VB081 Keys To Godly Relationships (Eph 6:1-9)
Keys To Godly Relationships (Eph 6:1-9)
[Eph 6:1-9]
Every one of us is called into full-time Christian service. The words “clergy” and “layman” are not in the Bible. Just because a person sits in the congregation doesn’t mean he is any less in the full-time ministry than the minister at the pulpit. If you go to a job and do it as unto the Lord, you are in full-time service for the Lord. You will be rewarded accordingly in heaven just as the prophet or evangelist.
The pastor cannot be in every place at once. The prophet can’t be in more than one place at a time. God’s purpose for a businessman is to witness to businessmen, He wants factory workers to witness to factory workers, students to witness to students, and housewives to witness to housewives. He has born-again believers in all areas of society to witness and magnify the Lord in their area. This is what will cause true revival in our nation and strengthens the country from the inside out.
Parents are responsible for raising children – not grandparents, not schools, and definitely not the government! These groups may influence, but the final task of training kids is for the parents, and in particular the father. God has appointed the father as the head of the family. Good training does not include destructive criticism, condemnation, unrealistic expectations, intimidation, or fear. Any of these will provoke a child to wrath.
Training should be in an attitude that is rich in encouragement, tenderness, patience, listening, affection, and love. In these, parents can build a strong foundation of knowledge of God into the lives of their children (see, Dt 6:6,7; Pr 22:6).
Please the Lord (6:1-9)
In the Family (6:1-4)
[6:1] Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Wives are to submit, and children are to obey. Submission demands knowledge. Children do not know enough to submit, so they are commanded to obey their parents. Understanding will come through maturity. The obligation is on the parent to properly “train up a child” (Pr 22:6) in the Lord. To train them in the Word, parents must know the Word.
[6:2] “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise:
Children may not understand the decisions their parents make, but they are to honor their parents. Honoring of parents brings the twofold blessing from (Ex 20:12) quoted in the next verse.
[6:3] “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
The Greek word for “well” could have been translated good or prosperous. “That it may [become prosperous] with you” applies to every area of life (see, Ps 1:1-3; Josh 1:7-8). Also, divine health is promised for obedience and honor to parents. Prosperity and divine health begin at a young age and should continue through our lifetime as we grow in God’s Word. “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” (3Jn 2). Wisdom is said to have length of days in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor (Pr 3:16).
Rebellion against parents is rebellion against authority. Rebellion against authority is rebellion against the Lord. God established the principles of authority for you to respect the ones over you. You may not agree with them, but you are to respect them. Children may not agree with their parents, but they are to respect, admire, and obey them.
[6:4] And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
This verse is actually talking to parents. “Provoke not your children to wrath” means not to aggravate them. Children become angry when the are corrected or disciplined without instruction. They always want to know why they are being corrected. “But bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” When children are disciplined, they should be told what they did wrong before they are disciplined, and what the Word teaches about discipline afterwards. A child will be provoked to wrath if you talk about a stupid behavior the child was corrected for earlier. Especially in the presence of relatives.
At Work (6:5-9)
[6:5] Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;
Today, servants and masters are employees and bosses, labor and management. “According to the flesh” means bosses have no right to dictate to their employees in spiritual matters. They are only bosses in the flesh over natural matters. If the boss tells you to go sweep out the storeroom you have to do it. However, if he tells you to miss church in order to work, you should respectfully decline. You need to draw a line and stand up for your rights in the Lord.
I want to clear up an area here about doing your job as unto the Lord. God called you first of all to that job to work productively. He did not call you there to witness when you should be working. Witness on your own time. I know of people who were fired for witnessing on the job when they should have been working. They think they are being persecuted for the gospel’s sake. No, they are being persecuted for their own stupidity! How hard they work is a witness for the Lord. Spirit-filled workers should out-produce everyone on the job. They should arrive sooner than anyone else, and stay later.
The word “fear” means respect. It comes from the Greek word tromos meaning maximum exertion or effort. So how are you supposed to serve your boss? With respect and maximum effort. Christians should be the hardest workers and have the best attitudes.
“In sincerity [singleness] of your heart as unto Christ” means you should have one goal in mind: pleasing the Lord. You really are working for a greater boss, the Lord Jesus. You are doing your job unto the Lord. If Jesus were standing beside you, would you work harder? He is, and you should. If you do your job as unto the Lord, you will not only get your paycheck, you will get rewards in heaven. A paycheck is for the moment. Rewards in heaven are eternal.
[6:6] not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
Do you know what “eyeservice” is? It is working when the boss is looking and not working when he is absent. How many times have you heard (or said), “Look busy, here comes the boss!” There is always someone around even if your boss is not there, and that is the Lord.
If you are working for the Lord, you will exert as much effort when the boss is away as when he is there. If you please the Lord, you will please your boss. If you cannot please the boss by pleasing the Lord, you shouldn’t be working there in the first place.
If you need a raise or promotion, don’t butter up the boss. Don’t be “men-pleasers.” Go to your greater boss, the one who is higher than men, and present your request to Him. If you have been pleasing to Him, He will see to it you get a raise. He will get you a promotion, either on that job or a better one. “For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another” (Ps 75:6-7).
[6:7] with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men,
Eunoia, the word translated “goodwill,” means loyal enthusiasm. This means to have your mind on your job and the dedication of your soul. This is how to get away from being “men-pleasers” and working with “eyeservice.”
[6:8] knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
“Whether he is a slave or free,” means whether you are the boss or the employee, whatever good thing you do, you shall receive a reward from the Lord. It doesn’t matter what position it is, the Lord will reward you according to what you did with what you had. “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required” (Lk 12:48), “Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things” (Mt 25:23).
Verse 9 speaks to bosses. Spirit-filled bosses should be the best employers.
[6:9] And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.
My paraphrase: And, you masters [bosses], respect all of your [employees] like you want them to respect you, not threatening, since your Master, in heaven, is not a respecter of persons.
In other words, “Bosses, treat all of your employees equally. Don’t play favorites.” The word “forbearing” means stop. Stop threatening! If they are not doing their jobs, correct them and encourage them. Remember you also have a boss in heaven, Jesus. He runs the body of Christ, treating each member equally. Treat your employees as Jesus treats you.
Beginning with chapter 5, verse 20, and continuing through the verse above (6:9), we have been talking about the Spirit-filled life making us better wives, husbands, children, employees, and bosses. Paul has dealt with the natural side of our everyday life.
When we get everyday life straightened out, then we can go on to verse 10, where we can “be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.”
God bless you my friend,