Isaiah - Verse By Verse | Walk thru Eph #137

Walk thru Eph #137

versebyverse | April 15, 2008 18:38

Thought: To me, many workplaces would benefit if employees did "the will of God" from their heart!

Question: Am I a "man-pleaser" to get ahead, or a "God-pleaser" to invest in eternal reward?

Scripture: Ephesians 6:6 (NIV): "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."

Paul calls "slaves", workers, employees, to a deep obedience. Not a surface behavior, a workplace mode of operations that I shift in and out of to keep my job, which causes me to perform at a minimal level, doing just enough to get by, or which causes me to butter up an employer and set before their eyes an actually false picture of who I am when they are examining me; then as soon as they turn their gaze away, I relax and become careless. Do I perform well only when scrutinized? True character, they say, is revealed by what I do when alone. Or, in other words, I am who I really am all the time, and especially is this proven when no one is watching.

The alternative to this kind of secular, human, weak behavior, is to live "like slaves of Christ." Having the indwelling Holy Spirit means that Christ is with us all the time. We are in His enslavement--His utter control of us. If indeed Christ is fully in control, we will then perform God's will, not my employer's and not my own. We will perform it consistently and continually. And it will emanate from the "heart"--that is, from the central core of who I really am, which is where the Holy Spirit has residence.

Paul exhorts this kind of performance in the workplace to add to the framework of unity he has been touting. Continuing along the line of various authorities, we proceed outside the foundational family to the workplace. In Jewish culture the home, farm, was the workplace. Today, however, it is different. Servants, "slaves", in Jewry, were next in line of heirarchy after flesh and blood children, so the lines of authority stretched lastly to workers. Thus, if all workers also allow Christ to control how they relate, the same peace and love that family members can experience will be shared into the workplace. What God can do to unite families He can also do to unite work forces. The Christian worker's responsibility is to be obedient to God! Deeply obedient: listening to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all things, "doing the will of God from the heart."

A good way to do the will of God in every matter is to ask yourself "what would Jesus do?" in each situation. This reliance within self to listen to the Holy Spirit's direction is a healthy dependence completely on God. As we wait to hear His answer it ought to come to us from having been steeped in scripture. We know His teachings. Combined with trusting that He will guide specifically and exactly, and will not let us slip away from His shepherding, we can confidently proceed in an exact direction. We can respond in a Christ-like manner. This "listening" is done on the deepest level--down in "the heart." We shut out other inputs that clamor for our attention and focus. We focus, rather, on the depth within where the Word has previously been laid down foundationally in us, becoming part of our very nature. We may listen to many counsels where wisdom can be evidenced; but we make our decision based on following the ways Christ taught. And let us not be discouraged when our conscience may differ from another's, whether believer or unbeliever. This happens all the time. God holds individuals responsible on an individual basis. Paul has said, "...from your heart."

Prayer: Dear God, help me remember You are watching all my deeds and every motive. Help me to honor You at my workplace. Amen.