How Do You Work?

Ephesians 6:5-9

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. 6 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. 7 Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 8 Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.

9 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.

If we exchange the word slaves with employee and master with employer how do you fare? Let's see what that looks like.

5 Employees, obey your earthly employers with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. 6 Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As employees of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. 7 Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 8 Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.

9 Employers, treat your employees in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.

How do you as an employee conduct yourself on the job? Do you show up and put your time in and go home? Do you gossip with others in the office about other co-workers or even your boss? Do you gripe and complain every time your boss tells you to do something? Here is an example of a good employee.

Genesis 39:2-6a

2 The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. 3 Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. 4 This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. 5 From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. 6 So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat!

This is a young man who was almost killed, thrown into a pit and sold into slavery. He also had a dream that one day his whole family would bow down to him. Why would he not be walking around talking about his vision and that he shouldn't be treated the way he was? That is the way most people would be inclined to act. He knew that the vision he had from God would not come to pass if he wasn't deserving of it. Here is another example of a quality worker.

Nehemiah 2:1-6

1 Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. 2 So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.”

Then I was terrified, 3 but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”

4 The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?”

With a prayer to the God of heaven, 5 I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”

6 The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request.

Notice that Nehemiah was never sad so when he appeared to be sad his boss, the king, knew it. Also notice that when Nehemiah told the king what he wanted to do the king didn't say any of the following:

"I need to check with HR and see how much PTO time you have."
"Why can't you just stay here?"
"Why should I let you go?"

He said "How can I help you? How long will you be gone? When will you return?" Nehemiah must have been a good employee because the only real concern for the king was when he was going to be back and if he needed anything for his trip. This is a guy who was with the king constantly and in a position of influence and trust.

Hopefully you are learning from this lesson and are not like the following employee.

Matthew 20:1-16

“For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.

3 “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. 4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. 5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.

6 “At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’

7 “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’

“The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’

8 “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. 9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. 10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. 11 When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’

13 “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’

16 “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”

Notice here that the employees who showed up first were upset because they got paid the same as those who showed up last. Why should they have been mad? Didn't they agree to work for a certain wage? This is the mindset of most people in this country. They agree to work for someone for a prescribed wage. They get mad because the boss hires someone else and may pay them the same or even more money then they are currently paid. Why should they get mad? Did they not agree to the amount they are currently getting paid? This is all due to a concern for self above others. Also known as selfishness. God does not like people being selfish. He loves people who are selfless. These are the people who will work as unto the Lord and not be concerned with what others are doing, saying or making. They conduct themselves in a manner worthy of being called one of God's children.

Father I thank You that You continue to reveal Yourself to me new each day. I praise Your holy name for the work You are doing in me, to me and through me. Amen.

Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)

The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you; The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).

Published by Erik L. Vakula
Daily Bread From the Word
Copyright © 2009 Erik Vakula, All Rights Reserved