Transforming Work and Relationships Through the Gospel

 

Summary

In our exploration of Ephesians 5:21 and 6:5-9, we delve into how the gospel transforms our approach to work and relationships within societal structures. The passage challenges us to view our work, whether as employees or employers, through the lens of our faith in Christ. Paul’s instructions, though initially directed at first-century Greco-Roman households, hold profound relevance for us today. The gospel calls us to serve wholeheartedly, not merely to please human masters but as if serving Christ himself. This perspective elevates all work to a divine calling, breaking down the secular-sacred divide and infusing every task with purpose and dignity.

Understanding the historical context of slavery in the Greco-Roman world is crucial. Unlike the race-based, permanent slavery of later centuries, it was often temporary and not based on race. Paul’s teachings, while not directly addressing the abolition of slavery, laid the groundwork for its eventual demise by promoting attitudes that could only lead to the institution's collapse. His revolutionary approach treated slaves with dignity and called masters to mutual respect, reflecting the gospel’s transformative power.

The gospel’s impact on work is twofold: it dignifies all work as a calling from God and relativizes earthly authority. By serving Christ in our work, we find meaning and satisfaction, even in menial or challenging tasks. This perspective liberates us from overwork and underwork, encouraging us to work diligently and with integrity, regardless of human oversight. It also challenges us to treat all workers with respect, recognizing the divine calling in every role.

Ultimately, the power to live out these principles comes from a deep reverence for Christ, rooted in the awe of his sacrificial service for us. This reverence transforms our work, enabling us to serve others, even those we find difficult, with the same grace Christ extended to us. By making Christ our ultimate master, we find freedom from the tyranny of careerism and the need for human approval, allowing us to work with joy and purpose.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Gospel Transforms Work: Viewing work as a calling from God elevates every task, breaking down the secular-sacred divide and infusing all work with divine purpose. This perspective challenges us to see our daily labor as service to Christ, dignifying even the most menial tasks. [12:57]

2. Historical Context of Slavery: Understanding the Greco-Roman context of slavery reveals a system different from later race-based slavery. Paul's teachings, while not directly abolishing slavery, promoted attitudes that undermined its foundation, setting the stage for its eventual collapse. [08:21]

3. Mutual Respect in Relationships: Paul’s instructions to slaves and masters emphasize mutual respect and dignity, reflecting the gospel’s transformative power. This approach challenges societal norms and calls us to treat all individuals with the respect due to those made in God’s image. [14:53]

4. Liberation from Overwork and Underwork: By serving Christ in our work, we find freedom from the pressures of overwork and the apathy of underwork. This perspective encourages us to work diligently and with integrity, regardless of human oversight, knowing our true reward comes from God. [28:21]

5. Reverence for Christ as Motivation: A deep reverence for Christ, rooted in the awe of his sacrificial service, empowers us to serve others with grace. This reverence transforms our work, freeing us from the need for human approval and allowing us to work with joy and purpose. [35:46]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:14] - Scripture Reading
- [01:04] - Gospel in the World
- [01:46] - Practical Teaching
- [02:15] - Background Context
- [03:27] - Household Codes
- [05:04] - Living Distinctively
- [06:18] - Historical Slavery Context
- [08:21] - Gospel's Impact on Slavery
- [09:52] - Relevance to Modern Work
- [12:31] - First Principle: Serve the Lord
- [16:44] - Dignity in All Work
- [20:02] - Implications of Work as Calling
- [25:13] - Second Principle: Relativizing Authority
- [35:46] - Reverence for Christ

