1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,840 Good morning. 2 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:04,600 So, I've heard this was a little too early 3 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:05,920 for you to be a church this morning, 4 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:07,300 so I'm glad y'all are here. 5 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:11,200 Two hours early, that's all right. 6 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:13,800 If you have your Bibles, Ephesians chapter six 7 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:15,640 is where we're gonna be. 8 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:17,520 Over the last several weeks, 9 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:21,200 we've looked at several different types of relationships. 10 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:24,760 We've looked at the relationship between husbands and wives. 11 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:27,120 Last week, we looked at children's relationships 12 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:28,400 to their parents, 13 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:33,400 and today we're gonna look at the employee-employer relationship. 14 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:36,720 Some read this passage that we're gonna cover this morning 15 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:41,600 and wonder if Paul and the Bible are endorsing slavery. 16 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:47,840 And Paul is not endorsing slavery 17 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:49,520 as a necessary social evil, 18 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:52,760 but Paul rather is addressing what it means 19 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:56,400 to be a Christ follower in a fallen world 20 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:58,680 and our attitude in that world. 21 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:02,280 Paul is not addressing the wrongness 22 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:03,960 in an abusive relationship, 23 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:07,040 but what is our attitude? 24 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:08,920 How do we respond? 25 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:11,600 What is our heart in any given situation? 26 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:14,560 Paul is reminding the Ephesians, 27 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:19,480 he's reminding us that God knows our circumstances. 28 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:21,520 He knows what's going on 29 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:23,620 and wants us to honor him 30 00:01:23,620 --> 00:01:26,520 no matter what our current employment situation is. 31 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:29,120 God wants us to honor him 32 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:32,920 even when we work with people who dishonor him. 33 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:35,480 And so scholars have estimated 34 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:40,180 that there were an estimated 70 million slaves 35 00:01:40,180 --> 00:01:43,800 in the Roman Empire and Greek societies. 36 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:47,000 A person became a slave in one of three ways. 37 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:48,520 You were either born into slavery 38 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:51,240 because your parents were slaves. 39 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:53,520 You were sold into slavery 40 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:56,240 in order to satisfy a debt 41 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:59,120 or you were captured during a time of war 42 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:01,960 and enslaved by a conquering army. 43 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:04,960 So Paul is not endorsing slavery, 44 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:09,320 but writing to a culture where slavery was prevalent. 45 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:12,960 What he is referencing in this passage 46 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:15,940 is the fact that depending on the situation, 47 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:19,600 there were some who were in slavery 48 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:22,640 or some who would potentially wind up in slavery 49 00:02:22,640 --> 00:02:25,120 and the next few verses 50 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,720 is how they should act in those situations. 51 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:29,880 All right, and so we're gonna read chapters, 52 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:31,600 chapter six, verses five through nine. 53 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:35,160 I'm gonna invite Erlyn wherever Erlyn is. 54 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:36,000 There she comes. 55 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:37,680 She's gonna read our passage this morning. 56 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:39,400 As she comes, I'd encourage you to stand 57 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,900 as we honor the Lord's word together. 58 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:45,520 Let's speak right there. 59 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:47,520 Five, sir. 60 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:50,080 You haven't been a hold it for me? 61 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:53,280 You got a big Bible, hard to get close. 62 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:54,520 It's just Jesse's, I know. 63 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:56,480 It's always Jesse's fault. 64 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,080 Byline service, obey your earthly masters 65 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:00,840 with fear and trembling, 66 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,480 with a sincere heart as you would Christ. 