Honor In The Workplace Series

BIG IDEA:

HOW TO RELATE PROPERLY TO CERTAIN SPECIAL GROUPS OF

PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH -- PART III -- SLAVES TO MASTERS

cf. Eph. 6:5-10; Col. 3:22-4:1

I. (:1) SLAVES NEED TO HONOR THEIR MASTERS

A. Governing Principle: Slaves, Honor Your Master

"Let all who are under the yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor"

Wuest: "The designation ’bondservants’ is added in explanation of under the yoke, which implies a hard and disagreeable condition."

B. Reason: To Maintain a Good Reputation

"may not be spoken against ":

1. For "the name of God"

2. For "our doctrine"

II. (:2A) EVEN (ESPECIALLY) IF THEIR MASTERS ARE FELLOW BELIEVERS

A. Special Situation: Having a Believer for a Master

"And let those who have believers as their masters"

B. Danger: Taking Advantage of the Family Relationship

"not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren"

cf. how too often someone is very nice to everyone else, but when it comes to their immediate or extended family members, they are less than gracious

C. Exhortation: Go the Extra Mile

"but let them serve them all the more"

D. Extra Motivation

"because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved"

1. Your master is a fellow believer

2. Your master is beloved -- both by God and should be by you

3. You both will benefit from such obedient service

Wuest: "Since slavery was a common and accepted institution at that time, it would hurt the cause of Christianity for Christian slaves to rebel against their masters."

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DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:

1) How do these principles apply in a culture where the relationship between employee and employer has so much more legal protection provided?

2) What makes our employer "worthy of all honor"? What can he do or say to give up that right to our respect and honor?

3) Does our life properly adorn the gospel and uphold the reputation of our Lord and the reputation of the truth for which we stand?

4) What are the benefits of having a believer for a boss? What are some of the added pressures or special difficulties?

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