The Conscientious Christian Employee
Notes
Transcript
Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
Introduction:
Introduction:
Most people, around 70% view their jobs as a necessary evil.
A necessary evil to finance their indulgences.
That mentality is summed up in a popular bumper sticker that said, “I Owe, I Owe, so it is off to work I go.”
Unfortunately, some of those unhappy workers are Christians.
And those Christians need to be reminded of their responsibility as employees.
Christians today need to rediscover a biblical theology of work.
And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
In the garden, before the fall, man was assigned work.
Work, therefore, was not a result of the curse, but of God’s creative design for the fulfillment of man.
Work was not the curse; the sweat of the brow was the curse.
For the believer, work is a sacred duty.
As believers, we need to see everything that we do in reference to our relationship with God.
Every legitimate job has intrinsic value because it is the arena in which live out their Christian lives.
Christianity is not a hothouse religion, but one that survives and triumphs in the real world.
Believers normally interact with that world in the work place, as they live out their faith on their jobs.
Believers must be concerned that their conduct on the job shows others the power of Jesus Christ to transform a life.
Believers work performance will being either praise of blasphemy to the name of God.
All work, whether directly or indirectly, is to advance God’s kingdom.
Apparently, the church at Ephesus was struggling to maintain a biblical work ethic in the world of slavery.
Paul writes this passage as a corrective for them in this vital area.
And to do this and to help us to understand the text; I want to break these two verses into five parts and unpack them for you individually.
First, God’s Slaves Must Have Consideration.
Second, God’s Name Must Have a Good Reputation.
Third, God’s Master’s Must Be Given Admiration.
Fourth, God’s Children Share in the Participation.
Fifth, God’s Church Must Give the Education.
I. God’s Slaves Must Have Consideration (vs. 1a)
I. God’s Slaves Must Have Consideration (vs. 1a)
Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
The point of the Apostle Paul in this section is to discuss the relationship of people in the Church to their employer; whether that employer is a believer or a non-believer.
And no matter the situation, the believer in Christ has the responsibility, though, the are from differing standpoints, to be a good employee.
Now, as we told you last time together, Slavery was part of the social and economic world of first century Rome.
We also told you that in order to understand this, because the slavery and master relationship is found throughout Scripture, believers today must strip away the preconceived notions of it.
The idea that you read about in most history books or learn from liberal teachers and professors is not the majority of the cases that took place in the South and is certainly not the idea of slavery that the Scriptures refer and never call for its abolition.
In the case of Biblical slavery, the “slave” was a member of the families household and lived with the family and the slave and his family were taken care of by the landowner.
It is also important to understand that slavery was not just focused on one particular ethnicity of people.
There were Jewish slaves as well as Gentile salves.
And the very first slaves that were recorded in the Scriptures and the history of man were the Jewish people is slavery to the Egyptians; which, of course, was an abuse to what came to be known as the Biblical mandate for slaves.
However, religion bears some of the guilt for the sins of slavery in human history.
The Puritan Cotton Mather once set out to provide Biblical support for the American slave trade.
He began by collecting Biblical passages which he believed supported the practice of slaveholding.
Then he went on to write a set of “Rules for the Society of Negroes.”
1 Timothy Chapter 17: Yes, Master! (1 Timothy 6:1–2)
Among other things, Mather argued that slaves who disobeyed their masters were to be beaten and barred from the church.1
In fact, Henry Highland Garnet wrote that while slavery:
1 Timothy Chapter 17: Yes, Master! (1 Timothy 6:1–2)
“stretched its dark wings of death over the land, the Church stood silently by—the priests prophesied falsely, and the people loved to have it so.”
In his book, “The Problem of Slavery in Western Culture,” David Brion Davis documents “The Failure of Christianization.”
1 Timothy Chapter 17: Yes, Master! (1 Timothy 6:1–2)
Slavery held such a pervasive influence that when John Newton gave his life to Christ, he did not immediately resign as the captain of a slave ship. Instead, he ran a tighter ship and even celebrated communion on the main deck while African slaves groaned in their chains below.4 It was only later that Newton repented for buying and selling human beings.
And, of course, we understand from Newton’s own testimony that what he was involved in was the brutal, ungodly slavery of England.
Notice what Paul says, “Let as many slaves as are under the yoke...” stop right there.
The word “yoke” there is the word “ζυγός” and of course that is talking about the cross bar that was used to control animals.
And in the case of humans, as we have hear, it came to speak of:
to expedite the bearing of burdens
And it basically means “work” to be in a state of slavery.
Or to be employed by someone, because remember Biblical slaves were contracted, much like employment is today.
Now there are negative connotations that come along with the thoughts of a yoke.