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 5:21, 6:5-9

Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul instruct slaves to do in their relationship with their earthly masters, and how does he suggest they view their work? [00:14]
2. How does Paul address the masters in their treatment of slaves, and what rationale does he provide for this instruction? [00:45]
3. What historical context about slavery in the Greco-Roman world does the sermon provide, and how does it differ from later forms of slavery? [06:39]
4. How does the sermon describe the impact of the gospel on the institution of slavery according to FF Bruce? [08:21]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does viewing work as a calling from God challenge the secular-sacred divide, and what implications does this have for how we approach our daily tasks? [12:57]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the gospel relativizes earthly authority, and how might this perspective affect one's attitude towards their job or career? [25:30]
3. How does the concept of mutual respect in relationships, as discussed in the sermon, reflect the transformative power of the gospel? [14:53]
4. What does the sermon suggest is the source of power for living out the principles of serving others with grace, and how is this connected to reverence for Christ? [35:46]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current job or role. How can you begin to view it as a divine calling, and what changes might this perspective bring to your daily work routine? [12:57]
2. Consider a challenging relationship at work. How can you apply the principle of mutual respect and dignity in your interactions with this person? [14:53]
3. Are there areas in your work life where you feel the pressure of overwork or the apathy of underwork? How can you find balance by serving Christ in your work? [28:21]
4. Think about a time when you sought human approval in your career. How can a deeper reverence for Christ free you from this need and allow you to work with joy and purpose? [35:46]
5. Identify a task at work that you find menial or unimportant. How can you infuse this task with purpose by viewing it as service to Christ? [12:57]
6. How can understanding the historical context of slavery in the Greco-Roman world inform your perspective on modern societal structures and relationships? [06:39]
7. Reflect on a situation where you struggled to serve someone you found difficult. How can Christ's example of sacrificial service inspire you to extend grace in similar situations? [36:28]

Devotional

Day 1: Work as Divine Service
The gospel transforms our understanding of work by elevating it to a divine calling. This perspective challenges the secular-sacred divide, encouraging believers to see every task as service to Christ. By viewing work through the lens of faith, even the most menial tasks are infused with purpose and dignity. This transformation calls us to serve wholeheartedly, not merely to please human masters but as if serving Christ himself. Such an approach dignifies all work and provides a profound sense of meaning and satisfaction, liberating us from the pressures of overwork and the apathy of underwork. [12:57]

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: How can you reframe your current work or daily tasks as acts of service to Christ, and what changes might this perspective bring to your attitude and approach?


Day 2: Understanding Historical Context
Understanding the historical context of slavery in the Greco-Roman world reveals a system different from later race-based slavery. In this context, slavery was often temporary and not based on race. Paul's teachings, while not directly abolishing slavery, promoted attitudes that undermined its foundation, setting the stage for its eventual collapse. By treating slaves with dignity and calling masters to mutual respect, Paul reflected the gospel’s transformative power, which ultimately laid the groundwork for the institution's demise. This historical insight challenges us to consider how the gospel can transform societal structures today. [08:21]

Philemon 1:15-16 (ESV): "For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord."

Reflection: In what ways can you apply the principles of dignity and mutual respect in your interactions with others, particularly in challenging societal or workplace structures?


Day 3: Mutual Respect in Relationships
Paul’s instructions to slaves and masters emphasize mutual respect and dignity, reflecting the gospel’s transformative power. This approach challenges societal norms and calls us to treat all individuals with the respect due to those made in God’s image. By fostering an environment of mutual respect, we reflect the love and grace of Christ in our relationships, whether in the workplace, home, or community. This perspective encourages us to see others not as mere roles or functions but as individuals worthy of honor and respect, transforming our interactions and relationships. [14:53]

James 2:8-9 (ESV): "If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors."

Reflection: Think of a relationship where mutual respect is lacking. How can you take a step today to honor that person as someone made in God’s image?


Day 4: Liberation from Overwork and Underwork
By serving Christ in our work, we find freedom from the pressures of overwork and the apathy of underwork. This perspective encourages us to work diligently and with integrity, regardless of human oversight, knowing our true reward comes from God. It liberates us from the tyranny of careerism and the need for human approval, allowing us to work with joy and purpose. This freedom enables us to balance our work and rest, ensuring that neither becomes an idol in our lives. [28:21]

Ecclesiastes 4:6 (ESV): "Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind."

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are overworking or underworking? How can you seek balance and find joy in your work by serving Christ?


