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The Best Employee You Can Be

Words of Faith Final

The Best Employee You Can Be

Words of Faith 4-28-2021

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Ephesians 6

[5] Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. [6] Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. [7] Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, [8] because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

 

    So how do we apply this teaching in a modern society that does not practice slavery?  The best application is in the relationship of Employers and Employees.  As believers in the Body of Christ, employers and employees both sit together under the authority of God.  Both have responsibilities.

    We have to start by realizing that work is a God thing.  God worked!  Genesis 2:2 says that by the seventh day, God had finished the work he had been doing; so, on the seventh day, he rested from all his work.  Creation was work.  Genesis 2:15 declares that The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.  The Hebrew word for "placed" means to "set to rest" in the Garden to work, till, serve -- and protect.

     So work was NOT the curse from God after sin came into the Garden.  It was God’s thing.  But the work of man came under a curse after the rebellion in the Garden.  That is different.  Work was not viewed as hard or difficult until sin entered in.  Genesis 3:19 - By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."  Work was a gift from God to be like Him.  The "rest" part of work was stolen by sin.

     Later in the Hebrew scripture, we discover that employing the work of others is a trust.  Deuteronomy 24:14 - Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of your towns.  Malachi 3:5 "So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty.

     Paul directs the worker to obey their employers.  The call is to "hear under" as a subordinate - listen attentively - heed or conform.  When we work for another, we are to do so with honor and respect.  An employee is to work with sincerity or singleness of heart -- without ulterior motive or subterfuge--and obey even as you would obey Christ. 

      The King James translates here-- Don’t obey for "eyeservice"-- to gain favor or only to be seen.  Don’t just do the right thing when the boss is around.  Serve with a whole heart, just as if you were working for the Lord.  Why?  Because you are always working for the Lord.  He will reward everyone for whatever good he does.  Whether slave or free-- the Lord is your employer.  Whether employer or employee-- the Lord is your boss.

 

      Father God, help me to see the work of my life as service to You and Your Kingdom.  Help me to witness through the work of my life.  Help me to see and understand work as a gift from You.  Help me to work in ways that have integrity and are always honorable to You.  In Jesus’ Name.