Class Lesson March 9, 2014

Work and rest. What’s the biblical balance?

Balance.



Many of us work too much, fueled by a workaholic drive. Others barely make an effort, doing the minimum to stay employed and get paycheck. Both groups need balance. 



Many of us earn more than we personally need and fill our lives with experiences and stuff. Others among us struggle to get by. Both groups need balance. 



This study lifts up the biblical mandates to work and to rest. It points us to actions that achieve balance. 



As we apply biblical principles, we move from living and earning for ourselves to discovering that our jobs and paychecks are resources we can invest for the kingdom of God. 








Our second lesson in this series is called, "Who Do We Work For."

Maybe I wouldn’t dread Mondays if I worked for someone else. 

Click Here to Watch

Have you ever had a boss from hell?

Exercise: Hold up your fists and consider how a fist represents the attitude some people have toward anyone in authority over them. Then ask how a fist represents the kind of treatment some bosses give employees.

Now, turn your fists and open your hands, palms up. During this lesson we are going to examine how and why both employees and bosses can change from a clench-fisted resentment or a heavy-fisted treatment of others to an attitude of service now represented by their open hands.

Work for Christ.

The Bible Meet Life 

Productivity in the workplace is, by and large, not what it could be. This is not a call to workaholism, but it is a recognition that employees may do just what they need to get by. Some studies show employees admit to wasting as much as three hours a day. Would an employee or supervisor be pleased with the quality of our work? More importantly, is God pleased? Ephesians 6 gives principles we need to approach our work with the proper motivation and attitude. 




The Setting

In Ephesians 5, Paul gave the command to be filled with the Holy Spirit and began showing how submission and reverence are to be carried out in our relationships. Paul addressed family relationships – husbands, wives, and children – before turning to work relationships. Paul addressed both slaves and masters, grounding every aspect of their work under the lordship of Jesus Christ. 

I. BE OBEDIENT IN WHAT YOU DO – EPHESIANS 6:5

5 Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ. 



It is imperative to understand that Scripture does not promote slavery. History shows that slavery reaches back to antiquity. The Old Testament deals with slaves in a number of passages (Ex. 21; Deut. 15), but does so with the idea that the Israelites were once slaves themselves. Yahweh continually forbids the mistreatment of slaves in the Old Testament and encourages their inclusion into the community of faith. Likewise in the New Testament, slaves are recognized as valued members of society. A number of Jesus’ parables cast slaves (and masters) in a favorable light depending upon their relationship to God. Paul reasoned that the relationship between himself and Christ was one of Master/servant, and it was for the better.



Isn’t it interesting that the first thing Paul addressed is our own obedience toward those in authority over us? In tough work situations where a boss is not kind or fair, we still obey what he or she tells us to do.


How do you react to Paul’s emphasis on obedience and fear?

• Paul begins Ephesians 6:5 with a direct address to slaves to obey their earthly masters. The central thesis is essentially to keep on being obedient in what you are doing – your work is an offering to Christ. Paul gave principles on how to work and how to view work. These apply to anyone who works for someone else, an employer, boss, or supervisor. Our relationship with Christ is priority.
• The concept of wholeheartedly seeking Christ (Mark 5:33).
• As believers in Jesus Christ, we have one Master. Whether first-century slaves or 21st-century employees, bosses, or CEO’s, we have one Master. He is Jesus Christ. Even so, we must understand that while here on earth, we have people placed in authority over us.

Paul told us to obey these earthly masters in two ways:

1. Obey with fear and trembling. This phrase indicates the respect we are to give those who are placed in authority over us. We are to honor them by actively obeying what they assign to us.

2. Obey with a sincere heart. We are to genuinely do the job. We don’t try to take a shortcut or just get by. Obeying with sincerity means we choose to fulfill the requests of those above us.

 
The Practices

A. Fulfill your responsibility to your earthly boss. Paul wrote, “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling” (Eph. 6:5 ESV). In other words, don’t ignore your boss. Don’t say yes and then not do what was asked. Don’t roll your eyes because your think was asked was stupid. Granted there are times when a Christian employee must refuse to obey an employer, if they are asked to lie or steal or misrepresent the truth. Hopefully those situations will be rare. The normal mode of conduct is to obey your boss.

B. Fear the Lord. Paul said to obey “with fear and trembling” (Eph. 6:5 ESV). This fear is not directed toward the boss, but toward God. The idea of fearing is that we will not misrepresent the Lord and the gospel. It refers to fearing God in light of the final judgment. It means doing your job well so that your boss will not think poorly of the Lord.