But “yoke” here does not and should not designate an abusive relationship.
Christ certainly did not have an abusive relationship in mind when he said these words to the Jews who were under an abusive legalistic religion of the pharisees.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
So, it is not abuse that is mind here, but just simple employment.
And Paul goes back and deals with the attitude of the slave to his master; of the employee and the employer.
Now, it is important to realize that what Paul in mind in this verse is the relationship of the believer to his unbelieving employer.
So, what should be the attitude of the believer to his or her non-christian employer?
The word “count” is “ἡγέομαι” and it refers to an estimate based on objective criteria, not internal feelings.
Believers are to have respect and a correct assessment of authority of their employers, regardless of how they feel about them.
Someone said, “Well, I will respect my boss when he has earned respect.”
But that is not the mandate of the Word of God; the mandate is to, and this is an imperative command in the Greek, have respect for them because of their position in your life.
Notice the text, “honor” is “τιμή” and we have seen that word twice in the study of this book; in dealing with the widows in 5:3 and elders in 5:17.
And in the same way that the Church is commanded to respect widows and elders, they are commanded to respect their employer.
Now, here the Greek term does not include, of course, financial support, other than the fact that by the honor of the employer that the Christian works hard and as he/she is paid for 8 hours, they work 8 hours and thus make the employer successful financially.
But in an actual employee giving the employer money that is not the idea here.
What the Apostle has in mind here is the respect and dutiful service.
Listen, I know just as well as anyone what it is to have an abusive employer and that there are times when it is tough to show respect to someone who makes it very hard to give it.
Listen, even those employers that are harsh and unfair are to be honored because of their role as superiors in the work place.
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
So, as the believer, or the employed “slave” to a “master,” we are have consideration for the Master with all respect because of their place in our lives.
So, God’s Slaves Must Have Consideration.
II. God’s Name Must Have a Good Reputation (vs. 1b)
II. God’s Name Must Have a Good Reputation (vs. 1b)
Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.
The main thrust in the mind of the believing employee to the unbelieving employer is to honor them; and woven into that honor is not only the verbal respect but also the respect to be a hard worker.
Why?
Paul states it in the latter half of verse 1.
Paul begins that part of the verse with the word that is translated “that.”
That is the Greek word “ἵνα,” this is what we call in the Greek a purpose clause.
The Christian employee is to display respect for the unbelieving employer “for the purpose that,” or “in order that,” or “so that” something may happen.
Paul’s point here is that the believing employee must display honor to his unbelieving employer because the name of God and everything that we know about him is at stake.
Listen, and this is vital that you understand this and that is a believers’ attitude and behavior in their daily relations to work directly affect how people perceive God and his doctrine, the latter no doubt a reference particularly to the gospel.
Those believers that believe their employer “has not earned respect” and; therefore, do not show him/her respect will cause God and Christian truth to be spoken against.
The employer, and naturally the other witnessing employees, will begin to question what kind of God do they serve, who would lead them to laziness, insubordination, or hostility.
And they would also question the gospel’s transforming power.
It goes back to old excuse, “well, if that is Christianity, then I do not want anything to do with it.”
R.C.H. Lenski, stated:
1 Timothy: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Serving a Non-christian Master
If a Christian slave dishonored his master in any way by disobedience, by acting disrespectfully, by speaking shamefully of his master, the worst consequence would not be the beating he would receive but the curses he would cause his master to hurl at this miserable slave’s God, his religion, and the teaching he had embraced: “So that is what this new religion teaches its converts!” Instead of bringing honor to the true God and the gospel of his high and holy Name, as every Christian should be anxious to do, this slave would bring about the very opposite, to the devil’s delight.
Apostate Israel was guilty of the very thing that Paul warns the believing employee about.
Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
And, of course, that is written in Isaiah 52 5.
Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.
Listen, showing full respect is necessary to the missionary purpose of the Church.
If Christians are poor workers, then God and his gospel will be brought into disrepute.
God cares about his reputation and he cares about the reputation of the Church.
Philip Ryken stated:
1 Timothy Work before a Watching World
He wants them to have the respect and admiration of their neighbors, including their coworkers. Thus the way that a Christian behaves on the job is a major part of his or her testimony.
Now, this was an important issue for slaves or employees in the early Church.
The Romans typically started to get suspicious whenever their slaves decided to worship some new god.
According to Cicero, they commonly believed that slaves who dabbled in foreign religions would turn against their master and overthrow the social order.
If Christian slaves showed disrespect to their master, then all of the Romans’ worst suspicions about Christianity would be confirmed, bringing dishonor to both the name and the gospel of God.
