Ephesians

1. Activity

First, there is an activity required on the part of employees, and it is put in one word—obedience. In Ephesians 6:5, Paul says, “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.” This word obey is the same Greek word that occurs in Ephesians 6:1— “Children, obey your parents.” It is a military term meaning “to follow orders.” Christian employees are under the same obligation of obedience as a soldier under the authority of a superior officer or a child under the authority of a parent. His obligation is very simply: Do what the boss says.

2. Attitude

Paul has two things to say about the Christian employee’s attitude. Live out your obedience “with respect and fear.” Respect and fear of the boss? No! This respect and fear is directed inward. We are to respect and fear the fact that we are capable of acting in our human flesh and missing out on what God wants to do through us.

In Philippians 2:12-13, Paul uses the same Greek term for “respect and fear,” this time translated “fear and trembling,” when he writes, “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Why? Because, “it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” His purpose is to work through us in His own limitless strength—and we should have fear of falling short of that.

In Ephesians 6:6-7, Paul talks about an employee’s attitude of integrity. He writes, “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. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.” We should work with the same intensity and care whether we are being observed or not, because we are not merely pleasing the boss, we are pleasing the Lord. We work for Christ! What a glory this gives to every task. If you approach your work with this attitude, you will never grow bored with the routine of the day.

You may ask, “But in my job, I am never rewarded or even commended for the work I do. How can I stay motivated when I never receive any positive feedback or incentive?” Paul replies in Ephesians 6:8 that you should be motivated by the knowledge “that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.” God doesn’t promise to change your conditions of employment, or to guarantee that your boss is going to be nice to you, but He does promise to reward you for everything you are going through in obedience to Him.