Old Llantrisant Hill
Opening Comments
- Previously looked at Col 3:18-21
- Now looking at v22-25 (bondservants) and 4:1 (the master or employer)
- We must give God our heart
- Here we are looking at the workplace - God comes into everything
- The Christian life is not just a Sunday or praying in the morning or night
- We are dead to sin and alive in Christ
- It moves on from church relationships to family relationships
- Wives submit
- Husbands love
- Children obey
- Parents do not provoke
- One thing for each of us to concentrate on
- Paul moves onto the workplace
- Bondservants were slaves
- The Roman empire was built on slavery, nearly as much as one third were slaves
- Being a slave in Roman times was not
necessarily bad or what we might think about today (e.g. racial oppression)
- You could be a doctor or a teacher as a slave
- Yes, there were some abuses of this
- Some masters would have been non-Christians and Christians
- Why doesn't the New Testament cry out for the emancipation of slavery?
- Practically outlawing slavery would have lead to revolution and likely the destruction of the Christians faith
- Instead the bible teaches that slaves should be properly looked after
- The bible does not distinguish between slave or free
- The bible teaches there should not be oppression but love
- William Wilberforce campaigned against slavery
- Lord Shaftesbury bringing in the factory acts
- The passage is regulating for a situation that is existing
- Christianity is not about politics
- If Christians starting getting into politics souls are not saved
- Consider the passage in terms of employer and employee
Employees (3:22-25)
- Why are the employees considered first before the employers?
- Probably the majority of Christians found themselves as employees and not employers
- It was difficult when Christians had non-Christians as employers
- "Bondservants obey your masters in all things"
- The bible teaches complete submission
- Obey masters before God - this transforms the work service
- What if the employer abuses me, overlooks me, doesn't pay me enough, doesn't promote me, etc?
- God is the master of all men
- There will be a final judgement and God will act
- There is no partially with God
- What is your motivation at work?
- We are currently working under difficult circumstances
- It doesn't mean that we cannot speak to an employer or go to a trade union if appropriate
- As a Christian we should always work sincerely (v23)
- If you are being oppressed at work, work heartily as you are working for God
- Our work is about our relationship with God (v22)
- We should not steal from work
- We should not steal hours (by leaving early)
- We should not steal money by getting extra expenses
- We ought not not take sick time off work that is not genuine
- We ought not to lie
- Can we evangelise in work?
- Yes during breaks
- We should not being taking extra time away from our duties to talk to others
- 1 Tim 6:2, Eph 6:5, Tit 2:9-10
- It is not about our 'rights' but everything is a gift from God
- Work is a blessing from God
- The bible says 'he who does not work shall not eat'
- Six days you should work and rest on the seventh day
- There are many injustices
- Example of the lady at Plymouth University
- v24 - there will be pay/inheritance from the Lord
- You may be under paid and overworked
- But God will reward you
Employers (4:1)
- Masters give (not take)
- Give what is just and fair
- The Christian employer:
- Doesn't overwork his staff
- Doesn't place too high expectations on people
- Gives fair pay, hours and breaks
- Is fair and just
- Seeks to treat his employees equally - no favourites
- Why?
- Because you are under God
- Eph 6:9 - Masters should not be threatening
- James 5:4 - When people are exploited God knows
- Should be just and fair in all their dealings
- Must be constant in prayer - either as employer or employee
- May I be a person of thanksgiving
- Perhaps these verses seem stark or simple
- Situations may be complex but often the heart of the matter is simple
- These verses are written to Christians