The Christ Centered Life: The Workplace

Ephesians 6:5-9

This is Your Mission Field

Christ

Family

Work

Church

Community

Education

Recreation

Workplace?

For Most of You

Let’s Look at some Attitudes about work

For the Ladies

Before we explore our passage today, we need to clarify servanthood

Acknowledge it - All of us are servants

• Of the World or of God

• Of the Devil or of Christ

• Of Darkness or of Light

• Of the Flesh or of the Spirit

• Of Law or of Grace

• Employees are paid servants

• Employers are also employees

No One is Without a Master

Christians are to be servants to all

Mark 9:35 Sitting down, He (Jesus) called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

Galatians 5:13 For you are called to freedom, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.

1 Peter 4:10 Based on the gift they have received, everyone should use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.

Employee: Serve as unto Christ

Ephesians 6:5-8 (HCSB) 5 Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ. 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 Render service 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.

Serve with Fear

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

• Fear? (Respect)

– Not because they pay you

– Not because they are mean and can fire you

• Fear because you are a servant of Christ

– Serve as if he is Christ

– Serve with the example of Christ

– Serve because we are to serve all

Your Job is God’s Will

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.

• Things we do:

– Play games on the computer

– Park the car and take a nap

• Christ sees you.

• Your work is God’s will

Your reward is from God

7 Render service 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.

• Have a good attitude about your work

• Your working for God

• Even if men don’t give you what you’re worth, God will reward you justly

– Based on your attitude

– Based on what you do

Employers: Serve as unto Christ

Eph. 6:9 And masters, treat them the same way, without threatening them, because you know that both their and your Master is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.

Be a servant to your servants

Eph. 6:9 And masters, treat them the same way, without threatening them, because you know that both their and your Master is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.

• Treat them the same way

– As unto the Lord

– Serve them

– Your doing His will

• Don’t threaten them

• Your true boss is also God

• God isn’t partial

Let’s speak to soldiers

There are officers

God has a role for both

Serve God Where He puts you

Your Work, Family, Community: It’s Your Mission Field. Do It As

Unto The Lord.