67 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,960 Not by the way of eye service as people pleases, 68 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:10,200 but as bond service of Christ, 69 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:12,400 doing the will of God from the heart, 70 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:15,520 rendering service with a good will 71 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:18,120 as to the Lord and not to man. 72 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,200 Knowing that whatever good anyone does, 73 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:24,400 that this he will receive back from the Lord. 74 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:25,860 Whenever he is, 75 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:33,160 whether he is a bonds servant or a street masters, 76 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:35,920 do the same to them and stop your threatening 77 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:38,480 knowing that he who is both their master 78 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:42,040 and yours in heaven and that there is no partiality with him. 79 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:43,080 Good job, amen. 80 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:43,920 Let's pray. 81 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:45,040 Father, thank you for Erlyn. 82 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:47,040 And I pray God that as we look at this text this morning 83 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,840 in your word that we will see past the cultural references, 84 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:54,040 that we will see that this does apply to us. 85 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:56,920 And so God, I pray that you'll open our hearts 86 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:58,320 and ears to hear from you today. 87 00:03:58,320 --> 00:03:59,160 It's your name you pray. 88 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:00,000 Amen. 89 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:00,840 Thank you, Erlyn. 90 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:07,880 Now, when you think about relationship 91 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:10,840 between a slave and a master, 92 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:14,400 I immediately think of slavery in the South 93 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:15,560 that led to the Civil War. 94 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:17,040 That's what comes to mind. 95 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:21,160 In any type of slavery, there aren't many rights, if any. 96 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:24,880 But since we are talking about attitude in these verses, 97 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:29,160 I do want to mention four rights that you do have 98 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:32,520 because the goal for all believers in Jesus 99 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:35,560 should be to honor God in all that we do. 100 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:39,480 The first way that we can honor God with our work 101 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:42,120 is to have the right heart. 102 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:45,240 When Jesus was growing up as a carpenter's son, 103 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:47,560 how do you think He worked? 104 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:51,480 Do you think He worked hard only when Joseph was working? 105 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:55,800 When Paul was a tent maker? 106 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:57,640 How do you think He worked? 107 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:00,840 Do you think that He worked hard only when His client 108 00:05:00,840 --> 00:05:02,840 was around and watching Him? 109 00:05:02,840 --> 00:05:04,600 Of course not. 110 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:06,080 That's not how it works. 111 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:07,880 They were obedient to their masters. 112 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:10,120 They were obedient to their bosses. 113 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:14,440 Notice that what has happened over our texts 114 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:18,320 over the last few weeks, back in chapter 5 verse 21, 115 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:21,000 Paul introduced the idea to Christians 116 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,320 in submitting to one another. 117 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:25,400 And over the last three passages, 118 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:27,320 as we've looked at this together, 119 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:29,120 he expands on that idea. 120 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:31,480 He describes what submission looks like 121 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:33,880 in our day-to-day existence. 122 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:37,560 He explains how we are supposed to submit to everybody 123 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:41,320 in our everyday relationships. 124 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:44,520 He started with our closest relationship, marriage. 125 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:46,600 That is also the most balanced, 126 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:50,360 submissive relationship that we have. 127 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:53,320 Marriage is pure, mutual submission 128 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,160 under the husband's headship. 129 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:59,360 Obedience isn't even mentioned when he's discussing marriage. 130 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:02,440 Then Paul moved to the next closest relationship 131 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:05,560 that we have, the parent-child relationship. 132 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:09,600 Now obviously, the submission in the parent-child relationship 133 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:12,120 is a little less balanced. 134 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:14,920 Here he first introduces the word obedience 135 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,800 and only alludes to submission. 136 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:21,400 Parents are to submit to the Lord and to the child's needs, 137 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:24,720 but children are to obey their parents. 138 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:29,720 Now he moves to the most unbalanced relationship, 139 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:34,360 the master-slave or the boss-worker relationship. 