Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Work goes both ways

Eph. 6:5-9
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
  • How would you like to be a slave?
  • How is rendering service to Christ different from rendering it to man?
  • Why is doing good worthwhile?
  • How are Christian employers supposed to treat their employees?
  • How does your ability to choose where you will work affect your approach to your work?
Harold's Musings:
Like yesterday's post, the bulk of the passage is written to slaves. I cannot truly comprehend what it would be like to be a slave. No choice, no freedom, no hope. Yet, Paul tells slaves do their work for Jesus. He tells masters to not threaten their slaves because they have a Master as well. Since I am not a slave nor do I own anyone, I could blow past this verse, right? I am concerned that our ability to choose the everyday things of life diminishes our feeling of responsibility. How often have you heard, "well, I'll just quit"? Or "I'm thinking about finding a better job"? What is the motivation for leaving? What is the motivation for staying? Is your decision based on seeking to serve Jesus or is it just self-serving?

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