Isaiah - Verse By Verse

Walk thru Eph #140

versebyverse | April 18, 2008 18:38

Thought:  To me, a constant consciousness of God, especially in the workplace, would eliminate a lot of poor treatment of others.

Question:  Am I a kind employer who does not function by threats?  Am I a responsive employee who works with integrity?

Scripture:  Ephesians 6:9 (NIV):  "And masters, treat your slaves in the same way.  Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him."

Happily, Paul also instructs the masters, employers, to act in a Christian way.  This is a fair exhortation:  first, the underling, then the overseer, taught to dwell in unity by each conforming to the behavior that springs from knowing Who truly rewards and why, whether that obeyer is the "under" one or the "over" one.

Paul specifically mentions a clear "do not" here:  "do not threaten."  It is an easy and common temptation to lord it over people who work under you.  Often a master will be tempted to get a lot more work out of a slave by pushing and bullying--abusing his authoritative power.  Paul anticipates this problem just as he anticipated lazy slaves.  Neither is a good way to act and neither will earn a reward from God.  Both master and slave, employer and employee, are accountable, on the same level, to the same degree, to God.  There is no "favoritism."  Keeping this perspective is beautifully self-correcting.  When creatures, all of them in all levels of status, know Who their Creator is and what He is doing with them, it should draw them into perfect alignment.  All should be motivated to do good:  that's the pure point.

Our Supreme Example, Jesus Christ, never lorded it over anyone, never forced His will upon anyone, but was characterized by His gentleness and compassion, while still holding complete rule as our Master.  In other words, He did not need to intimidate anyone to hold His authority, and the lesson to us is, neither should we.

Prayer:  Lord, as I have opportunity to rule over others, help me to do so with total awareness of Your presence and my future judgment.  Amen. 

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