|
The following verses are about relationships between master and slave. I've changed the wording a little bit so we can see how - from the context - we can apply these verses to modern situations. You'd be better to memorize them from the original, so I've given you links to the whole passage in their context in the English Standard Version [ESV].
[Employees] obey your earthly [bosses]
with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not
by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants
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 [hourly] or [contract]. [Supervisors], do the same to
them,
and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their [Boss] and
yours
is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. - Ephesians 6:5-9 ESV
[wr]
[Employees],
obey in everything those who are your earthly [bosses], not by way of
eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever
you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for
men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the
inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For
the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
- Colossians 3:22-25 ESV [wr]
[Bosses] treat your [subordinates] justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a [Boss] in
heaven - Colossians 4:1 ESV [wr]
Let all who are under a [contract] as [employees] regard their own
[supervisors] as worthy of
all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.
Those who have believing [supervisors] must not be disrespectful on
the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the
better since
those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.
Teach and
urge these things. - 1Timothy 6:1-2 ESV [wr]
[Employees] are
to be submissive to their own [supervisors] in everything; they are to be
well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but
showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of
God our Savior. - Titus 2:9-10 ESV [wr]
[Employees], be
subject to your [supervisors] with all respect, not only to the good and gentle
but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when,
mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For
what credit is it if, when you sin and are [punished] for it, you endure? But
if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in
the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because
Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow
in his steps. - 1Peter 2:18-21 ESV [wr]
"No servant can serve two masters, for
either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the
one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." - Luke 16:13 ESV
Application
1.
Work as if your immediate supervisor is the Lord by giving the
same kind of obedience and respect to those whom God has placed over you. Don't
argue all the time, don't steal from the company, and be faithful.
2.
Supervise those whom God has placed under you with fairness and
without threats. You will give an account to your boss, the Lord, for how you
treated them.
3.
Don't work for the money. If you are focused on working for the
money, you will be unable to work focused on serving Christ.
|