Ephesians 6-B “For Christ’s Sake”

S = 6:5-9 “Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. ⁹ Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.”

O = What we do should be done for Christ’s sake…whether we are wives or husbands, children or parents, slaves or masters—whatever good work we do we will receive the reward back from Jesus. I remember once at a Mariner game a profane Cubs’ fan loudly asked me to take a picture of his group “for Christ’s sake!” After thinking through my initial irritation, I decided that I would in fact take their picture for Christ’s sake! I don’t think he meant it reverently, but it was a good reminder that all that we do should be done for Jesus. It shouldn’t matter if others deserve it or not. Ultimately it is not for them, but for Christ, that we work. Another thing that occurs to me is that my work can in fact be worship unto Christ. We all answer to the same God, so we should not ever treat another in a demeaning manner (v.9) though it happens all too often in a business environment. 

A = First, I need to evaluate my efforts at work—have I put in an honest day’s work for my wages? Second, I need to keep asking myself about my motives. Do I do my work for my own sake, or perhaps I might work for others because then they will work for my sake, or ultimately do I do my work for Christ’s sake whether others recognize or reward me for my efforts or not? I confess far too much of the first and second options and not enough of the third. This week I will be thankful, cheerful, and of good will at my place of work, for my reward is from the Lord. If people recognize my achievements also, then that is like frosting on the cake—pleasant, but not necessary. Third, it is not enough to say I am against slavery, I must treat those who serve me as part of their job (baristas, servers, cashiers, recycling collectors) as people whom God loves, as worthy of greater honor than myself, and this week I will do so by speaking kindly, learning and using their name, and by taking interest in their life (for Christ’s sake) not just in what they do for me.

P = O Lord, I desire to do what I do for your sake, as an act of worship. Help me to do my best for you since you have done what was best for me. Thank you that you continue to have my best interest in mind as well. May I live this week so that people would testify that I represented you well…for that I will need your abundant grace. To you O Lord be the glory! Amen.