THE HOME LIFE OF THE BELIEVER

Colossians 3:18-4:1  (open your Bible to these verses please)

 

Introduction: If you are dead serious about what the Bible says about Home, Marriage, Husband, Wife, Child and Parent, Master, Servant then this is the study for you. We will take a overview of all of these relationships for the believer. I would have given a "gold piece" had I known these truths years ago.  I beg, I implore, I plead with you to take a copy of the Word and sit down and take these verses on these individual relationships and study them and apply them and believe them.  IT WILL CHANGE YOUR WHOLE LIFE.   

 

1. Before we go any further, we need to discuss the matter of INTER PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.  This means, wife to husband,  husband to his wife, the child to the parents, the master to the servant and the servant to the master.  There is NOTHING in the Bible on how to get along with your wife or your husband.  Why?  Because there is nothing in the Bible on INTER PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS. What I mean is that the Bible never tells a "husband to love his wife."  [that is inter personal relations.]  What the Bible does is to tell the husband to "love his wife in the Lord."  [that is forming a TRIANGLE....with God at top, wife and husband at the bottom of the triangle.]

2. The Bible only teaches what some have called TRIANGULAR RELATIONSHIPS.

a. which means, two human beings and God.

1. note this in Col. 3:18...there is husband, wife and God (tri-personal)

2. note this in Col. 3:20...there is parents, children, the Lord (triangle)

3. note this in Col. 3:22 servants, master and God  (tri-personal)

4. same principle as it refers to forgiveness.  Note Eph 4:32..."forgiving one another, even as Christ forgave you."  (tri-personal) There is ALWAYS the three points in any successful relationship in the Bible.  Notice I Peter 2..."obeying every ordinance of man because of the Lord."  (see the triangle in the verse...YOU, AUTHORITY, LORD)

3. Every Believer lives in 4 spheres:

a. every believer is IN CHRIST.

b. every believer is PART OF THE CHURCH.

c. every believer LIVES IN A HOME

d. every believer LIVES IN THE STATE.

1. In all of these, there is a leader and there is submission on the part of someone.  THIS IS THE WAY GOD DESIGNED IT....If you want to change it, then go ahead, see what happens.  

2. if the home works, there has to be a LEADER and those who SUBMIT; same in the church. there has to be a leader and those who submit.  Same in the state...there are the leaders and then those who submit.  This might not be too DEMOCRATIC, but by the way, democracy is not BIBLICAL....for pure democracy means that we "all get together and decide."

that is NOT BIBLICAL...either in home, church or state. Please read  I Thess. 5:12 or  Heb.13:7 or  I Peter 2:13. Notice that there is no democracy in any of these passages.  

 

4. There are six elements in the household.

a. the wives in v. 18 b. the husbands in v. 19

c. the children v 20 d. the parents v. 20

                e. the masters v.22                  f. the servants v. 22

                  

 

5. Now in each of these 6 elements of the household here in Colossians, there is taught an AUTHORITY and then there is also taught a SUBORDINATE.  

1. Question: how do you avoid any misuse or abuse on the part of the one who is called the AUTHORITY?  (how do you keep a husband from abusing his AUTHORITY?)

2. Answer: You avoid the abuse of Authority through MUTUAL DUTY.

a. Which means that the husband has a duty....the wife has a duty, the parents have a duty, the children have a duty and the masters have a duty to the servants and the servants have a duty to the master.   When the husband or the wife or the parents or the masters FULFILL THEIR RESPECTIVE DUTY, then you have a built in ANTIDOTE TO THE ABUSE OF AUTHORITY.  (perfect balance). As we study each case, you will find that when the HUSBAND fulfills what God tells him to do as it relates to the wife, then his wife will gladly fulfill her duties and there is NO ABUSE OF AUTHORITY.  

RELATIONSHIP OF WIFE TO HUSBAND:    3:18

A. DUTY OF THE WIFE:  "submit yourselves unto your own husbands."

1. three features found in the word "submit"

a. it is in imperative mood.  (this simply means, there  is no options, no choice.  God is saying to the wife, "do this.")

b. it is in present tense:  It is not a matter of submitting when you want or need a new dress for a party.  It is not an ISOLATED THING, BUT CONTINUOUS, not just once a week or most of the month.

c. middle voice:  they tell us that this means that the "subject in a special way does the action." let us read:  "wives, it is imperative that you continually submit yourselves to your own husbands."