140 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:36,960 Here he doesn't even allude to submission 141 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:38,800 between those two parties. 142 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:40,840 It's all about obedience. 143 00:06:40,840 --> 00:06:45,120 So in that light, what does it mean to obey your boss 144 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,960 with fear and trembling? 145 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,560 The word that's translated fear 146 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:54,720 is where we get our word phobia from. 147 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:58,240 And the word that's translated trembling 148 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:01,280 is where we get the word trauma from. 149 00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:06,280 So we need to have a phobia about not obeying your boss. 150 00:07:06,280 --> 00:07:08,960 It should be traumatic to you to think about 151 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:12,360 not being obedient to your boss. 152 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:15,760 It should traumatize you with the thought 153 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:19,000 of not being obedient in the workplace. 154 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:24,000 What it is saying is our heart has to be in the right place. 155 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:26,560 Why are you working? 156 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:30,280 I can't count how many people I've heard say things 157 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:34,280 like the only reason I'm working is for the insurance. 158 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:37,840 Now to put that in context of verse five, 159 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:39,720 that would be like saying the only reason 160 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:40,840 that I'm a Christian, 161 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,120 the only reason I'm a follower of Jesus 162 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:45,000 is for the benefits. 163 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,120 We are to be obedient in the workplace 164 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:53,120 because God has placed our bosses in authority over us. 165 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:55,560 Romans 13-1 says, 166 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:59,800 let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, 167 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:01,920 for there's no power but to God. 168 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:06,920 The powers that are to be ordained are by God. 169 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:13,120 So all the powers at every level are ordained by God, 170 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:17,280 even the powers that are in the workplace. 171 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:21,480 Our fear and tripling isn't because our boss or superior 172 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:23,080 is anything special. 173 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,400 It isn't because how good they are or how bad they are. 174 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:29,240 It's because of how awesome God is. 175 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:30,600 That's our response. 176 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:32,600 And because we recognize that God is the one 177 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,280 who put them in position over us, 178 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:40,280 understanding that allows us to do the work that we do. 179 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:42,640 We don't do it to impress them. 180 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:45,840 If we do our work to impress our bosses, 181 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:49,120 then what happens when we don't get recognized? 182 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:50,880 What happens when we don't get the recognition 183 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:52,440 that we would like? 184 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:54,720 What happens when we don't get the promotion 185 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:56,840 that we think we deserve? 186 00:08:56,840 --> 00:09:01,560 We lose heart and we lose desire to work as hard. 187 00:09:01,560 --> 00:09:05,920 When we do our work for eye service or to be man pleasers, 188 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:08,520 we don't have the right heart. 189 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:12,000 But when we sincerely do our work 190 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:14,000 to the best of our abilities, 191 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:16,440 the abilities that God has given us, 192 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,160 we are then doing God's will. 193 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:22,080 Then our work becomes our service to the Lord. 194 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:26,760 The second right is the right attitude. 195 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:28,360 Look at verse seven. 196 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:31,920 Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord 197 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:34,080 and not to man. 198 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:37,880 Once again, Paul brings out the idea of doing our work 199 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:41,320 as a service to the Lord and not to people. 200 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:45,000 But this time he adds the idea of doing it with good will. 201 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:48,600 Good will is one word in the original language 202 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:52,040 and it carries the idea of zeal, of eagerness. 203 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:54,560 Doing your service enthusiastically, 204 00:09:54,560 --> 00:09:58,320 doing your job enthusiastically with a whole heart. 205 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:00,520 It's an attitude word. 206 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:02,200 It's how we... 207 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:05,200 Do you know that no matter how bad 208 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:07,560 I tell myself that things are, 209 00:10:07,560 --> 00:10:09,640 they never seem to get better? 