C. Faithful to the task. Paul said to obey “with a sincere heart” (Eph. 6:5 ESV). It is commonly believed that the word sincere is a combination of the Latin words sin (without) and cere (wax), so the word literally means “without wax” In ancient Rome, making statues was big business. But not every sculptor was reputable. Sometimes to cover over mistakes and cracks and chips they would fill in the crevices with wax. Undetectable to the naked eye, it was revealed when held in the sun. So there was value to having a statue made “without wax.” There may have been flaws and blemishes, but at least it could take the heat! While the Oxford English Dictionary disputes this story of the origin of the word, the principle is true. Obedience “with a sincere heart” means doing your work with integrity, not trying to cover up our mistakes. We do our work by giving our all, with undivided attention and effort.


What issues do you face in your daily work routine that become challenges to being able to work with the spirit and attitude Paul expected servants to have?









Let’s get a little more specific about how working for Christ makes a difference with the people and situations at work.

II. SEEK TO PLEASE CHRIST – EPHESIANS 6:6-8

6 Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart. 7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. 




How can you keep your heart engaged in work you don’t particularly like?

• Do your work faithfully for Christ. Paul told us to work, and not only when people are watching. Work with integrity for those in authority over you. Have you ever tried to impress your boss in some way when he or she walked into the room? In the opposite way, has the phrase, “When the cat’s away, the mice will play,” ever described your week when your boss was on vacation? Paul addressed both scenarios in verse 6. He told us not to work to please others; instead, we are to do our work faithfully as slaves for Christ.
• If you do what you do for Christ, do it with a good attitude. Paul encouraged the servants to obey their masters with a good attitude. This isn’t angry agreement through clenched teeth to do what we’re asked to do. It’s sincerely responding well when given an assignment. Paul reinforced the main point by telling us again, “as to the Lord and not to men.” How can we have a good attitude? By realizing we work for Christ and not for the person who asked us for that work.
• Our focus is on a heavenly perspective. Paul repeated a phrase: “knowing that . . . The slave is asked, “Why should I toil day after day in a difficult job that has no financial rewards for me?” Paul says, “knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free” (Eph. 6:8 ESV).

Everything looks different in light of eternity – even work:

• When you respect your employers and others over you, God recognizes your obedience.
• When you work hard even while no one is watching, God sees.
• When you avoid the trap of being a people-pleaser to make yourself look better, God notices.
• When you respond with a good attitude toward those with authority over you, God recognizes it.
• When you work as if you are working for Christ, God is watching … and He rewards.

An old song goes, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passin’ through; my treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckoned me from heaven’s open door, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.” Understanding that truth makes a difference in our work – the Lord will honor His faithful servants, if not now, then in eternity.



What does it look like practically to work for the Lord and not for people?

• Consistent whether the master is watching or not. Paul says, “not by the way of eye-service, as people pleasers” (Eph. 6:6 ESV). In other words, don’t just work hard when the boss is looking to get his approval and then slack off when he or she is not around. A people pleaser worries about what people think. Since we work for Christ, we should worry about what Jesus thinks. The proper motive is not to please people only but, more importantly, to please the Lord. God’s reputation is on the line. It shows our devoted serve to Christ.
• Demonstrate a good attitude at all times. Paul writes, “rendering service with a good will” (Eph. 6:7 ESV). Paul is speaking of our attitudes here. Isn’t it interesting that even in the first century attitudes were a problem. Bad attitudes are a lot like a rotten apple. It can spoil the whole bushel or in this case the whole work environment. Paul is commending positive, upbeat attitudes. The kind that people want to be around. The kind that is attractive, winsome, and wholesome. The kind that makes for pleasant employees. Because our work is for the Lord, we can approach it willingly and enthusiastically.

What does it look like practically to work for the Lord and not for people?

Choose one. How would this element of your work be different if you worked for Jesus Christ?

• How I treat coworkers.
• How I act when my supervisor isn’t watching.
• How I value my work. 

What are some ways you are able to demonstrate that your work is motivated by your devotion to Christ more than by the fear of a supervisor or the rules of a corporation?


Who rewards those who serve as Paul commanded in the previous verses?

• In 6:8 Paul noted specifically that each servant should know “that whatever good each one does … he will receive this back from the Lord.” Clearly the principle of reaping what we sow is being put forth here by Paul (Gal. 6:7). The way Paul began this verse illustrates that each person (whether slave or free) should be mindful of the fact that God rewards those who serve wholeheartedly (Luke 6:35; Rev. 22:12). The reward will come from the Lord, but Paul did not specify what or when God would reward the faithful. Regardless of when God rewards His servants, no one should believe that they will receive merely temporal rewards for living the Christian ethic.

