A Place Of Grace
5-31-26
  • Who we are before God is what matters most ...this is true in all of our relationships and situations of life… and our workplace is no exception!
    Today we have a passage that still remains in the household text. It concerns slaves and masters. While we have a particular view of slavery in America, and this taints our understanding of such relationships in the first century Rome, you will discover that, what we are considering will apply to our Employee / Employer dynamic and relationship we have in our day and culture.
    We will begin by reading our scripture for today… we will then:
    Distinguish Slaves and Masters
    We will consider the: HEART, MOTIVE, & ATTITUDE
    We will briefly address MASTERS
    We will wrap up addressing something we ALL need to REMEMBER!
    Ephesians 6:5-9 addresses our subject matter this way…
    Ephesians 6:5–9 NLT
    Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free. Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.

    Distinguishing: Slaves & Masters

    In first century Rome it is estimated that there were upwards of 40% of the population were slaves. Many of these individuals were in the home, part of the family. Galatians speaks of slaves being respected in the home even over the son for a period. Proverbs 17:2 says: “A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son and will share the inheritance of the master’s children.” So…
    While Children born to parents who were slaves would themselves be slaves
    Children born to free, could find themselves being a slave
    Some would sell themselves into short-term or long-term slavery for financial reasonings
    You could work your way out of slavery if you wished (many did not desire this… PROVISION WAS MET)
    It was a social class… more so than victims of racism, injustice, or exploitation like we think of today.
    Some slaves did menial or hard labor yes… (as do some employees today)
    While others were skilled tradesmen, physicians, and managers (as are some employees today)
    Slavery was part of society, the home, and was even present in the church… scripture speaks to this:

    ROLES

    As a Slave you were owned by another, you worked for and served them: there needs, desires, directives
    As a Master you had the responsibility to care for, provide for, and had oversight
    Either ROLE we should serve God in our given ROLES!
    1 Corinthians 7:20-24 speaks to these roles even in the church...
    1 Corinthians 7:20–24 NLT
    Yes, each of you should remain as you were when God called you. Are you a slave? Don’t let that worry you—but if you get a chance to be free, take it. And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free in the Lord. And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ. God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world. Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you.

    REALITIES

    The reality is that there are some who need to be in a role where they can:
    Work hard and do well in there role… not all are equipped skill wise to be “masters” or employers
    Some are not able to bear the responsibility to care for and provide for others under them
    Consider what Proverbs 22:29 states… “Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.”
    Proverbs 22:29 NLT
    Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.
    One skilled does not necessarily become king, nor would some of them want to be!
    But you consider Joseph in Genesis… he served well as a slave, was promoted, equipped by God, and eventually became the “master” ruler

    REASON

    God gives us many examples of both in scripture and speaks well to this point.
    In fact… God examples both … Servant Philippians 2 “Suffering servant” and Master Ephesians 4-6 “Headship”
    Once again, we find ourselves going back to Ephesians 5:21 where we are told to submit to one another, submit to God’s Order of things, and do so… Spirit Filled!
    As we look at our verses for today let’s consider our HEART our MOTIVE, and our ATTITUDE we should have in these roles of slave and master or for today’s application EMPLOYEE and EMPLOYER!…

    The Heart

    Verse 5 really is addressing our hearts in this matter of our workplaces. there are several components to the heart here…
    Obedience is present in the heart of the employee… like last week this gives the concept of
    To pay attention, Give ear to or Listen to
    The literal concept of obey is to “give a correct response to”
    Respectful… Fear: it is a sense of deep awe or profound respect.
    Surely this is only speaking to our christian employers… right?
    Look at what 1 Peter 2:18-20 had t say to this point:
    1 Peter 2:18–20 NLT
    You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.
    The next part of verse 5 tells us how we can do this…
    SERVE: this is the heart motive for the action (what we do, how we work)
    As you would serve Christ
    Hmmm… how do YOU serve Christ?
    Serve them Sincerely: Genuine, real, not fake, without hypocrisy
    Serve Christ sincerely… I would propose that if you are struggling serving your employer as scripture states, then you are probably struggling serving Christ as you should!
    The motive we serve with will flow from the heart…