Famous archaeologist, William Ramsay, noted:
1 Timothy Work before a Watching World
“It would bring discredit on the church and cause ill-feeling against the church in the society of the Roman Empire if Christian slaves were found to be discontented or disobedient. The slave must cheerfully sacrifice his freedom, reconcile himself to his lot, and do the work that is ordered. The Name and the Teaching will thus be saved from discredit and vilification.”
Two things are at stake when a believer punches a time clock.
The first is the name of God, which stands for his character; his holiness, love, justice, and all of the rest of his divine perfects.
And since God’s people bear the name of God, they way that they work is a reflection on God himself.
And the same thing is true when an employee disrespects his boss and does a lousy job.
Because anyone who calls himself a Christian represents Christ to the world.
The second thing that is at stake is the Gospel of Christ.
A wonderful example of this is found with a little slave girl who served in the household of Naaman.
Naaman was a valiant general, the commander of the Syrian army.
He had great wealth and possessions, but he also had leprosy and he was in torment (2 Kings 5:1).
One of Naaman servants was a little girl who had been captured during the wars and brought back to Syria as a slave.
The little girl heard about her master’s disease.
One day she was going about her tasks and sighed:
And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.
Eventually her words got back to Naaman and he went off to Samaria to find a cure.
Not only did God’s prophet Elisha give him a cure, but he also led him to faith in the living God.
This all came about because a little slave girl was an on-the-job evangelist; she was not pushy, she did not leave tracts under her master’s pillow, she did not go around pointing out people’s sin.
But as she did her day to day tasks, she gave testimony to the power of God.
And it is in that way the believer is a testimony on the job.
So, the Conscientious Christian Employee is mindful of the following important truths:
God’s Slave Must Have Consideration.
God’s Name Must Have a Good Reputation.
III. God’s Master’s Must be Given Admiration (vs. 2a)
III. God’s Master’s Must be Given Admiration (vs. 2a)
And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
What do you do when your employer is a believer as well?
The temptation for those believers with believing employers is to expect special privileges because of their equality in Christ.
This could certainly lead to conflict if the employee did not follow God’s design for them in the work place.
The mandate is that just because you work for a believer that you fail to show them the proper respect.
The word “despise” is “καταφρονέω” and it literally carries the idea “to despise,” “to treat with contempt.”
The Greek word is found nine times in the NT and let me give you an idea of what this Greek word can mean by how it is translated.
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
And the word there means to “think lightly of.”
It is also used in the Epistle that we are studying.
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Paul did not want Timothy to allow anyone to “look down on him” because of his age.
And the idea of Paul in our text is that if you are so blessed as to have a believing employer, then do not take that relationship and think lightly of it or look down on him.
Do not take advantage of the relationship.
1 Timothy: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Serving a Christian Master
Believers are not to undervalue the authority of their Christian employers by treating them as equals on the job. A submissive working attitude and behavior must be maintained.
Just because your employer is a believer does not justify presumption, or assuming special privileges.
Nor should you use it as an excuse for insubordination of not giving a fulls days work for a fulls day pay.
The Conscientious Christian Employee will be mindful of:
God’s Servant Must have Consideration.
God’s Name Must Have a Good Reputation.
God’s Master’s Must be Given Admiration.
IV. God’s Children Share in the Participation (vs. 2b)
IV. God’s Children Share in the Participation (vs. 2b)
And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
Another reason why the believing slave should serve his believing master faithfully is because both share in the benefit.
What benefit is that?
The believing master gets a good worker and believing employee receives the honor that he is given.
Christian employers are the ones that reciprocate this kind of service.
And when you have believing employees that honor the believing master, they both benefit from that.
The masters devote themselves to the benefit of their Christian slaves because the masters were themselves Christian believers and beloved by God
The master would do this in appreciation of the good service rendered by the Christian slave
The Conscientious Christian Employee will be mindful of:
God’s Servant Must have Consideration.
God’s Name Must Have a Good Reputation.
God’s Master’s Must be Given Admiration.
God’s Children Share in the Participation
V. God’s Church Must Give the Education (vs. 2c)
V. God’s Church Must Give the Education (vs. 2c)
And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
The Present/Imperative verbs says that this is a command that Timothy is to continually be practicing.
Given the fact that these principles are foundation to the Christian life and evangelism, they should be widely practiced.
1 Timothy: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Serving a Christian Master
It is not the church’s role to undermine the foundations of social order by fostering rebellion. Rather, believers are to be compliant and obedient on their jobs, and thus to give witness that the grace of Jesus Christ has transformed their lives.
How does the Church exemplify The Conscientious Christian Employee?
God’s Servant Must have Consideration.
God’s Name Must Have a Good Reputation.
God’s Master’s Must be Given Admiration.
God’s Children Share in the Participation.
God’s Church Must Give the Education.