 | Seek the welfare of the employee |
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| Don’t threaten |
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| Be submitted unto the Lord |
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| Don’t play favorites |
Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians
Part 25
Today we will look at the last of the three examples of our closest relationships Paul describes in his letter to the Ephesians…the relationship between masters and slaves or, in more current terms, between employers and employees. As I mentioned in class last week, I’ve been both an employee and an employer in both a Christian environment and a non-Christian environment.
Remember, submission has nothing to do with the order of authority, but rather governs the operation of authority, how it is given and how it is received.
Let’s look at verses 5-9 of chapter 6:
Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eye service, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.
The word for slave is the Greek word doulos (doo ·los) that appears in the New Testament 125 times and means "one who is devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests". It is the word Paul uses to describe himself in his relationship to God in Romans, Corinthians, Galatians and Titus. He used the same word to describe Epaphras in Colossians and Jesus Christ in Philippians. The same word is used to describe an employee in Matthew 13 (Parables of the Wheat & Tares and The Vineyard) and also to describe slaves who where made such against their will and bondservants who were slaves willingly (Deuteronomy 15).
Paul admonished the servants to be obedient, with several good reasons. First, they were really serving Christ. True, they had "masters according to the flesh," but their true Master was in heaven (Eph. 6:9). The fact that an employee and his employer are both Christians is no excuse for either one to do less work. Rather, it is a good reason to be more faithful to each other. The employee should show proper respect for employer, and not try to take advantage of him. He should devote his full attention and energy to the job at hand ("singleness of heart"). The best way to be a witness on the job is to do a good day’s work. The Christian worker will avoid "eye service"—working only when the boss is watching, or working extra hard when he is watching to give the impression he is doing a very good job.
The second reason is that doing a good job is the will of God. Christianity knows nothing of sacred and secular. A Christian can perform any good work as a ministry to Christ, to the glory of God. For this reason, the worker must do his job "from the heart," since he is serving Christ and doing the will of God. There were tasks assigned to these slaves that they detested, but they were to perform them just the same, so long as they were not asked to disobey the will of God. "Singleness of heart" and "doing the will of God from the heart", both point to the importance of a right heart attitude on the job.
Paul’s third reason for urging slaves to be conscientious is that they will be rewarded by the Lord (Eph. 6:8). In the New Testament, slaves were treated like pieces of property, no matter how well educated they might be. An educated, cultured slave who became a Christian might receive even harsher treatment from his master because of his faith, but harsh treatment was not to keep him from doing his best (1 Peter 2:18–25). We are to serve Christ, not men. We shall receive our rewards from Christ, not from men.
The Christian faith does not bring about harmony by erasing social or cultural distinctions. Servants are still servants when they trust Christ, and masters are still masters. Rather, the Christian faith brings harmony by working in the heart. Christ brings into us a new motivation when He becomes our life, not a new organization. Both servant and master are serving the Lord and seeking to please Him, and in this way they are able to work together to the glory of God.
What are the responsibilities of a Christian master (or employer) to his workers?
Paul gives four instructions:
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| Seek the welfare of the employee |
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| Don’t threaten |
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| Be submitted unto the Lord |
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| Don’t play favorites |
How does this look in real life? How does an employer seek the welfare of his employees?
In short, he does not exploit them. He creates an environment where employees enjoy working, where they feel safe, both emotionally and physically. He pays equitable wages and benefits; given the value society has placed upon the product or service being offered.
What does that mean?
Is it equitable that state and federal governments spend more to house and feed convicted criminals than they do to care for the elderly and infirm? Of course not, but employers in long term health care, as an example with which I’m very familiar, are "trapped" by that fact and can only be fair within the limits placed upon them by society.
What does it mean "to give up threatening"?
I believe that an employer should not "manage" his employees with threats. That approach creates an environment of hostility rather than cooperation.
Does that mean that an employer cannot terminate an employee after all other means for "managing" the employee have failed?
I don’t think so. Regrettably, termination is the only option left in some cases. But when that is the case, the employer would be well served to reflect upon his hiring practices and management practices to see where the problem began. When the employment relationship fails, the employer is faced with two tough realities: Either he hired the wrong person or he managed him poorly.
If the employer is "submitted unto the Lord" (allowing Jesus to express His life in and through him); most employees will be attracted to that kind of work environment.
How do labor unions fit into this picture?
There was a time in history when employers were abusing the workforce and labor unions served a good purpose. Unfortunately today, labor unions have gone beyond protecting the workforce to usurping the employer’s rights to operate a business and have, in many cases, destroyed the very jobs they were supposed to protect.
What does it mean to show partiality?
Partiality is when the employer shows preference for one employee over another in inappropriate ways…allowing them to "get buy" when others are not given that same privilege. If the employer is "submitted unto the Lord" (allowing Jesus to express His life in and through him); he won’t play favorites, because God does not play favorites. Paul warned Timothy to "observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality" (1 Tim. 5:21). One of the fastest ways for a leader to divide his followers and lose their confidence is for the leader to play favorites and show partiality.
This closes the section we have called "Walk in Harmony." If we are filled with the Holy Spirit and are joyful, thankful, and submissive, then we can enjoy harmony in the relationships of life as we live and work with other Christians. We will also find it easier to work with and witness to the unbelievers who may disagree with us. The fruit of the Spirit is love, and when the love of God is expressed in and through us because Jesus has become our very life, others will see the difference and be drawn to our Savior. The love of God is the greatest force in the universe!