Spirit-Filled Worker Series – Lesson 5

Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Spirit-Filled Worker.”

Spirit-Filled Worker Series – Lesson 5

Christians in the Workplace – Part 1

Ephesians 6:5-6, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;”

We have all heard the saying “good help is hard to find”. For the most part, good help is hard to find because people are basically self-centered and self-serving. They usually don’t put the concerns of their employer first, unless it somehow benefits them. This passage points out in strong terms what the world's problem really is. It is not an economic problem; it is a spiritual problem. Hunger and economic relationships between individuals and nations can only be solved when men turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is Lord, and when men serve Him as Lord, they serve Him in all they do. This means they work for Him; and in working for Him, they work not only to provide for themselves, but also to secure enough to give to others (Ephesians 4:29).

A Spirit-filled worker is eager to do a good job. The conduct of a person’s service speaks of the quality of their service. God wants believers to be good employers; doing a good job that would glorify Him. A Christians influence in the workplace results in setting a high standard at work. We can glorify Christ by working reverently because we are working unto Christ. As employees, we are to serve with reverence and respect toward our employers. This means we must respect authority in the workplace. Christian workers are to be loyal and obedient to their employers. We are to follow their instructions and put in a full day's work for a full day's pay. Laziness and shoddy workmanship are poor testimonies and clear signs a person is not filled with the Spirit. Singleness of heart means we have our minds focused, concentrated on our jobs, and work to the best of our ability. The role of the supervisor is to instruct the employee on what to do, not the other way around. One way we show respect is by not fussing, feuding, or fighting, but by shining as lights.

The Spirit-filled employee doesn’t only work hard when the employer is watching, but when the supervisor is away. We can glorify Christ by working wholeheartedly. This means the service will be diligent, not lackadaisical. It is not half-hearted service. It is service that does the job right. To glorify Christ, employees must obey without eye service. Those who serve with "eyeservice" (when someone is looking) or as "menpleasers" (to gain the applause of men) will not serve faithfully. They will only serve when someone is looking, or when someone will praise them. Every believer should live every day with the motivation, I fear the Lord. I am no longer my own. I belong to Christ as my Lord. I must do His will. I must live to please Him. Someday I will stand before Him to receive the reward for my faithful obedience.

Let’s set the scene. Imagine gym class. While doing push-ups, the students stay in the up position while the gym teacher is not looking. Many are like that in the workplace. When the supervisor is around, they work diligently, but when the supervisor is not, they crack jokes, and play on social media, etc. Believers should endeavor to deliver sixty minutes of work for every hour of pay. The idea here is that we don't just work because the boss is watching. We don't serve to be seen of men, we serve because it is the will of God and we know He is watching. In a lifetime the average employee is at work about 90,000 hours. This means the 90,000 hours, or an average of forty-five work years, we spend at work obeying this passage count as doing service, as to the Lord. Do you work without eye service—delivering a day’s work whether your supervisor is around or not? We do not obey our bosses or schoolteachers simply when they happen to be in the room watching us. Rather, we do our work “from the heart”. We show up on time; we do quality work; we put in a full day and report our hours correctly whether anyone is watching or not. Whether or not the boss sees us, the Lord does, and it is Him we serve. At the end of each day, may we receive a good report.

Questions to Consider:
As a Christian, do you strive to do your work with excellence and for God’s glory?
Do you see your workplace (home, school, job, etc.) as God’s calling and as your opportunity to be His witness?
If not, what could you do differently to honor the Lord at work?
If you are an employer, do you lead with excellence and treat everyone fairly, knowing that God is your Master and He is watching how you treat your employees?
If not, what could you do differently to honor the Lord at work?

PRAYER, Lord, may I bring Your presence with me to work today. Thank You for the gifts You have blessed me with. Work through me in the power of the Holy Spirit. Help me to serve with the singleness of heart that I might do Your will and glorify You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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Thank you for reading Lesson 5 of Spirit-Filled Worker Series. Please visit this website tomorrow for Lesson 6 of Spirit-Filled Worker Series.