Justified by what?

Rom 4:1-8

4:1 What then shall we say was gained by [1] Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in [2] him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

Footnotes
[1] 4:1 Some manuscripts say about
[2] 4:5 Or but trusts; compare verse 24

• What does it mean to be justified?
  
• What is justification by works?
  
• What is involved in believing God? How is this different from believing in God?
  
• Which do you feel more grateful for: your regular paycheck or an unexpected gift of something you really need?
  
• If God were grading you on your works, what do you think your grade would be?
  
• As a believer in Christ, what is your real grade?

Boasting and Faith

Rom 3:27-31

27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

• Which is more appealing to you: works-oriented Christianity or faith-oriented Christianity? Why?
  
• What are the "risks" of a works-orientation?
  
• To whom might you boast about your good works?
  
• Who have you "judged" in the last year because their works do not match your own?
  
• How do you measure someone's faith? Is your observation of their works an accurate measure?
  
• Who is real judge? What measure does He use?

Judgment is coming

Rom 2:5-11

5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking [1] and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.

Footnotes
[1] 2:8 Or contentious

• What is the outcome of those who obey the truth?
  
• What is the outcome of those who do not obey the truth?
  
• What attitudes result in punishment?
  
• What do stubbornness, unrepentant heart, and selfish ambition have in common?
  
• What will be the basis of God's judgment?
  
• Why is repentance so important in facing God's judgment?
  

Working...

Col 3:22-4:1

22 Slaves, [1] obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, [2] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. 4:1 Masters, treat your slaves [3] justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Footnotes
[1] 3:22 Or Servants; Greek Bondservants
[2] 3:22 Or your masters according to the flesh
[3] 4:1 Or servants; Greek bondservants

• Why do you go to work each day?
  
• When you begin work each day, who are you working for? Who do you try to please at work?
  
• What percentage of the time are you working with all your heart?
  
• How frequently do you try to do the best job you can for Christ?
  
• How does working for Christ change your attitudes towards quality of work, personal ambition and materialism?
  
• How does knowing that you are working for Christ change your approach to your fellow workers?

Work not knowing what will succeed

Eccles. 11:6

6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

• Why would a farmer believe that he should only sow in the morning?
  
• How do most farmers go about planting their crops?
  
• How much trust do farmers have that their efforts will succeed?
  
• When have you been so sure about a work or project related decision that you would not consider other options?
  
• Why is it valuable to keep an open mind in making decisions?
  
• What is your success rate with regard to decisions about work or projects?
  
• How do you handle making an incorrect work or project related decision?

Laziness

Eccles. 10:18

18 Through sloth the roof sinks in,
and through indolence the house leaks.

• How do you define laziness?
  
• How does laziness impact a person's life?
  
• Why do some people seem to be situationally lazy, i.e. industrious about one thing, lazy about another?
  
• Where does laziness originate?
  
• How are laziness and carelessness related?
  
• What is spiritual laziness?
  
• Where does spiritual laziness originate?
  
• How do others see you in regard to laziness?
  
• How does God see you in regard to laziness?

Words from the fool

Eccles. 10:12

12 The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, [1]
but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness,
and the end of his talk is evil madness.
14 A fool multiplies words,
though no man knows what is to be,
and who can tell him what will be after him?
15 The toil of a fool wearies him,
for he does not know the way to the city.
Footnotes
[1] 10:12 Or are gracious

• Why would a wise person normally say gracious or charming words?
  
• Why does a wise person's words bring favor?
  
• How is "sweet-talking" different from gracious or desirable words?
  
• Who have you known who was wise in word? Why do consider them so?
  
• How do a fool's words show his/her foolishness?
  
• How might a fool's words consume him/her?
  
• What is the path that a fool's talk takes?
  
• Even with all the problems his/her talk has brought, what does a fool do?
  
• How does a fool multiply words?
  
• Why is excessive talking dangerous?
  