2. Several notations on the little word "submit."

a. it is military term...use for ALIGNING WITH ORDERS.  It means "marching in step."

b. it has the idea of CONTROL.  (note use in Rom 8:7...the idea through the use of the word here is that of RESPONSE, OBEDIENCE.)  (Rom 10:3...again the idea of AGREEMENT...he is talking about the fact that Israel will not get into step with God's righteousness.  they will not come to agreement or alignment with God's way of salvation.) It could read, "wives it is imperative that you learn to be in agreement, alignment, respond to or obey your own husbands."

c. Warning: You can obey without submitting:  Children are told to "obey" and the wives are told to "submit."  difference:  you can obey without being submissive.  This is what goes on in some Christian homes...wives OBEYING, but not SUBMITTING.  I obeyed my parents many times, but I was definitely not submissive.  I was rebellious on the "inside."  It is not an "okay, I will do it type of thing."  

 

3. The Motive of the Wife.   v. 18  "as it is appropriate in the Lord."

a. lesson: the MOTIVATION for the wife submitting is NOT SOMETHING FOUND IN THE HUSBAND.  (it is nice when you find the motivation coming from the husband, but you will notice that the text goes beyond that of the husband to the Lord)

b. this takes care of what we often hear:  "I would submit if he were not the way he is."  (the MOTIVE is NOT found in the husband).  She is motivated by her relationship to The Lord.  (most important)

c. conclusion on this point:

1. THE OBLIGATION IS TO THE HUSBAND.

2. THE MOTIVATION IS NOT DERIVED FROM THE HUSBAND, BUT FROM GOD.  (changes the whole picture of the home)

 

4. Concluding thoughts:

a. Remember, the problem only arises when the wife submits, but her MOTIVATION DOES NOT COME FROM THE LORD.

1. this is why women often say, "if you knew what a slob I married, then you could understand why I do not submit." (remember, the husband is not the one who is supposed to be motivating you, it should be  the Lord. )  This is why our Lord did not say, "wives submit yourself to your husbands because all husbands are such wonderful fellows."

2. This directive also HARMONIZES with Col. 3:17..."and all you do in word or in deed, do in the name of the Lord."

3. this Biblical motivation also removes PRESSURE from both husband and the wife.  (HOW?) Well, what if the wife submits because she feels that the husband never honestly makes a mistake, then that would put real strain on the husband.  When she submits because of the Lord, even if he is the best husband on the block, it takes the pressure off the husband.  It also takes the pressure off the wife, for she can now say, "I know he is wrong, but I am going to submit anyway for I am doing it as unto the Lord."  (The pressure is off the wife also)

4. closing:  If you wives think this study is slanted thus far to the husbands, then I would remind you wives that the husbands are "commanded" to love their wives, even as Christ loved the church.  If your husband loved you or even came close to loving you with the same kind of unselfish love Christ had for the church, do you think you would have trouble submitting.  I kinda think most Christian wives would be pleased to submit. 

5. one further note: most wives get into trouble with Biblical submission, because they think that submitting means the Husband is greater than the wife.  It has nothing to do with superiority of the husband over the wife.  The Bible does not ever teach Biblical "inequality."  The wife is not less and the husband is not more.  It is just a matter of BIBLICAL ORDER.   THE BIBLE DOES NOT TEACH THAT THE ‘HUSBAND HAS THE RIGHTS' AND THE WIFE HAS THE ‘DUTIES.  The Bible teaches LEADERSHIP, not DICTATORSHIP.  Many husbands need to understand that the SUBMISSION on the part of the wife does not infer that the husband is to be a DICTATOR.  

 

RELATIONSHIP OF HUSBAND TO THE WIFE:   3:19 

1. Question at this Juncture:  Why did our Lord put the husband wife relationship before the relationship of the children?

answer: Because if the husband-wife relationship is Biblically messed up, then you really for all intents and purposes can forget the relationship of children....it is doomed to failure regardless of how many vacations you take together, boat rides, little league games you attend faithfully etc.   Children learn, not by what you say, but by OBSERVATION, by watching the parents.  How I wish I had known this in my life when raising my children.  I had too much emphasis on WORDS and not anywhere near enough on OBSERVATION, WHAT THEY SAW IN THEIR DAD. 

2. We will study the six elements. (wife, husband, child, parents, master, slave)

a. in each of these six, there is always an AUTHORITY and SUBORDINATE.

b. they come in pairs...the authority and subordinate...(wife (subordinate), husband(authority), children (subordinate) parents(authority), masters(authority) slaves or employees (subordinate). Thus, we have six elements and three pairs....and in each, there is an authority and there is a subordinate.  

