian
because you told them, or because of what they
see when you work?
•Just like the last 4 Sundays, submission to Christ
should be on display at work…
5. “5 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your
masters according to the flesh, with fear and
trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to
Christ; 6 not by way of eye-service, as men-
pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will
of God from the heart. 7 With good will render
service, as to the Lord, and not to men,
8 knowing that whatever good thing each one
does, this he will receive back from the Lord,
whether slave or free.
6. 9 And masters, do the same things to them,
and give up threatening, knowing that both
their Master and yours is in heaven, and
there is no partiality with Him.”
Ephesians 6:5-9, NASB
7. A. From God to Employees
•Is Paul endorsing slavery? No
•We must understand that the issue at
hand is not slavery, but attitudes
•He was addressing the heart of the person who
finds themselves in any given situation
•Greek word is “duolos” or Bondservant
•Hebrew law, state only lasted 7 years, then
choice
8. A. From God to Employees
•Not speaking to ‘slaves’ in general
either, but to Christians– either free
or slaves– in our case, employees
•These three verses spell out the kind of
behavior should exhibit in his/her work
•Let’s look again–
9. “5 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your
masters according to the flesh, with fear and
trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to
Christ; 6 not by way of eye-service, as men-
pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will
of God from the heart. 7 With good will render
service, as to the Lord, and not to men,
8 knowing that whatever good thing each one
does, this he will receive back from the Lord,
whether slave or free.” Ephesians 6:5-8, NASB
10. A. From God to Employees
•Paul gives us 3 reasons for us to be
obedient and good workers
1. As to Christ--In reality we are working
for Christ, not just our earthly employers.
Especially , if you have a Christian employer,
you must not take advantage of them, rather
you should work more faithfully. Instead of
goofing around, waiting to clock out, devote
your full attention and energy to your job
11. 3 Reasons: Be the best worker
1. As to Christ—
•Best way to witness, be the best worker!
•The phrase “in sincerity of your heart, as to
Christ; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers”
•Means you are honest, have integrity, and are
incorruptible, whether the boss deserves it or
not
•How? Because our aim is to please God…
12. 3 Reasons: Be the best worker
2. Doing God’s Will from the Heart
•Like it or not, your current work is what God
has provided for you
•He may have something different later or
sooner for you– Great– but this is the one we
should glorify Him in NOW…
•Understand– we work for Jesus, not the check
signers!
13. 3 Reasons: Be the best worker
3. We will receive the same from God
•As employees we get paid, unlike the
slaves of Paul’s time– a temporary reward
•God’s reward is eternal!
•Your boss may not like or even SEE everything
you do, but God does; and He will not forget!
14. B. From God to Employers…
•I used to work for a “Christian”
theatre that was all about making $$$,
but called themselves a Ministry
•It is and was shameful and God will judge it
•Paul applies this lesson to employers as well,
because there were slave owners who were
Christians too
15. B. From God to Employers…
•In essence, Paul applied his words
for employees to employers as well
•They , too, are to please the Lord in their work,
particularly in treatment of those under them;
Paul’s instructions went a step further
•He told them what they were to do, and he
told them what they should not do: threaten
their employees
16. 9 And masters, do the same things to them,
and give up threatening, knowing that both
their Master and yours is in heaven, and
there is no partiality with Him.”
Ephesians 6:9, NASB
17. 4 Points for Employers
1. “Do the same things to them…”
•In other words, take care of them
•Assume they do their best for you, do your best
for them– even if they fail to deserve it!
•Bosses– you work for Jesus too– not the
company bottom line
•Treat them so they see your faith in YOUR
work too!
18. 4 Points for Employers
2. “Give up Threatening…”
•Fear motivation does not work.
•Ever hear that “you can draw more flies…”
•If you give good benefits, positive critique, and
profit for their hard work, they’ll work harder
•Trust them to do their jobs, don’t micro-
manage-- delegate
19. 4 Points for Employers
3. “Knowing…both their Master and
yours is in Heaven”
•Mark 9:35 says, “And He sat down, called the
twelve, and said to them, ‘If anyone desires to
be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.’”
•This is why God made many to serve before
leading-- Jesus, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David
•Boss and Employees are equal to God
20. 4 Points for Employers
4. “There is no partiality with Him”
•Scripture says God is no respecter of
persons– whether high or low birth, rich or
poor, slave or free, all are the same to Him
•One of the quickest and surest ways to destroy
morale and confidence of company employees
is showing partiality among them
•Practice the 3 Fs: Fair, Firm, Friendly
21. Take Home…
1. To employees: You work hard with
integrity, honesty, and incorruptibility
not only for your earthly boss, but
also for the Ultimate Boss, Jesus
2. To employer and boss: Treat your
employees with integrity, fairness,
kindness, and honesty: Golden Rule
3. To both: You will give account for your
attitudes and actions to the Lord someday
