[Biblemat] S:> Ephesians 6:5-9: Masters and Slaves

[Ethan R. Longhenry]

http://www.deusvitae.com/faith/outlines/index.html

                 Ephesians 6:5-9: Masters and Slaves

Base text: Ephesians 6:5-9

I. Context
   A. Context introduced in 5:17-21, particularly v. 21
      1. Even in authority situations, all parties subject themselves 
         to one another
      2. Service to one another essential, as Jesus served all of us 
         (John 13, John 3:16)
   B. Paul first speaks of husbands / wives (Christ / church) (5:22-33)
   C. Paul then speaks of parents and children (6:1-4)
   D. Paul then moves on to the interaction of masters and slaves

II. Master and Slave
   A. Let us first consider "master" and "slave"
   B. In the Roman world, a common relationship
      1. Slavery not as bad as American slavery, but a common practice
      2. Much menial work done by slaves
      3. As in any such relationship, some slaves mistreated, some 
         slaves treated very well
   C. We do not have any master and slave relationships anymore
   D. Ephesians 6:5-9, however, instructive in terms of workplace 
      association
      1. Masters and slaves had to work for a common cause, similar to 
         the modern business environment
      2. Parallel is often established as master : employer :: 
         slave : employee
      3. Not entirely accurate; some employees are in middle 
         management, having bosses above them but also having people 
         responsible to them 
      4. A better parallel would be to recognize the master as a person 
         having authority/responsibility over others and the slave as 
         a person under authority
      5. Many, then, will be as the "master" and the "slave" at the 
         same time!
   E. Let us now consider Ephesians 6:5-9 in terms of our lives in 
      the workforce

III. Ephesians 6:5-8: Slaves
   A. "Obey masters with fear and trembling" (v. 5a)
      1. Respect necessary for those over you in authority and your 
         employer in general
      2. You are being paid, after all, to do what they want you to do!
      3. Obedience, then, essential, to be a good worker
      4. Chronic lack of understanding of this and an entitlement 
         mentality today
   B. "With a sincere heart, as you would Christ" (v. 5b)
      1. Our obedience is not to be only on the surface; we ought to 
         be good employees in all sincerity
      2. Paul often compares the believer's responsibility to one's 
         employer/authority at work to one's responsibility to Christ
      3. Essentially, if Jesus were your boss at work, how would you 
         work?  So you should do!
   C. "not by the way of eye-service, as people pleasers" (v. 6a)
      1. We have all seen them: "suck-ups;" "brown-nosers"
      2. Many people work only to look good before others, especially 
         those above them
      3. Christians are not to work simply to "get ahead"!
      4. Furthermore, Christians are not to work hard only when the 
         boss is around, but should be as trustworthy when not watched 
         as when watched
      5. One should never do anything they would feel uncomfortable 
         doing in front of their boss!
   D. "but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the 
      heart" (v. 6b)
      1. In all things our conduct and effort at work should be 
         synonymous with our profession of Christ
      2. If we are to be obedient servants of God, we should equally 
         be obedient servants of our employers/authorities at work
      3. God is establishing His will that mankind labor and do so 
         properly (cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:10, 1 Timothy 5:8); we need 
         to be doing God's will as much in the workplace as in the 
         assembly of the saints!
   E. "rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to 
      man" (v. 7)
      1. Paul essentially states that we should regard our service 
         to our employer/authority as serving God and not man
      2. How should our work conduct be informed?
      3. Do we think that we can act one way in the assembly and 
         another way at work?
      4. By no means; we need to view our work life as work for God, 
         and we know that in the Lord we cannot be two-faced!
   F. "knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive 
      back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free"
      1. Many times employees complain about a lack of recognition or 
         remuneration for their services
      2. Perhaps in many circumstances this is justified
      3. Regardless, God gives no excuse for any employee to do less 
         than his best, especially any perceived lack of recognition 
         or not getting enough money for it!
      4. If we provide good service at work, even if our employer/boss 
         does not appreciate it, God appreciates it!
      5. We may not get "paid enough" on earth, but God will repay 
         greatly!
      6. If we are not doing our best, however, what will we say to 
         God?
   G. We can see, then, that God expects employees to serve obediently 
      and faithfully, working as for the Lord

IV. Ephesians 5:9: Masters
   A. "Masters, do the same to them" (v. 9a)
      1. Paul here indicates that those who are in authority have the 
         same types of obligations to those who are their employees!
      2. They also are to serve obediently, working to please God 
         and not men
      3. Working employers/bosses tend to have more effective 
         employees!
   B. "stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master 
      and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with 
      him" (v. 9b)
      1. In the ancient world, many masters allowed the power to go 
         to their heads, and they viewed their slaves as inferior, and 
         treated them accordingly
      2. Paul warns masters that their slaves are equal with them in 
         the sight of God, and therefore they have no right to despise 
         them!
      3. Employers and bosses need to remember that they also have a 
         Boss watching over them and will repay them according to 
         their deeds!
      4. What do we think when we see some boss mistreating an 
         employee but is being caught on a hidden camera?  God sees 
         all!
      5. Consider the warning of Matthew 24:45-51!
   C. Paul, then, establishes that employers and bosses must serve 
      properly also, and treat their employees well, since God is 
      over all

V. Conclusion
   A. We have seen God's will for masters and slaves
   B. We have seen how it is parallel to the modern work environment
   C. Employees ought to serve faithfully as obedient workers, working 
      as for the Lord
   D. Employers/bosses ought to themselves serve their employees well, 
      and treat them well, for they have a Boss watching them in Heaven
   E. Let us strive to be the best examples of Christ in the workforce 
      that we can be
   F. Invitation/songbook

Ethan R. Longhenry/ disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com
Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio
 (http://www.norwalkchurch.org)
Website: http://www.deusvitae.com
AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ#: 28317056
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Yahoo! Messenger ID: discipuliiesus

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