210 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:11,440 If I constantly am talking about, 211 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:13,240 thinking about how bad things are, 212 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:15,520 it doesn't make anything better. 213 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:16,720 Have you ever met those people 214 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:19,960 who never have a positive word to say? 215 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:25,560 If you don't, you're probably that person, right? 216 00:10:28,560 --> 00:10:32,120 Of all the people on the face of the earth, 217 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:35,680 why should Christians be gloomy? 218 00:10:35,680 --> 00:10:39,000 We are the only ones who have hope. 219 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:45,320 Of all people, we should be eager about doing our work. 220 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:49,200 If I don't get paid what I think I ought to get paid, 221 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,560 what I think I'm worth, guess what? 222 00:10:51,560 --> 00:10:54,240 Jesus has still saved me. 223 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:59,480 If my work is hard and the boss isn't too nice, guess what? 224 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:03,000 I've got a home waiting for me in heaven. 225 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:06,800 If conditions aren't good and work is hard and hours are long, 226 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:08,080 guess what? 227 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:12,280 I have a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe. 228 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:16,240 I can talk to Him and He cares for me and He loves me. 229 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:18,600 I mean, that should make us shout hallelujah. 230 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:22,680 If that can't give you and help you have a good attitude, 231 00:11:22,680 --> 00:11:24,280 I don't know what will. 232 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:28,760 But why is it important to have good will in our service? 233 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:33,000 Why is the right attitude so important? 234 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:34,880 Chuck Swindall has a very famous quote. 235 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:36,760 It's a long one, but I'm going to read it. 236 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:38,960 He said, the longer I live, 237 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:42,880 the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. 238 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:46,320 Attitude to me is more important than facts. 239 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:49,440 It's more important than the past, than education, 240 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:53,400 than money, than circumstances, than failures and successes, 241 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:56,120 than what other people think or say or do. 242 00:11:56,120 --> 00:12:01,240 It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. 243 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:06,960 It will make or break a company, a church, a home. 244 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:10,920 The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude 245 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:12,880 we will embrace for that day. 246 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:14,800 We cannot change our past. 247 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,920 We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. 248 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:20,000 We cannot change the inevitable. 249 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:24,560 The only thing we can do is play on the one string that we have, 250 00:12:24,560 --> 00:12:28,000 and that is our attitude. 251 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:33,320 Attitude reflects our confidence in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 252 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:39,920 If we truly believe that God is in control, that will affect our attitude. 253 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:44,160 If we truly believe that God cares for our every need, 254 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:46,640 that will affect our attitude. 255 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:51,680 If we truly believe that Jesus is the only one who has any rights at all, 256 00:12:51,680 --> 00:12:57,280 and when we're saved, he takes our sin and he gives us his righteousness, 257 00:12:57,280 --> 00:12:59,880 that will affect our attitude. 258 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:03,120 Our attitude will affect those all around us. 259 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:07,000 If we as Christians are always walking around like, 260 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:09,040 I don't know if it's still even around, 261 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:13,560 but do you remember the cartoon or the show, Winnie the Pooh? 262 00:13:13,560 --> 00:13:16,800 If we're constantly walking, I should have brought a picture, 263 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:20,280 because I used to dress up like Winnie the Pooh, and y'all would have loved it. 264 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:24,240 Yeah, I got pictures. 265 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:27,040 I digress. 266 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:32,600 But if we're constantly walking around like Eor, you know Eor? 267 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:35,680 Who in their right mind would want to have that? 268 00:13:35,680 --> 00:13:39,680 Who in their right mind would want to hang around that? 269 00:13:39,680 --> 00:13:45,320 But if a pagan, if a non-believer, is somebody who rejects Christ, 270 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:48,640 is acting like Tigger, who's always bouncing around, 271 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:50,920 always in a good mood, always happy, 272 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:53,640 and then you have the Christian who's acting like Eor, 273 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:57,800 I think most folks would choose to hang out with a pagan. 274 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:00,160 They'd rather hang out with a person that's fun. 275 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:04,560 I told my daughter the other day, we're at a, where were we? 276 00:14:04,560 --> 00:14:09,560 We're at school for something. I can't remember, they all blend together. 