• Why does talking about something that bothers you sometimes do more harm than good?
  
• Who have you known who was foolish in words? Why do you consider them so?
  
• How does a fool's talk relate to future events?
  
• How are wise plans different from foolish predictions and assurances?
  
• Why is a fool's toil so tiring?
  
• How would you consider your words: wise or foolish?
  
• Would those around you each day agree with you?
  

Go All Out

Eccles. 9:10

10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, [1] for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
Footnotes
[1] 9:10 Or finds to do with your might, do it

• In general, what sort of worker are you?
  
• How often do you look for ways to avoid work or ways to cut corners?
  
• How does your employer consider your work and work habits?
  
• How do your employment work habits extend into other areas of your life?
  
• When compared to your employment,
  - how much effort do household chores get?
  - how much effort do more spiritual tasks get?
  - how much effort do your recreational activities get?
  
• Why does Solomon point out that in the grave {Sheol} things stop?
  
• How many important things have you put off that will never get done if you die?
  - What are they?
  
• How many important family plans have you continuously put off?
  - What are they?
  
• How many Christ-oriented plans have you continuously put off?
  - What are they?
  
• If you died today,
  - what would be your biggest regret?
  - what plan would you regret not accomplishing?
  
  

Injustice

Eccles. 8:14-15

14 There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. 15 And I commend joy, for man has no good thing under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.

• How important is justice to you?
  - How upset do you get when you see wrongdoing go unpunished?
  - How upset do you get when good deeds are unrewarded?
  - Which do you feel the most strongly about?
  - In life under the sun how much justice should you expect?
  
• What does Solomon commend to a man living under the sun?
  - Do you think he is recommending hedonistic lifestyle? Why or why not?
  
• Which of the following is more beneficial to man under the sun and why?
  - worrying about various injustices
  - enjoying the life you have
  
• How does looking at your life as something God gave you help your point of view?

Harold's Musings:
I once read that man wants justice for others and mercy for himself. Our society seems to be enthralled with "bad boys", especially those who get away with something against authorities. As a society we want to define injustice on an individual basis. "It is ok to give copies of my CD's to my friends because the music companies are making too much money on them." Translation: it is ok for me to steal but not for the company to overcharge. The company wants justice. The person claims what they are doing is just. Without God's Word as a standard, justice is close to being imaginary.

God doesn't always give enjoyment

Ecces. 6:1-2

6:1 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: 2 a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil.

• What is the evil under the sun that Solomon has seen?
  - Who does Solomon seem to attribute this "evil" to?
  - The Hebrew word means evil, misery, distress, or injury. How do the other translations help you grasp the passage?
  - Why is this misery so prevalent among men?
  - Why would God do this?
  
• What is a possible relationship between the man's soul and God's withholding joy?
  - What does the man's soul desire?
  - How is accepting your lot (Eccles. 5:19) different from having your soul's desires (v 2)?
  - How does this passage flesh out Eccles. 5:10?
  
• How frequently do you not enjoy life because your desires are misplaced?
  - Why would God not empower the full enjoyment of life to someone whose soul desires something other than God?
  - Is this a truth for today? Why or why not?

Harold's Musings:
Eccles. 5:10 - 6:10 describe our world in ways that are rather amazing. We see the same quest for our desires that results in discontent and disappointment. We are a nation of discontented people fueled by a media system that shows us what is wrong and advertises what could be better. No one is saying that God provides enjoyment in our lot in life. We are too often driven to advance ourselves rather than simply do the best job we can. We apparently love to watch reality TV shows where scheming, dishonesty, and selfishness are rewarded. And we wonder why we have so many unhappy, hurt people in the world. God told us thousands of years ago. It is vanity.

Enjoyment of life is a gift of God

Eccles. 5:16-20

16 This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? 17 Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.18 Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment [1] in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. 19 Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

Footnotes
[1] 5:18 Or and see good

• How does the "good and fitting" contrast with the "grievous evil"?
  
