Ephesians 6:5–9
5Slaves, 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; 6not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 7With good will render service, as to the Lord and not to men, 8knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. 9And 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.
Focused Thinking:
What is the context of slavery here?
Be careful not to impose our American definition of slavery in this context.
I don’t know all the reasons why, but Paul doesn’t try to overthrow slavery in this context. It appears that his emphasis is submission through the circumstances instead of removing the circumstances. (See 1 Co 7:17–24 for more context on the issue of slavery in the Bible.)
In this specific context, he is addressing the issue of Christian slaves serving under Christian masters.
What was the slave’s responsibility to his or her master?
Slaves were to obey their masters with fear and trembling.
Slaves were to obey their masters from the sincerity of their heart.
Slaves were to obey their masters with good will or a peaceable spirit.
Don’t obey just because people are watching you, obey because your heart desires to obey.
Why are slaves to serve in this way? What can the slaves be confident about?
The slave may not be rewarded by his or her master; but the slave will be rewarded by the Lord.
- The Lord will reward the slave who serves according to God’s Word and ways.
- The Lord sees the slave’s respect for authority.
- The Lord sees the slave’s sincere heart.
- The Lord sees the slave’s peaceful attitude.
What was the master’s responsibility towards the slave?
What are the “same things” referring to in verses 5–9?
The masters were to apply the “golden rule” to their treatment of the slaves.
- Respect them.
- Have a sincere heart towards them.
- Have a peaceful attitude towards them.
- Don’t threaten them.
- Treat them fair, justly, without partiality.
What enables both slaves and masters to obey these truths?
Both are servants to “The Master.”
Personal Application:
Submission in the husband/wife relationship is impossible apart from the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Submission in the parent/child relationship is impossible apart from the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Submission in the master/slave relationship is impossible apart from the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Apart from the Spirit’s work of oneness, we try to control relationships instead of submit in relationships.
All of these truths apply to the work environment perfectly today.
- There must be a mutually respectful attitude between boss and employee.
- There must be a sincere heart of believing the best between boss and employee.
- There must be a peaceful spirit, a spirit of good will, between boss and employee.
- The relationship must not be built upon threats.
- The relationship must be built upon fairness without partiality.
- Apart from the Spirit’s work of serving instead of being served, our relationships will always be dysfunctional.
Interactive Prayer:
Father, continue to build these qualities into our working relationships. We must never take these qualities for granted because the enemy is always on the attack. It takes constant energy and commitment to protect the unity of the team and the integrity of the work environment. Protect us from the lies of the devil. Protect us from the ways that he tempts us to see things as half-empty. Protect us from getting weary and losing sight of the good we are doing. Give us the ability to focus. Give us the focus of Nehemiah. “I am doing a good work and cannot come down.” Make that a visionary verse that lives in the DNA of our team. I need to put this verse in our offices in a visionary way.
Father, give us the ability to build the holiest and healthiest team of staff, leaders and volunteers possible. Show us how to equip and employ catalytic leaders to make the greatest impact. Give us the ability to give our people a “better story.” Help us help them identify their strengths, develop their strengths and use their strengths to advance Your kingdom. I pray that our people will have more than a job; I pray that they will have a mission. I pray that our people will see what could be, what should be and what must be and dedicate their lives to bring that vision into reality.
Father, I pray that You will unleash the love of our people and the gifts of our people. I pray that we will baptize over 200 people in 2010. I pray that we will equip disciples and employ them to serve and mentor.
I pray that our church will be known by Your stories. I pray that we can broadcast Your stories to this city and beyond. I pray that You will truly make us the church for the prodigals. Give us vision and favor to minister to single parents, to people in need of recovery and to the students at Overton and other schools throughout this city.
Father, give us the ability to be the church. I pray that our services are simply a celebration of what You are doing in and through the lives of our people. Give us the relationships and resources to broadcast Your message as clearly and loudly as possible. Bless our church and give us the dollars needed to build a visionary campus to accomplish Your purposes. Put Your vision and mission through Highpoint on the hearts of people who have the ability to give and help us climb that mountain. Bless our church spiritually, numerically and financially. Cause Your Spirit to blow throughout our church to bring about revival and spiritual awakening.
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