277 00:14:09,560 --> 00:14:13,960 And I told her, one of her friends, I was like, I don't know her, 278 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:18,520 but I like her, because she always has the biggest smile on her face. 279 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:22,120 And I just want to be around her, and Natalie's like, yeah, she's great. 280 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:26,880 I love her too, because she doesn't have the Eor mentality. 281 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:30,240 Now, I realize there are lots of people who make it very difficult 282 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:32,000 to have the right attitude. 283 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:38,360 That's why Paul says that our attitude is as to the Lord and not to man. 284 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:42,520 People will always disappoint us, but God never will. 285 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:44,360 He is always faithful. 286 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:48,160 He is a steady rock that we can anchor our attitude to. 287 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:54,520 Because God is faithful, every Christian should have the right attitude in the workplace. 288 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:59,360 The third right is the right reward. 289 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:02,520 Versailles says, knowing that whatever good anyone does, 290 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:04,840 this he will receive back from the Lord, 291 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:08,360 whether he is a bond servant or is free. 292 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:14,280 Now, the third right every Christian should have in the workplace is the right reward. 293 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:17,400 Now, this is hard in our culture right now, 294 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:21,840 because everyone gets a participation trophy. 295 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:31,320 When I was growing up, second place was the first loser. 296 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:38,440 So if we didn't win the championship, it would make us want to practice harder. 297 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:42,640 It make us want to have it that much more the next year. 298 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:44,880 It created rivalries. 299 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:48,640 When my boys started playing baseball when they were younger, 300 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:51,800 Asher was on this team that was just terrible. 301 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:55,760 Terrible. I really don't even know if they won a game. 302 00:15:55,760 --> 00:16:02,640 But when it came time to the end of the year awards, guess who got a trophy? 303 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:07,920 I made sure to tell them it wasn't real. 304 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:12,160 It doesn't count. It doesn't count. 305 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:14,960 I saw it in the workplace and many of you have as well. 306 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:19,160 When you work in sales, there's all these kinds of awards that happen periodically. 307 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:21,960 Quarterly awards, end of the year awards, 308 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:26,200 and a lot of times your pay was based on your performance ratings. 309 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:32,600 So you could always tell when someone was getting close to their annual performance rating time. 310 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:37,760 All of a sudden they would start doing all kinds of stuff they wouldn't usually be doing. 311 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:40,960 And they would be doing it very publicly to make sure that everybody knew, 312 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:43,440 hey, look what I'm doing over here. 313 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:48,400 They wanted everyone to know what they were doing so that they could get recognized. 314 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:50,600 Now, of course, I could see right through them. 315 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:57,760 It is obvious to anybody who is paying attention when someone does something just to be recognized. 316 00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:02,680 So if it's obvious to us, don't you think God can tell? 317 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:08,400 Don't you think He can tell when we do things just to try to garner some favor with Him? 318 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:13,240 Maybe that's why Jesus said what He did in the Sermon on the Mount. 319 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:19,760 Through the first 18 verses of chapter 6, Jesus warns His listeners about doing things 320 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:22,200 just to be recognized by men. 321 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:24,040 And He starts with giving. 322 00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:25,760 Don't give to be praised for it. 323 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:31,080 If you do, if you do, that's all the praise you're going to get. 324 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:32,920 Then He moves to prayer. 325 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:38,560 Don't make a mockery of prayer by using it as an opportunity to be recognized by people. 326 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:42,200 If you do, that's all the reward that you're going to get. 327 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:44,360 Then He moves to fasting. 328 00:17:44,360 --> 00:17:49,120 Don't go through your spiritual disciplines so that people will recognize how pious, 329 00:17:49,120 --> 00:17:51,520 how holy you are. 330 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:59,440 If you do, your reward is limited to some hunger pains and some flattery, nothing eternal. 331 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:04,360 So thinking along those lines, back in the context of our passage here in Ephesians, 332 00:18:04,360 --> 00:18:08,880 what reward do you seek in your workplace? 333 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:14,400 Do you work so that you can climb the corporate ladder? 