• What is man's reward under the sun?
  - Does this apply to Christians today? Why or why not?
  
• Who gives man the power to enjoy his life?
  - What specific things are given?
  - How is the empowered person different from the miserly person in yesterday's passage?
  
• How is accepting one's toils as a gift from God different from seeking money and abundance?
  - Which can provide temporary happiness?
  - Which can provide lasting joy?
  
• Why is it important for Christians to remember that we are pilgrims here under the sun?
  - How does Matt. 6:19-34 expand on the thoughts of Eccles. 5:10-20?
  
• How often do you enjoy the life that God has given you?
  - How often do you complain about the life God has given you?
  - What is the basis of your complaints?
  - How often do you realize that enjoying life is a gift you have to accept?

Why Work?

Eccles. 4:7-8

7 Again, I saw vanity under the sun: 8 one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

• How does your commitment to family motivate you to work?
  
• Why do people work and accumulate wealth?
  - How often do you hear people mention plans to leave an inheritance for their children?
  - How often do you hear people just wanting things to have things?
  - Why is it common to not be satisfied by riches?
  
• How likely are you to work hard and not stop to enjoy life?
  - How often do you ask the question "For whom are I laboring?"
  - When is your labor vanity and chasing the wind?

Harold's Musings:
Here Solomon talks of a man with no dependents and has apparently put work into that void. Some of us have been guilty of putting work into the family's space, even when we have family. Solomon is pointing out that work for works sake is not worth it. Money for money's sake is not worth it. Neither is truly satisfying in the long run.

Envy and Rivalry

Eccles. 4:4-6

4 Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.5 The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.6 Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.

• How many scientific advances were the off-shoot of the "space race" or "arms race"?
  - Why did it take a "race" to produce the everyday advances that were eventually `seen?
  - Why weren't the everyday advances motivation enough?
  
• Why is competition a powerful motivator in many people?
  - What are some positive outcomes of competition and rivalry?
  - What are some negative outcomes of competition and rivalry?
  - Why is rivalry and competition vanity and chasing the wind?
  
• How often are you motivated by rivalry?
  - How strong is your competitive nature?
  - Which would produce your best performance: a comparison with yourself or with someone else?
  
• What is Solomon's view of rest?
  - What does it mean when a fool folds his hands?
  - Why is one hand full of rest better than two fists full of labor?
  - How do you achieve the balance between rest and labor?
  - How does your motivation help guide the balance?

Just animals

Eccles. 3:18-22

18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. 19 For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? 22 So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?

• How is man without God's influence different from the beasts of the earth?
  
• From Solomon's pre-Christ perspective, how are man and beast the same?
  - If man and beast are the same, why bother with being righteous?
  - If man and beast are the same, what is better than being happy in what you do?
  
• How did the coming of Christ make the difference between man and beast clearer and wider?
  - Without Christ, how is man's fate different from the beasts?
  - With Christ, how is man's fate different from the beasts?
  - Without Christ, how is man's motivations different from the beasts?
  - With Christ, how is man's motivations different from the beasts?

Harold's Musings:
Once again, Solomon concludes it is better to just rejoice in your work. At this stage in the journey, things are not looking hopeful. You bury a man and his dog; then dig them up years later, you see roughly the same thing: bones. As Solomon says, who knows if their fate was the same or different. If I look around me today, I hear people saying there is no difference; that when you die you are over. People are reaching the same conclusion that Solomon did. But we have insight that the wisest man on earth did not. We know that Christ came and that he provided a solution for the question posed here. I love my dogs, but God loved me enough to send His son to die for me and you. I am different than a beast because I am in Christ.

Rejoice and Do Good

Eccles. 3:12-15

12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man. 14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. 15 That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away. [1]

Footnotes
[1] 3:15 Hebrew what has been pursued

• Previously {Eccles. 2:24) Solomon stated that there was "nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good." What does he now add to the "nothing better" list?
  