Day 5: Reverence for Christ as Motivation
A deep reverence for Christ, rooted in the awe of his sacrificial service, empowers us to serve others with grace. This reverence transforms our work, freeing us from the need for human approval and allowing us to work with joy and purpose. By making Christ our ultimate master, we find freedom from the tyranny of careerism and the pressures of societal expectations. This perspective encourages us to serve others, even those we find difficult, with the same grace Christ extended to us, transforming our work and relationships. [35:46]

Hebrews 12:28-29 (ESV): "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."

Reflection: How can a deeper reverence for Christ change the way you approach your work and interactions with others today? What specific steps can you take to cultivate this reverence in your daily life?

Quotes



"Serve wholeheartedly as if you were serving the lord not men because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does whether he is slave or free 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." [00:32:52]

"Paul brings us into an atmosphere in which the institution of slavery could only Wilt and die the attitudes that Paul demands of Christians the attitudes that the gospel creates in Christians means even that kind of um uh very different sort of institution of slavery inside the Christian Community just couldn't last Paul set it up for failure Paul set it up to wilt and die and by the way we know that it did." [00:08:39]

"Serve wholeheartedly as serving the lord Lord I know the English says serve wholeheartedly as if you were serving the lord uh uh but actually in the Greek it says serve wholeheartedly when you're serving your Masters when you're when you're work at work when you're working for your boss it's actually working for the Lord all work is a calling all work is a calling from the Lord all work serves the Lord." [00:12:54]

"Peter O'Brien a commentator on Ephesians says this he says when Paul says do your do your work serving the lord this is what the commentator says ultimately then the distinction between the secular and the sacred breaks down every task however quote unquote secular however quote unquote menial looks Falls within the sphere of Christ's lordship." [00:17:02]

"Paul is relativizing all human bosses all human Masters all human careers he's saying to the servants I want you to show respect and I want you to do a good job for your master but I don't want you to ever think that he's your real master he's not your real master he's only your Earthly Master he's only a master in the Earthly realm he's not your real master." [00:25:13]

"Jesus is the only master that will forgive you and die for you your career will not die for your sins if you fail your if you if you make your career your master and you fail your career it will kill you it will make you hate yourself call no one master but Christ and the way to make sure your heart really sees Christ as your master and not your career is only to fill yourself with spiritual understandings of what Jesus Christ did for you on the cross." [00:37:46]

"Think of what Jesus did the Bible says Christ died for us while we were still his enemies we weren't just fools we were enemies he served us he worked for us he died for us when we were enemies now if he could serve enemies why in the world can't you go in and serve a fool because you say well you know what my master served a fool me." [00:36:46]

"All work is a calling by God from God because God made this material world and he made the human community and he gave us our different gifts and abilities and as a result Luther said all work is God's calling now that's the first of the two practical principles and I would say I mean it has very far reaching very far-reaching uh implications." [00:19:55]

"Paul treats the slaves with dignity by even addressing them secondly look at what he says to the Masters do you realize how revolutionary this was he says and Masters treat your slaves in the same way in the same way what do you mean the same way do you know what that mean most commentators go crazy at that because you go the same way as what and you go back up into the into the verses before and what he's trying to say with fear and respect you must respect them more than that he says do not threaten them." [00:14:53]

"Therefore what is Paul going to say that will help us be have meaningful satisfying work lives but here it's a simple fact of history that the early church was filled with with slaves and servants they flooded in why because if what because Paul and the gospel gave them something that enabled in spite them in spite of their humiliation in spite of their drudgery in spite of the grinding uh crushing nature of their work first century slaves the gospel gave them something that made their work life meaningful and satisfying." [00:11:51]

"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ now the word reverence does not help much because the word reverence you know it sounds like Hallmark reading card reverent the actual Greek word is fear but that doesn't help much either because when you and I hear the word fear we think being frightened but in the Bible the fear of God or the fear of Christ means joyful astonished awe and wonder before him." [00:35:46]

"All work is necessary for human flourishing sure some work is lower skilled and doesn't get paid as much some work is higher and of course in our worldly pecking order this is good work this is bad work but not in God's there is no favoritism with him he is not a respector of persons and so we said last week put it another way unless somebody cleans the countertops in your apartment you're going to die it's called hygiene." [00:20:02]

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Transcript
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