334 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:16,520 Do we work to get a raise? 335 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:20,040 Do we work to get employee of the month? 336 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:24,320 In the context of school, do we work to get the best grades so that we can get on the 337 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:28,480 honor roll, so that we can get scholarships, so that we can get recognized at the end of 338 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:31,480 the year with some certificate? 339 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:38,600 Do we work at home so our neighbors and friends can compliment men on how nice our yard looks, 340 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:43,240 how straight our lines are, how flush it is? 341 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:47,120 Do we work at church to be recognized by other people? 342 00:18:47,120 --> 00:18:49,800 If we do, that's it. 343 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:51,600 That's all there is. 344 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:59,200 Now I have a whole box of plaques and certificates and trophies at home at my parents' house. 345 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:02,880 Notice I said box because that's what they're all in. 346 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:04,840 In a box in the attic. 347 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:09,960 Those things that seem really important when they're happening just kind of really fade 348 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:13,760 away into insignificance as the years go by. 349 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:17,720 Did you ever get a trophy for playing sports in school? 350 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:24,000 It seemed really significant at the time, but how significant is it now? 351 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:29,960 When I was growing up, I think I've told you this because I can. 352 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:36,360 But when I was growing up, I won the El Paso, Texas, three-point shooting contest. 353 00:19:36,360 --> 00:19:38,720 I remember it like it was yesterday. 354 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:41,200 I was at Montwood High School. 355 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:44,560 There were over 100 kids of all ages competing for it. 356 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:47,600 I remember what I was wearing. 357 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:51,320 Now think back to late 90s, early 2000s. 358 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:54,640 The basketball shorts, the shorts in general, were not what they wear now. 359 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:57,040 They were a little short for me. 360 00:19:57,040 --> 00:19:59,840 But back then they went past your knees. 361 00:19:59,840 --> 00:20:04,600 If you showed your knee, you don't do that. 362 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:07,120 So I had these long black basketball shorts on. 363 00:20:07,120 --> 00:20:09,960 I had them on a red Nike T-shirt. 364 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:14,480 Now the style back then was where you wore two socks on each foot. 365 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:16,280 So you had four socks on in general. 366 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:18,840 And then there were different colors and you layered them. 367 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:24,240 Anybody remember that? 368 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:35,680 And on top of all of it, I had these tear-away pants that you would wear when you're warming 369 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:36,680 up. 370 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:40,080 And then it came time to compete. 371 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:45,360 You rip those things right off, right? 372 00:20:45,360 --> 00:20:47,280 And you walk onto the court. 373 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:48,640 So it was my time to go. 374 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:49,880 I ripped my pants off. 375 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:53,720 I'm in my get-up. 376 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:56,160 And there's 27 balls. 377 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:58,240 And I sink 25 of them. 378 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:06,360 I was the Caitlyn Clark before Caitlyn Clark was even born. 379 00:21:06,360 --> 00:21:15,480 But the trophy that I have from that event, my wife won't let me display it. 380 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:19,640 She hides it from me hoping that I will forget about it. 381 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:20,920 Now don't get me wrong. 382 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:23,920 We can be happy for those things when they happen. 383 00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:29,400 But if they're all we are working for, if my whole identity was based on that trophy, 384 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:35,360 we're in trouble because we need to be working for eternal rewards when we work with the 385 00:21:35,360 --> 00:21:37,120 right heart. 386 00:21:37,120 --> 00:21:42,200 When we work with the right attitude, we will receive heavenly rewards. 387 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:49,440 Remember that whatever work we do in the end, we only really have an audience of one. 388 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:51,600 And he's watching. 389 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:56,240 And in the last day, if you are a believer, if you are a Christian, he will judge your 390 00:21:56,240 --> 00:22:00,480 work not to determine your salvation. 391 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:03,320 He's already paid for that on the cross. 392 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:08,760 But he will judge your works to see if they were worthless or if they were worth an eternal 393 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:11,260 reward. 394 00:22:11,260 --> 00:22:15,560 The third right every Christian should have in the workplace is the right reward. 395 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:20,160 The fourth is the right perspective. 396 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:21,640 Look at verse 9. 