 

A. POSITIVE DUTY OF HUSBAND:   "love your wives."  v. 19

1. Three features 

a. IMPERATIVE MOOD:  It is an appeal to the WILL of the husband, not the emotions.  The word for love here is word which appeals to the will. Thus, it is not a matter of husbands loving their wives if they have some emotional jerk.  You are commanded to do it, thus it has to be something "beyond emotion" for you cannot crank up emotion.   

b. PRESENT TENSE:  It is not a matter of doing it when you want sex or have a favor that you would like your wife to grant to you.  It means, do it all the time.  Make a decision of the will that you will continuously, daily, monthly love your wife.

c. ACTIVE VOICE:  which means that the SUBJECT produces the Action.

2. What is the meaning of Love (agape love)

A. First, it is an attitude that seeks the best for the one loved or seeks the highest interest or benefit for the one loved:

    1. the word for love in Col. 3:19 is not sexual love or Phileo affection.  It is the same kind of love that Christ had for us.  I am sure that Christ did not FEEL something as He went to cross for us.  His love was a decision of the will in our behalf.  Eph. 5:25 also says this to the husband. "husbands love your wife, even as Christ loved the Church". My love for my wife is to be patterned after His love for me as a sinner.  Remove all of the feeling, emotion, spine tingling out of this word for love and you will understand this first principle about love.  LOVE IS AN ATTITUDE THAT SEEKS THE BEST FOR THE ONE LOVED.  This is the reasoning behind I John 4:9...."by this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has send His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through him."

     2. there are times when you have to discipline children...and the reasoning behind it, "you are seeking the highest benefit for your children."  You know that if they defy you, then next it will be the school, then the city, then the state, then any and all who get into their way.  

 

B. It is also an Attitude that is Maintained irrespective of Response:

     1. It means that even if there is no response to love, valid love keeps on loving. Notice how this is illustrated in I John 4:10..."herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to the be payment for our sins."  How did we reciprocate or what with?  NOTHING.  The problem is that God being omniscient knew already that we would say "hands down on His Son," but He sent Him anyway.  That is love...for love is an attitude that is maintained irrespective of response.  What we have in most marriages is a response type affection.  I love you if you love me and you love me if I love you.

 

C. It is an Element that gives all of ones self for the Other.  

     1.1John 3:16 illustrates this.."hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."      

B. NEGATIVE DUTY OF THE HUSBAND:   "be not bitter against."

1. bitter:  has several ideas

a. first, it means, actual harsh treatment of someone.

b. second, it is IRRITATION...."don't get irritated with your wife."  (this shows to me great divine insight into women."  GOD KNEW WHAT SOME WOMEN COULD AND CAN BE.  Don't get exasperated with your wife.  In a marriage where there is such closeness there is the possibility of irritation rises dramatically.  The closeness can produce the irritation. There are some habits that I have which are only revealed in a "close" situation where someone sees and observes me daily.  Because of this closeness there are times when I could get irritated with my wife. There is an implied irritation that a husband might have with their wives.  Note that Paul recognizes that the possibility of irritation can occur with even good believers. It takes no more than a "hair in the sink" to send some relationships into orbit.  

 

RELATIONSHIP OF CHILDREN TO PARENTS:    v. 20 (It is noteworthy that the children are addressed DIRECTLY....as though they were expected to read Colossians. The Author assumes that the children READ THE WORD.  There is nothing here about the parents reading the Word to the little children, but the assumption is THAT THE CHILDREN ARE READING THE WORD.  Again, I must repeat that this is a DIRECT ADDRESS to the children themselves. Thus, Paul is assuming that the children read the Bible. There is a second assumption here.  Paul also assumes that the parents had taught the children the importance of reading the Bible.  

 

A. COMMAND:   "obey your parents in all things ."  v. 20

1. obey:

                        a. imperative mood....and that means, there is no choice. 

b. present tense: which means, do it all the time. no time off.

c. active voice: which means, you produce the action.  

2. what is involved in the little word "obey."

a. it is compound word that has first to do with LISTENING...(it is the word from which we get our word ACOUSTIC and we know this has to do with listening)

b. then another part of the word is from which we get our word HYPERDERMIC....."hyper"means"down under."....thus it means to LISTEN FROM DOWN UNDER. The children are to tune their ears to their parents, not their peers. 

c. lesson:  children cannot obey unless they have something to listen to.  For the children to listen from down under, "what are you giving your children to listen to?" The little word "obey" also implies that there is communication within the family unit. 