 
So what is the role of masters – employers and supervisors – in all of this?

III. EMPLOYERS DO THE SAME – EPHESIANS 6:9

9 And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him. 




If you are in a leadership role in your work environment, how can you apply Paul’s instructions to the masters to help create a better work environment?

• Masters/Employers are to do the same. Masters/Employers are no more special than the people who work under their authority. We all have the same Master and He is Jesus Christ. One’s position over another is not a license for disrespect or abuse. The Lord expects believers who have a position of authority to exercise that authority as a servant of Christ.
• Paul wrote this to masters to remind them that they are no more special than the people who work under their authority. In leadership it is easy to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. Paul makes it crystal clear that we better think twice before ever considering ourselves higher than the people who work for us. We all have the same Master. Humility and understanding are vital to good leadership.
• Do not lead by threatening. Some bosses believe threats and fear are the only way to get something done. Since these bosses believe people don’t really want to work, they believe they must motivate through fear of punishment, docked pay, or even termination. God shows us a different pattern. No one likes to be threatened. No one likes to feel like his or her job is on the line.
• We all serve the same Master. Those in charge and those receiving the directions both answer to God. He does not play favorites. Perhaps at your workplace the boss favors certain people. They are the ultimate hard workers … but only while the boss is around. They drive everyone crazy. Maybe you feel the boss is deceived, simply because the favorites are good at office politics. Paul told us our Boss is different. God looks at the CEO in the same way that He looks at the entry level employee.

Follow the Golden Rule

Paul turns the table to speak to the masters or in our case the employers. He wrote, “Masters, do the same to them . . .” (Eph. 6:9 ESV). His words would have been shocking to his listeners, whose culture and laws were slanted completely towards the masters. When Paul says, “do the same to them,” he does not mean that the masters were to serve their slaves. Rather, the masters were to act toward their slaves with the same regard to the will of God, with the same recognition of the authority of Christ, with the same sincerity and good feeling which the slaves were to demonstrate.” In other words, Christian employers should treat their employees as the employer would want to be treated. He should be fair, reasonable, and understanding. He should not threaten or show partiality.



What do we stand to gain by following Paul’s instructions?

• Our relationship to Christ and the fact that we live primarily for heaven should transform our relationships and performance at work. You should be the best employee or employer on the job.
• Christian masters/employers should know that they too must answer for their actions.
• We gain the approval of the Lord and His blessing and reward.

Live It Out
What does Ephesians 6:5-9 prompt you to do at work?

1. Change your focus. You ultimately work for Jesus Christ, so remind yourself of this by listing “Ephesians 6:7” or “Work for Christ” as the first task on your calendar.

2. Choose a godly attitude. Even if your leaders are not fair or kind, you’re responsible before God to act in a Christ-like manner toward them, toward work, and toward coworkers.

3. Start over. Seek out your boss or coworkers and ask for forgiveness. Perhaps you’ve not worked in a way that represents Christ, or you’ve displayed attitudes and actions that should have been more Christ-like.





Conclusion:

Our attitude toward work should be scripturally driven, just as the rest of one’s ethic in life. If we base our attitudes on anything except the Bible, we are building an ethic on shifting sand that will ultimately fail. As we approach the tasks which we assign others or are assigned ourselves, we must ask ourselves, “Are we working to please people or God?” this is a question that defines our character. It is only through the lordship of Jesus Christ that we can be the people Christ has called us to be – both practically and theologically. If our theology does not match our life and attitudes, is our theology really a theology at all? James states “As the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” (Jas. 2:26). While we go about our work throughout the day we must ask ourselves, “would God be pleased with the quality and quantity of labor I am producing?” let us work with all of our hearts – not to please those over us but rather with a sincerity of heart. We must serve with good attitudes and be good stewards of the time and energy God has given us. We serve God this way knowing that one day we will stand before Him to hopefully hear the words – “Well done my good and faithful servant!”




Mondays may still come too quickly, but you don’t have to dread them anymore. You truly are working for Someone Else – Jesus Christ.

Prayer of Commitment

Some days the work I do, including everyday tasks and household chores, are difficult, trying, and tiring. Even so, Lord, thank You that I can be active, productive, and useful. But foremost, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve You through them. Amen.

This is another good lesson this week as we continue in this series on being productive and finding joy in what we do.

See You Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan