Eph Pt 26
Eph 6: 5-9 “Work”
Intro: Preaching Through Books
Preach passages that may otherwise never be preached.
Easier To Follow.
Context. We get the context.
Can’t ignore hard passages. I get stretched.
Today is one of those passages.
Vs 5: Bondservants/Slaves. 6 Comments on Slavery
Slaves and Masters Worshiped Together as Members of the Same Local Body of Christ.
Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, three is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”
Equality in personhood and value in Christ.
God speaks to Slaves as equals!
The slave will not be overlooked by God.
It was not primarily racial. Different form of Slavery than Colonial American Slavery. John Stott “Slavery seems to have been universal in the ancient world. A high percentage of the population were slaves. ‘It has been computed that in the Roman Empire there were 60,000,000 slaves. They constituted the work force, and included not only domestic servants and manual laborers but educated people as well, like doctors, teachers and administrators. Slaves could be inherited or purchased, or acquired in settlement of a bad debt, and prisoners of war commonly became slaves. Nobody queried or challenged the arrangement. ‘The institution of slavery was a fact of Mediterranean economic life so completely accepted as a part of the labour structure of the time that one cannot correctly speak of the slave “problem” in antiquity
The Bible Condemns Taking Slaves By Force. Colonial Slavery
1 Tim 1:8-11 ” [8] Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, [9] understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, [10] the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, [11] in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.
All Christians Share Identity as Slaves to Christ. Romans 1:1 “Paul, a servant (Bondservant) of Christ Jesus”
Being a bondservant of Jesus is true freedom. We are not our own.
1 Cor 6:19-20 “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price”
We are slaves of Christ and we are Sons of God.
God gave eternal value and eternal rewards on the work of the Slave.
The slave was not to work for his master but for his Master behind his master.
The slave may go under appreciated by an earthy master, but is never overlooked by the God of the Universe.
Turned the whole system upside down. The slave is to work for Christ.
Vs 8,9: (Or is Free) This was not just for slaves. This was for Everyone.
Free. Do the same. No partiality.
We will view this as Employees and Bosses.
This is about work.
Vs 5-7: Two Ways to Work. Work Confusion.
1. Work for the Attention of Others. Work as a People Pleaser. Work for Your own Glory.
Work is motivated by the eyes who are watching you. Eye-service. Ill work hard to impress my boss. (Papa Johns). Pastors want to appear busy for the same reason.
Work is your outlet to impress other people. If people are pleased, then you are pleased. Your pleasure comes only to the degree that others are impressed and pleased with you.
Work for your glory. Why do you do what you do? Are you always searching for humanity to validate your glory? Do you live and work to be know and feel the pleasure of the praise of the masses?
Work becomes the way to scratch my inch of of my search for significance.
2. Know superior Glory. The Gospel. Work for the Glory of Jesus.
vs 5 (As you would Christ) vs 6 (As bondservants of Christ) vs 7 (Render service to God not man)
Jesus is our boss behind our boss.
We are freed from the suicidal tyranny of living as a people pleaser.
Free to work for the Glory of another? Our identity does not have to be tied to our work.
Free to find meaning in our normal routine lives.
So many feel as if there work is unimportant.
“I just want to make a difference.”
“What I do just does not matter”
“I can’t find meaning in this work”
More times than not, the real complaint is “These tasks don’t bring me the glory I want.” When you understand the gospel and you see that Jesus is the boss behind your boss, it changes everything.
Vs 8: Known is Heaven>Known on earth.
The world may not know or care, God does!
The first century slave working for the Glory of God lived a more fulfilling and free life than the modern day CEO of a fortune 500 company living and working for the praise of people.
No matter how ordinary the work. No matter how small the task. If your work never gets you known on this earth. As we live for the Glory of Jesus as slaves to him.
“Whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or free.”
God in heaven knows the names of those who are invisible and nameless on earth. Being known in heaven is infinity more important than being known on earth.
Ordinary Pastor: Last Page
Vs 9: Bosses “Do the Same”
God gave slaves the dignity of telling their masters “The same thing”
Work for God not for man.
“Masters” “Bosses”, you have a boss, and he is not impressed with your position!
Bosses. Few questions. Do your employees exist for you and to make your flourish? Do you lead expecting them to serve you? Or do you see yourself as their servant, living to see them flourish? Do they exist for your kingdom or do you exist to serve them?
All of us. If we don’t get our glory drowned out by the Glory of Jesus we will live a long life trying to gain glory for ourselves through work. By God’s grace lets see the Glory of Jesus and live and work for his glory and honor.