3. Question: Is disobedience to parents really that bad?

a. First, when you have disobedience to parents, you have HUMANITY AT ITS WORST STATE. note Romans 1:29,3O...I would have you to read this list of sins...and notice that whenever you have human sin in the bible at its WORST....DISOBEDIENCE TO PARENTS IS ALWAYS IN THE LIST.  (It is listed right alongside with fornication, murder.  It is interesting how we would immediately put someone out of the church in regal fashion for murder or fornication, but their children could be the worst in the church, talk back to parents, disrespectful to others and have fathers on the deacon board)

b. Notice II Tim. 3:1-3. You have in this passage HUMANITY IN ITS LAST STATE. When Paul is describing the LAST CORRUPTIONS OF A FADING SOCIETY...."disobedient to parents" is in the list of corruptions of a fading society. Need I say anymore about what the Bible says about "disobedience to parents." It is put right alongside with murder, rape, fornication, filthy talk, lying.  

 

B. What is the Extent of the Obedience?

1. "in all things."    (two things to note)

a. the obedience is not OCCASIONAL, but CONTINUAL. There has to be CONSISTENCY in the obedience.  You can lose consistent obedience through PART TIME ENFORCEMENT.  Example:  Try getting your child to say "thank you" without having consistency with the child.  Lesson:  You can lose the consistency through a GAP BETWEEN WHAT IS REQUIRED AND WHAT THEY MUST PERFORM.

b. the obedience is not OPTIONAL....which means that the child does not have the option to sit down and evaluate as to whether they are to obey.  (by this, we do not mean that if your parents tell you to go down to the local convenience store and rob it, that you are to do what they tell you.)  What we mean is this...THE CHILD IS NOT TO EVALUATE AND THEN DECIDE WHETHER TO OBEY OR NOT TO OBEY. 

c. P.S:  If you ever hear of teachers in school telling your child to write out the "weak points of their parents", you should head straight for the teacher or school board, for this is INTOLERABLE...for it is form of tearing down the respect that the children should have for their parents. 

 

C. The Motive:   "for this is well pleasing to the Lord."

1. simply stated, "obedience pleases God.  (you might hate it as a child, but it pleases Him) When did you last think of obedience to your parents as something THAT HE SAYS PLEASES HIM?  This is "far cry" from what we often hear in the home.  "Susan, if you love us as your parents, you should obey us."  (this is not even Biblical) You are then teaching them to respond based on natural affection, rather than being based on their relationship to Christ.)

2. Note that the Response is TRIANGULAR.   "well pleasing to the Lord."

a. To a young person who knows Christ, the response really has nothing to do with the parents, but WITH THE LORD. When your child has on its own established and created the "Triangle" in reference to  life, then you really do not have to worry about the child.  Unil the child does this, you will have to "watch" "check on them" "call other parents to see if they showed up" and go through all of the routines most families go through. THE MOTIVE THUS IS NOT ROOTED IN THE QUALITY OF THE PARENTS.

b. If the motivation "well pleasing to the Lord" THINK ABOUT THE WORRY THIS CAN ELIMINATE FOR A PARENT.

THE RELATIONSHIP OF FATHER TO THE CHILD      v. 21

A. THE COMMAND   "do not provoke your children."  v. 21

1. NOTE:  There are NO MOTHER verses....the word here is to Fathers, for the responsibility from a Biblical viewpoint rests with the Fathers.

2. the word "anger" is not in the original....so it should read, "provoke not your children."

3. what is involved in the word PROVOKE.

a. present tense. (which means, "don't ever provoke your children.")

b. imperative mood.[there is no "I will think about it."] 

c. active voice. [you fathers produce the action]

1. very important for fathers who really want to be a Biblical Father to note these three little things about the word PROVOKE.  

4. Meaning:

a. means, to EXCITE, SIMULATE....(turn to II Cor 9:2 to see the word used in a good sense.)  It can mean that the Father is OVER EXACTING, IRRITATING SOMETHING, EXASPERATING SOMEONE.  

b. illustration:  Your child comes in and has made two home runs....but was up to bat five times....and you as a father get on him for not knocking 3 more home runs.  (I know this is exaggerated, but you get the point.)   OVER EXACTING....(especially in light of the fact that most likely the father when a child and up to bat....went 0 for 5 times at the bat.) 

B. The Consequences:   "lest they be discouraged."

1. "or broken in spirit."  