397 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:23,520 Masters do the same to them. 398 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:28,880 And stop your threatening knowing that he who is both their master and yours is in heaven 399 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:32,240 and that there is no partiality in him. 400 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:37,880 The fourth right that every Christian should have in the workplace is the right perspective. 401 00:22:37,880 --> 00:22:41,920 Look at how the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to start this verse. 402 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:44,080 Masters you do the same. 403 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:45,320 You do the same. 404 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:49,180 This means that if you're the boss, if you're the supervisor, if you're in control, God 405 00:22:49,180 --> 00:22:54,520 expects you to have the same heart that he expects from the workers. 406 00:22:54,520 --> 00:23:00,040 A heart that recognizes the fact that God is the one who puts you into that position. 407 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:05,680 And he puts you in that position to bring him honor and glory, not yourself. 408 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:11,120 It means that if you're the boss, God expects you to have the same attitude that he expects 409 00:23:11,120 --> 00:23:12,880 from your workers. 410 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:19,400 A positive, enthusiastic, encouraging attitude that makes it a joy for people to work for 411 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:20,400 you. 412 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:23,080 When they mess up, discipline them. 413 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:26,440 But do it in a spirit of humility and love. 414 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:32,000 It is the fact that you are a representative of Jesus Christ to your workers and treat 415 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:34,440 them as such. 416 00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:39,920 It means that if you're the boss, God expects you to have the same reward that he expects 417 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:42,320 from workers. 418 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:44,280 Work as if you're working for him. 419 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:46,360 Work as if he is the reward. 420 00:23:46,360 --> 00:23:53,240 That will keep you from using your employees as a way just to make you look good. 421 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:55,260 But how can you do that? 422 00:23:55,260 --> 00:23:57,960 If you're a worker, how can you have the right heart? 423 00:23:57,960 --> 00:23:59,320 How can you have the right attitude? 424 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:02,360 How can you have the right reward? 425 00:24:02,360 --> 00:24:08,920 If you're the boss, how can you have the right heart and attitude and reward? 426 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:12,840 The only way is to have the right perspective. 427 00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:17,640 As a worker, you might be immediately accountable to your boss. 428 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:21,300 But who are you ultimately accountable to? 429 00:24:21,300 --> 00:24:24,800 As the boss, you might have bosses over you. 430 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:27,840 But who are you ultimately accountable to? 431 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:37,040 As a student, as a homemaker, as a retiree, who are you ultimately accountable to? 432 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:42,560 You are accountable to your master in heaven. 433 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:46,440 And all are equally accountable before him. 434 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:50,560 Everybody on the face of this earth has one ultimate boss. 435 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:57,480 And that boss is where every knee will bow. 436 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:01,480 Every tongue will confess that he is Lord. 437 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:07,080 So if Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, your judgment will be a judgment of works 438 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:09,500 unto reward. 439 00:25:09,500 --> 00:25:15,200 Your works will be tested to see which ones have eternal value. 440 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:18,200 Your worthless works will be burned up as wood. 441 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:24,480 As hay as stubble, but you will be saved though as by fire. 442 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:34,520 This passage is one more step in being battle ready and understanding the circumstances we 443 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:36,760 have that we're in. 444 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:39,400 We have to have the right heart. 445 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:41,440 We have to have the right attitude. 446 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:48,160 We have to have the right perspective while keeping the right reward in view. 447 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:56,680 Whatever you do, whether it be in word or in deed, do it all in the name of Jesus. 448 00:25:56,680 --> 00:25:59,800 Giving thanks to God, the Father through him. 449 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:00,800 Let's pray. 450 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:10,840 Father, I pray right now that as we prepare our hearts for communion, as we remind ourselves 451 00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:18,800 that you are the ultimate reward, that everything we do on this earth is a reflection of who 452 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:20,800 you are in us. 453 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:25,280 And so Father, I pray that you give us the right heart. 454 00:26:25,280 --> 00:26:28,400 Give us your heart. 455 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:31,200 Give us your attitude. 456 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:37,280 Give us your perspective so that we understand that all the accolades that man can throw 457 00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:44,160 at us pale in comparison to our eternal hope. 458 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:54,960 And so Father, as we go out into the community today to serve and to work and to love, I 459 00:26:54,960 --> 00:27:02,760 pray Father that anybody that sees us, anybody that crosses our path will see the hope that 460 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:21,240 we have because of you.