Jump Start # 923
Ephesians 6:5-7 “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; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men.”
Slavery was part of the Roman economy in the first century. Some have estimated as high as 6 million slaves were part of the Roman empire. When Christ was introduced into those cities and villages, instructions were given about the slave-master relationships. It would be natural to think that Christianity would outlaw slavery, but it didn’t. God set forth regulations about how slaves and masters were to conduct themselves toward each other. In many cases, slaves were Christians and their masters were not. In a few cases, such as Philemon, the master was a Christian and the slave wasn’t, until he ran into Paul and that changed things. Many N.T. books deal with the slave-master concept. It is interesting that in every area that Christianity got a foothold, slavery eventually was eliminated. It’s hard to practice the golden rule when you own someone.
Since the majority of the world today does not condone nor participate in slavery, what happens to these verses? Are they useless? Many see parallel principles between slaves and masters and employees and employers. It’s definitely not apple to apple comparisons, but there are some things to be learned.
The slaves were told to serve with sincerity as they would Christ. Twice the expression, “as to Christ,” or, “as to the Lord,” is used. Paul wanted them to serve doing the will of God from the heart. He expected them to serve as if they were serving Christ. From the heart…obedient…sincerity…as pleasing the Lord—those are the thoughts I want to stress today.
That’s missing in today’s workforce. Far too many show up but they don’t work. They spend the day doing as little as possible. They play with their phones, they talk and talk and do the very least possible. Often they cut corners, do not go out of their way for customers or patients, and get annoyed if they have to actually work. But when it comes to the paycheck, they are the first to complain about how little they get paid. It’s amazing that they even get a paycheck because they didn’t earn it.
The work ethic in America has gotten sloppy, lazy and unethical. Company policies are broken on a regular basis and it is known by those who work there. Double standards exist. The atmosphere is unfair and broken. Bosses favor their favorites. They let them get away with things that are illegal, wrong and unhealthy. Nothing is done. Eyes look the other way. The morale stinks. Bitterness between those who are trying and those who are playing the system intensifies. Many of our readers know that this is true. It’s not just the high school clerk we are talking about. It’s those heading up the companies. It’s the professionals who are flat out wrong and taking advantage of customers.
What is a Christian to do?
First, do your job. Don’t fall into the broken system by participating in lazy, do nothing work habits. You signed on to do a job—then do it. Give it your best. Work hard. Feel good about what you are doing. There is no excuse for a child of God getting paid for not working. That includes my fellow preachers. Laziness in the pulpit, or the plant is unacceptable behavior for one who follows the King. Stay away from office gossip. Don’t get caught up in goofing off. Don’t participate in “non-working.”
Second, encourage others to work. Most won’t. Managers ought to fire those who won’t work. They don’t. They usually hire more who are just like them. Covering for someone who consistently won’t do their job only enables them. No one would dare give a drunk more booze. That fuels his problems. Covering for a lazy person is the same. They signed on to work, they need to work. A simple, kind, but stern reminder that we need this done NOW is appropriate. Making excuses for a person who spends the day playing games is not helping that person. The work ethic needs to be taught in our homes. It’s not. Some have grown up watching mom and dad spend the day on the couch watching TV and waiting for the mailman to bring their check from some agency that allows them to be lazy. WRONG. Don’t help someone with this. Work or get out is my philosophy.
Third, when the bridge has been crossed into things that are unethical, wrong, illegal, dangerous—it should be reported. Yes, this will probably get you in trouble. We are dealing with a principle here. Patient safety should not be compromised. A person should not go to the doctor and leave with a sickness because some staff member didn’t take the time to clean things the way they ought to be. That staff member needs to be told, reported all the way up the line. Our oath is to the Lord. Looking the other way on things that are wrong, is wrong itself. This is not being a tattle teller. This is doing the right thing. Those who are doing wrong are wrong. Those who are doing illegal and harmful things are hurting others. The education field, medical field, legal field and about every other “field” is plagued with this problem. People don’t care.
Standing up isn’t easy. Those that are engaged in wrong and don’t want to work will find all kinds of energy to turn against those who are trying to do what is right. It’s a matter of principle. How can a child of God look the other way to things that are wrong? There are life issues here far more important than a job. There comes a time when silence is being a coward and a part of things that are wrong.
Too many people have been hurt by those who simply do not care. Instead of doing what is right and what their job requires, they only care about getting a pay check on Friday.
You ought to shine at work because you WORK. You ought to stand out because you are honest. You ought to be one who is trusted, depended upon and is needed. God knows. This is the one you really work for.
Work hard– it’s God’s way! Work honestly—it’s God’s way!
Roger