• Why might it be hard to rejoice/be glad under the sun?
  - What influences your willingness to rejoice and be glad?
  - How does your life's quests influence your willingness or ability to rejoice?
  - How does comparing your efforts to those of others influence your rejoicing?
  
• Where does the rejoicing, doing good, eating, drinking, and seeing good in your work come from?
  - How does recognizing this influence your outlook on life?
  
• Why does Solomon move next to God's works?
  - Why is it important to remember the permanence of what God has done?
  - Why has God worked?
  - What are some of the results of mankind's ignoring that God has worked in the world?
  
• When might you want to add to or alter God's works?
  - When have you complained about God's design? [If I'd only been born with ...]
  - When have you complained about God's decisions? [Why did you let ...]
  - How does fearing God relate to rejoicing and being glad?

Eternity in your heart

Eccles. 3:9-11

9 What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

• Since God has appointed times for everything, why should you strive and struggle to make a difference under the sun?
  - What profit do you seek from your work under the sun?
  
• What are some of the forces that drive people to work?
  
• According to Solomon, why did God give man labor to do?
  - What can happen when people are idle?
  - What is the difference between idleness and relaxation?
  - How does God's giving labor to man fit with His time table?
  
• What does it mean by God set eternity in man's heart?
  - How is this manifested?
  - How have you noticed this in your life?
• How might the following be the result of the "eternity setting"?
  - quest for fame
  - quest for heirs
  - quest to build and/or accomplish great things
  - sense of "why bother"
  
• How does the "eternity setting" relate to knowing what God has done?
  - How does the "eternity setting" relate to God's time table?

Harold's Musings:
Every once in awhile you get a glimpse of what is under your hood. You get to see your engine, the thing that drives you. You have eternity set in your heart but you have finite life. It is like having the fastest Ferrari made, but having a 30 mile per hour speed limit all around you. In our inner being we know: We were made for eternity. We were made for Eden. We were made for perfect relationships. Yet we groan because that is not what we have. Our groanings cause us to look for substitutes; yet Solomon has stated that the substitutes are vanity. Now that you know the "eternity setting" is on, you can live with a view to eternity; if you choose to not chase the wind.

Nothing Better

Eccles. 2:22-26

22 What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? 23 For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity. 24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment [1] in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him [2] who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 26 For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Footnotes
[1] 2:24 Or and make his soul see good
[2] 2:25 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts apart from me

• What does it take to have true enjoyment in life?
  
• After Solomon evaluates labor under the sun and finds it futile and empty, what does he say that a man should do?
  
• Why would Solomon stress mere eating and drinking?
  - How many of us would be content with mere eating and drinking?
  
• Why should a man tell himself that his labor is good?
  - How often have you quested for the recognition of others?
  - How often have you labored so that others would tell you how well you did?
  - Is there anything wrong with receiving recognition?
  - What are the risks of seeking or questing for recognition?
  - How might Gal. 6:3-5 harmonize with v. 24?
• What is God's role in your enjoyment of life?
  - How much do you enjoy life?
  - Is your enjoyment based on the pleasures of life or God's part in your life?
  
• What does Solomon say is a result of being good in God's sight?
  - How does this reflect the promises of the God's covenant with Israel?
  - Should you expect this today? Why or why not?

Harold's Musings:
In this passage, we first find a pair of themes that will be repeated throughout the book: If God gives the ability to enjoy, then enjoy the simple things of life. It is not quite as straightforward here as it will be later, but it is there. Discontentment with our life is a tool that Satan uses to get us to strive after the wind. We buy something we have been wanting in the hope that it will make us happy and content. We get the Sunday ads or read a new online article and then we find the better, newer, greater thing is out. Our discontentment is back. According to Solomon, we should be content to eat, drink, and find enjoyment in our work under the sun. We should be content with the simple things and not fill our lives with empty stuff. God is the one who lets you enjoy life. Is this something we should be praying for each other?

What about work?