C. Conclusion on Obedience:  

1. Obedience is gained by the parent from the child in two ways.

a. first, EXERCISE OF AUTHORITY.

b. second, BY RESPECT.

1. remember, AUTHORITY REQUIRES OBEDIENCE. (by the way, when you require OBEDIENCE in the right way, it then creates RESPECT, which in turn inspires OBEDIENCE).

2. remember, RESPECT INSPIRES OBEDIENCE.

a. both are illustrated in Eph 6:1,2...(dual capacity...please read.)  What we often have in the homes are children who might reluctantly obey, but there is the missing ingredient of RESPECT FOR THE PARENTS.  When you get the two ingredients of AUTHORITY and RESPECT "cooking" in the home, you have an unbeatable combination with your children.  They will sing your praises when these two parts are included in the home.  

2. Three closing lessons about children and their parents.

a. ALWAYS let a child know WHAT is expected. (make it clear)

b. ALWAYS let a child know WHY it is expected.

c. ALWAYS let a child know the CONSEQUENCES of disobedience.  

3. Let me close this section by giving 5 elements or words which identify the Biblical Procedure in the Family life:

a. ORDER:  (this means that every one in the family, from the wife, to the husband, to the children are functioning according to Bible Order)

b. AUTHORITY: (there has to be an AUTHORITY in the Family)

c. DUTY:  (every member has a duty...no free rides for any member)

d. RESPONSE:  (wife to husband, husband to wife, children to parents and parents to children)

e. BENEFIT:  when mutual duty is performed, there is always mutual benefit for each member of the family.  

 

 

 

THE MASTER SERVANT RELATIONSHIP  3:22-25.  (4:1)

A. General Remarks:

1. what is the Position of Paul and New Test on subject of slavery?

a. first, the Bible does not state APPROVAL of slavery.

b. second, the Bible also does not PERMIT REVOLT.  (in fact the Bible does not even suggest REFORM, for while Paul did not approve it, he did not mention revolt)

2. question: why would Paul NOT say that slavery is wrong?

a. answer:  because being a slave was no disadvantage to the Christian living the Christian life....(the Christian life is the issue) You see, being a slave was NO DISADVANTAGE IN LIVING FOR THE LORD... and really,this is all that counts.  Paul in this study will give the slave a NEW MOTIVE, NEW MENTAL ATTITUDE. 

3. God basically  said two things to the slave and the Master.

a. if you are a slave, OBEY....and if you are a master, BE FAIR.

b. remember, the N. T. is not the least bit concerned with social conditions.

1. we think the function of the church is to change SOCIETY, but when you come to the epistles of Paul, there is absolutely no mentioned concern whatsoever in changing the social conditions of the Roman Empire.  why?  Because social conditions do not affect your Christian life....the issue is the Christian life....and social conditions have nothing to do with my living the Christian life.   

2. the emphasis is not on changing the social conditions, but on transforming men into the likeness of Christ.  The word of God does not free the slaves in any way, but it does give the slave new MOTIVATION.  This is why God did not come on the scene and talk about getting out of slavery...."you are a slave, but don't sweat it, for living for the Lord is all that counts." The issue in N. T. is transforming men.

3. the new motivation was "as unto the Lord."  (v. 23). The Word of God did not free the slave, but gave the slave new motivation. Most of us fail to note that v. 23 was written to men who were slaves under a master.  He gives them new motivation.  He did not advocate rebellion. 

 

 

B. First Duty of Employee or Slave: EXECUTION OF JOB REQUIREMENTS OF EMPLOYER    v.22

1. Several important lessons from this verse.  (v.22)

a. "servants."  (this is the word we have for Lord....same as 4:1)

b. "obey in all things your master."  (the thought is DEPENDABILITY)

1. "obey." (this little word is in PRESENT TENSE....which means, "do it all the time." It is in IMPERATIVE voice, which means, you do not have a choice....It is not a matter of talking it over with your wife or pastor. It is also in ACTIVE voice, which means, you produce the action. This should also answer the question which often comes up, which is: "do employee's have a say in what management tells them? "  REALLY, NOT AT ALL.  Our job is found in one word, which is EXECUTION....and execution and obey are essentially the same.  Your boss may be nuts, but you are to obey or quit.   

c. "not with eye service." (don't just obey when he is looking or watching you.)The word "eye service" is made up of two words, one is the word for EYE and the other is the word for SERVICE.There are two ideas connected with this word "eye service."  First, it refers to work which is done ONLY when the master is looking.  Second, it refers to work which is done to ATTRACT the eye of the master.  (a believer shuns both of these)

1. Illustration:  You will remember the servant girl who was converted, and when she was asked how she knew she was converted, she replied, "well, you see, I used to sweep the dust under the mat and now I don't."

d. "do it heartily, as unto the Lord."(v.23).  (the word "heartily" means EFFORT)  I think two words would mark off the responsibility of the employee or slave.  One is found in the word DEPENDABILITY and the other is EFFORT. The worker or employee must be able to say, " I am here on earth to live for the Lord"....and doing our job well shows our respect and feelings for our Lord.   By the way, the word "heartily" means, "out of the soul." 