    The Motive

    I love what Paul writes here as our motivation… he starts by addressing our efforts…
    “TRY” giving effort, your best (Romans 12:18 speaks to our effort in this area as believers)
    Genuine effort… (you may fool an employer, coworkers, but GOD IS NOT FOOLED… He knows what is real and fake)
    Integrity- lacking today, everyone does only what will be rewarded to them. If not seen, they don’t put forth effort
    What if we did what was right, needed, worked hard, did our best… EVEN IF NO ONE KNOWS!
    In the end God knows and you know… do you serve with integrity?
    “God’s Will” (DO IT!)… did you see that we have the blessing once again of seeing an area of our lives God expresses His will for us!?
    With heart and with genuine effort
    Notice here His will is for us to be His!
    We are slaves of Christ
    This is our driving MOTIVE… we serve Him first and foremost!
    Christ, our Master, purchased you and I at a high cost
    We belong to Him consider these verses Psalm 23:1, Ephesians 1:6-7
    Psalm 23:1 NLT
    The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
    Ephesians 1:6–7 NLT
    So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
    These truths should drive and motivate our attitude…

    The Attitude

    We have all heard at some point in our lives or said it… (It’s not what you said, it’s how you said it) the attitude in which we speak, act, or work matters to God foremost, but it also matters to those we engage with.
    Enthusiasm: religious fanaticism, or inspiring zeal or intensity, excited
    What would your boss do if you came to work tomorrow and you were… excited to be there because you were fanatical about this relationship you have with Christ and as you worked your attitude inspired others to be zealous about there work and worked intensely at it all while being excited!
    This attitude would put a Smile on the face
    There is an OUTWARD expression in your demeanor, work, and effort
    Because of the INWARD heart and motive at work in you
    Here is the secret to having this attitude: “You are working for, serving the Lord”
    Your PERSPECTIVE… how we view things
    Church our view of LIFE, our RELATIONSHIPS, our MARRIAGES, our FAMILY, our WORKPLACES… needs to be a BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW
    We need to see these areas of our life through the lens of scripture!
    Let me give a brief word to “masters” or those who employ others.

    Masters

    You are called to have this same HEART, MOTIVE, and ATTITUDE before the Lord and example it to those who serve you!
    I assume if you are listening that you probably have a relationship with Christ… as such you are a brother or sister in Christ.
    Please remember these things:
    Your are servants of God
    You are called to please (not man) but the Lord!
    You have an example to follow (Christ) as you set an example for those who follow you
    There is great need and benefit to being Spirit Filled:
    Selflessness… Humility… Harmony… are needed
    You are a conduit to those who are under you of these things that come from the Holy Spirit
    Paul here gives a specific warning: “Don’t threaten”… (this is speaking to the environment they work in and under) rather as you serve in a role of headship: Care for, provide for, create the work environment God would desire…
    This brings us to our last point, one which I feel is necessary for both “slave and Master” to hear, Paul thought so too so he stated it to both in verses 8 & 9

    Remember… !!!

    Remember God is the One who rewards “each one of us” (all) slave or free.
    He sees, and will reward accordingly not in this life necessarily but in eternity
    NOTICE this is for both… then:
    Remember you BOTH have the same master
    Ultimately we are all to doo what we do, serve who we serve as to Him
    I love that Paul throws in there… “God has no favorites”
    Neither should we!
    Employees who are followers of Christ should serve their employer (christian or not) as to the Lord
    Employers who are followers of Christ should oversee their employees (christian or not) as to the Lord
    DO NOT PLAY FAVORITES!!!
    As a christian employee you work the hardest because of Christ
    As a christian employer you care for, provide for, and create the environment God desires for those under you because of Christ
    As Paul addressed both slaves and free in this letter do you realize they would:
    Both hear this letter read and taught
    Both come and worship God together
    Both would break bread together, coming before the Lord on level ground as they would remember the cross of thier Savior Jesus Christ
    Today, slave or free, employee or employer… we come to remember:
    Christ the head of the church His bride
    Christ the One who cam not to be served but to serve
    Christ who PAID for you and I, our sin paid for with His blood
    What a beautiful thing that when we come before God… ALL OF US need a Savior for ALL OF US has sinned.

    The Bread

    The Cup

      • Ephesians 6:5–9NASB95

      • Proverbs 17:2NASB95

      • 1 Corinthians 7:20–24NASB95

      • Proverbs 22:29NASB95

      • 1 Peter 2:18–20NASB95

      • Psalm 23:1NASB95

      • Ephesians 1:6–7NASB95

    A Place Of Grace
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