Eccles. 2:18-23

18 I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, 19 and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. 20 So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun, 21 because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22 What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? 23 For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.

• How did Solomon feel after his evaluation of wisdom and folly?
  - How did that affect his view of all that he had accomplished?
• Briefly, what was the problem that Solomon saw with accomplishing great things?
  - What are the risks of seeking to leave a legacy under the sun?
  - Why did Solomon conclude that leaving a legacy of accomplishments was vanity?
  
• What was Solomon's appraisal of a person's labor under the sun?
  - What was the curse that God put on man in the Garden?
  - How does that curse show up in Solomon's appraisal?
  
• How does being aware of your mortality influence the decisions you make daily?
  - How much of your identity is attached to your work or accomplishments?
  - Why is it tempting to attach your identity to an accomplishment?
  
• How many nights have you lost sleep over some project at work?
  - What have you gotten from your lost sleep?
  - Why do some people obsess about their work and others don't care about their work?
  - What are the risks of each?

Harold's Musings:
Oh, this passage speaks to me at this point in my life! Nearly thirty years ago I had an idea for something at my job. Between 1980 and 1998, I had tried and failed 8 times to realize this idea. With full support of my employer, the idea came to partial fruition in late 2001. Much of my life, thoughts, and energy are tied up in this vision that I had. I've reached the age where retirement is something to think towards and one of the little nagging concerns is what will happen to my idea. Will the person who comes after me take the baton and continue the race or will they drop the baton and decide to clean their shoes? To deal with the vanity, I have had to change my identity. I have to see the idea as a good thing, not an eternal thing. It took almost 20 years of technological advancement for me to be able to move the idea forward. In another 20 years, my idea will undoubtedly be replaced by something better. Is what you are chasing simply a good thing or do you have your identity tied up in it? If the latter, it is just vanity.

Empty, It's all empty

Ecclesiastes 1:1-4

1:1 The words of the Preacher, [1] the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 Vanity [2] of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
3 What does man gain by all the toil
at which he toils under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.

Footnotes
[1] 1:1 Or Convener, or Collector; Hebrew Qoheleth (so throughout Ecclesiastes)
[2] 1:2 Hebrew vapor (so throughout Ecclesiastes)

• How often have you staked your pride, identity, hopes, and dreams to something on earth?
  
• How much does your job mean to your pride, identity, hopes, and dreams?
  
• How much does your family mean to your pride, identity, hopes, and dreams?
  
• How much does your favorite sport mean to your pride, identity, hopes, and dreams?
  
• How much does your favorite entertainment mean to your pride, identity, hopes, and dreams?
  
• What has happened to the things that you have cherished the most over the years?
  
• Why would the richest, wisest, most famous, and most powerful king of Israel look back at his life and consider it futile, meaningless, vain, and empty?
  
• How many people today look back on their life and find it futile, meaningless, vain, and empty?
  
• A person works hard on the job for 25 years, contributed ideas that helped the organization, sacrificed hours with his family, considered church as a way to network with influential people, smoozed the bosses, and generally tried to advance himself. Suddenly the organization changes and he finds himself laid off or demoted. What advantage did he have in his work under the sun?
  
• A person has researched an area of study for 30 years. He has fought for funding, operated the lab, guided the graduate students, written paper after paper, and grown expert in this area of study. In his personal life, he has sacrificed hours with his family and considered spiritual matters unproductive. One day a new article is published that shakes the foundation of all his research and shows it to be inaccurate because of new and different research. What advantage did he have in his work under the sun?
  
• A person has been successful. She has fought her way through the glass ceiling. Along the way she has had to make choices. She gave up getting married. She gave up a family. She had no time for spiritual things, because she had to make it and she has. She is now wealthy, retired, and alone. Her fortune will be left to charities and her cats. What advantage did she have in her work under the sun?
  
• How many times over the centuries have these sorts of things happened?
  
• What word(s) would you use to describe these lives?
  

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?