I might mention that the last two years of my life have been changed as it relates to doing certain physical chores for our business.  I used to do them grudgingly, hating every minute, looking for way to put it off or not do it.  Now, I gladly do it from the perspective of the Lord.  MY WHOLE OUTLOOK HAS CHANGED.   

C. Second Duty of Employee or Slave: EXECUTION OF THE JOB AS UNTO THE LORD.  v. 22

1. Negative aspect:  "according to the flesh."   "not with eye service."  v. 22

a. what is eye service?  first, don't obey just when your master is near you.  As a believer, it should not take the watchful eye of your boss for you to do a efficient job.

Second, don't do service that is done with idea of "catching someone eye."  (should not be service to catch the eye of the boss.  I heard somewhere that the average employee waste 9 weeks out of 52 of his employer.  THIS IS WRONG FOR A BELIEVER.  

 

2. Positive aspect:   "in singleness of heart."

a. anything which is simple and then anything that is sincere.  We should do our work in SIMPLICITY and SINCERITY OF HEART, fearing God.

b. question: does this mean that we have no voice?  You are exactly right...you are to do what you do for HIM, not MANAGEMENT....not even because you have a voice.  The man who picks up trash should do it for the Lord.  Then picking up trash becomes spiritual, for it is done for the Lord.  THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN THIS SENSE IN SECULAR AND SACRED. This is why there is really no such thing as "full time Christian service." Why?     Because all service is FULL TIME and just as sacred as the pastor in the pulpit.  The best witness some of us could ever have on the work place is BY DOING OUR WORK RIGHT AND BEING PUNCTUAL, ON TIME.  I think v. 23 takes it all in.  This verse should be the number one verse for a man working or a woman working on the job.

  

D. Third Duty of Employee or Slave: EXECUTION OF THE JOB BY DOING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND DOING IT AS WELL AS POSSIBLE    3:23 

1. heartily:  means "out of the soul."  (the idea is that of doing it out of your inner being....the idea is that you are ‘WHOLE SOUL' in your endeavors.  

a. get the idea.  God is not going around saying, " I am so sorry you are an unfortunate slave", but the whole issue is HONORING HIM, REGARDLESS OF OUR PLIGHT IN LIFE, EVEN AS A SLAVE.

2. "as to the Lord, and not unto men." (this inner motivation is not derived from your employer, but from the Lord.  This one point will take care of the QUALITY and the QUANTITY  of your work. 

   

E. Fourth Duty of Employee or Slave: EXECUTION OF JOB AS UNTO GOD.  v. 24

1. question: if we do what we do for Him, DO YOU THINK HE WILL SHORT US OR GIVE US LESS THAN WE DESERVE???  (most Christians are not sure on this one)

2. notice the additional motive for good work in v. 24..."which is serving the Lord." Question:  When was the last time you heard about a Christian labor group being a TESTIMONY THROUGH THEIR WORK EFFORTS??

3. lesson from v. 24:  OUR FINAL PAY CHECK DOES NOT GET WRITTEN BY MEN, BUT BY GOD.  (most of us don't want to wait until eternity for the final pay check) 

3. question: what if we decide that the employer is wrong  v. 25

a. "He that does wrong shall receive for wrong."  HE IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS.

 

F. Duty of Employer:  4:1 Principles to notice from this verse.

a. first, management is to recognize the RIGHT OF THE EMPLOYEE TO FAIR PAY..."give unto your servants that which is just and equal." (4:1).  Management is not to say, "if I can get him cheap, then I will."  (there should be fair compensation)

b. second, what should motivate the management?  

a. "that you also have a master in heaven."  v. 1 (answerability of the employer to God) 

b. closing lesson:  what kind of labor and management problems would you have if YOU DID YOUR WORK WITH ALL YOUR HEART and your master or employer UNDERSTOOD AND REWARDED THIS?  YOU WOULD HAVE NO LABOR AND MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS.