Transforming Your Home and Office
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24)
Imagine it’s tomorrow, Monday morning, 6:30 a.m. You knock on your child’s bedroom door and call to her, “Wake up! It’s time to get ready for school!” Immediately, she rustles out of bed – no grumbling! – and starts preparing for the day.
A few minutes later, your child comes to the kitchen and sees you’re in need of help with breakfast. Without prompting, she slides to the stove and finishes cooking the oatmeal while you pour the juice. She even helps clean up with a smile on her face!
After morning devotions, you drop her off at school and head to the office. Your boss has placed a stack of papers on your desk (today’s assignment, and it looks massive) – but with this note: “Do what you can; I’ll help tomorrow. Don’t skip lunch today, and be sure to be out by 4:30 so you can make your daughter’s soccer game!”
The boss is out all day – doctor’s appointment or something. Instead of loafing or toying around on the Internet, though, you get to work. It’s going to be a demanding day, especially because you’re so painstakingly precise in your labors.
Sound like a fairy tale?
It shouldn’t be.
This morning, as we explore Ephesians 6:1-9 – St. Paul’s instructions about our home and work relationships – you and I need to bear in mind the example of our Savior, Jesus. He came, assured of his divine Sonship before the Father, and he willingly submitted himself obediently to His Father’s will. As a result, he earned your salvation – and the Name above all names for himself.
It’s the transforming power of our obedient Savior who makes it possible for you to live the otherwise-impossible life, the life of service and of love, at home and at work.
First, Paul teaches, Jesus Christ transforms your home life.
Paul begins by calling children to obey their parents in the Lord, because such obedience is “right” – or in keeping with God’s holy and righteous character. Indeed, the Old Testament contained the Lord’s command for children to honor father and mother, and this commandment as part of the moral law still binds New Testament believers.
To obey one’s parents is to hearken to their voice and to do what they say (so long, of course, as their orders do not violate the Word of God). As the Westminster Larger Catechism reminds us, this commandment – the first among the “second table” of the law – requires that we obey and respect all those whom God has placed in authority over us, and that we do so with affection from our heart. This obedience is to be a continual practice that flows from a heart that is submissive, first to the Lord and therefore to one’s parents.
The apostle offers two reasons why children are to obey their parents: one, it is “right” and in keeping with God’s righteous character; and two, it is the first commandment in the Decalogue that contains a promise of blessing to those who obey. As commentators have observed, St. Paul (under the direction of the Holy Spirit) extends the promise from a long life in the land that the Lord gave Israel to a long life for all believers on the earth. To be sure, even pagan nations such as China that revere their elders serve as proof of the blessings of respecting authority. Yet we as believers in Christ experience an enduring well-being, joy, peace and stability when we, in deference to the Lord, honor those in authority over us.
Children, do you want to enjoy a successful life? It begins by knowing Christ as your Savior, and secondly by obeying Him in obeying those in authority over you (especially your mom and dad). As you root out pride in your heart and humble yourself before the Lord, you will enjoy the sure mercies that flow from obeying His Word and His ministers.
You parents, meanwhile, are not to provoke your children to anger or to exasperate them with endless criticism, nagging and heavy-handedness. It’s easy to become incensed with your children, or to not take time with them and nurture them as believers but instead burden them with commands. Parenting is a spiritual duty that requires attention! You are to serve as under-shepherds of your children under the Good Shepherd. To fulfill your God-given role as parents, Paul not only prohibits you from provoking your children to wrath; he positively calls you to nourish your children in the training and warning of the Lord. Just as Jesus nourishes the church (the same verb in 6:4 is used in 5:29 to describe Jesus’ care for his church and our care for our own physical bodies), you are to bring up your “little sheep” in the Lord by teaching them His truth, by living His truth before them and by correcting and warning them when they go astray.
Children, do you think you know better than dad and mom what is good for you? Eve and Adam thought they knew better than God what was good for them – and now we have spiritual and physical death as a consequence. Trust your parents and obey them, because you’re ultimately obeying Jesus, who knows perfectly what is best for you.
Parents, are you tempted to take the easy road with your children? Instead of raising them and shepherding them daily, do you leave them to themselves, neglect their spiritual training and only speak critically to them? Remember, Jesus is both the obedient Savior and the Good Shepherd. Both of us, parents and children, must draw strength and wisdom from him as we live in our families as obedient and caring Christians.
The apostle secondly teaches that Jesus transforms your workplace, whether you are an employer or an employee.
Granted, Paul here is speaking properly of the slave-master relationship. Now, he is not condoning slavery; rather, he is teaching Christians who exist in such a system how they are to conduct themselves so they reflect the light of Christ. Regardless, you and I may glean God’s wisdom from this passage concerning how we relate to our superiors and inferiors at work – even if they are harsh or rebellious, as the case may be.
Slaves, and by extension all of us who are employed, are to serve our fleshly masters with reverence from the heart. We ultimately do this “as unto the Lord,” which is the guiding principle in all our relations. The apostle commands you to serve your masters with “fear and trembling,” a phrase in Scripture that usually is used of our approach to the Lord. This exhortation doesn’t mean you stand before your employer in terror, but rather that you make every effort to respect and to serve your employer diligently, because that is the reverent attitude you’re to have before God.
You’re to be single-hearted and sincere in serving them, not working for the boss to see you so you can curry favor with him (or her) and then slacking when he or she is away but, instead, working cheerfully and diligently at all times. Such service is possible only as you offer it “as unto the Lord,” a critical phrase that Paul uses three times in describing the servant’s relation to his master. And rest assured, you will receive recompense from the Lord for any good you do, regardless of your status as an employee (or slave), especially as you do good to a master who wishes you evil.
Such an attitude toward your boss is almost entirely missing today. Recently a friend was telling me she actually enjoyed working for her particular boss. That’s the state into which sin has brought us: we ought to be serving our employers cheerfully from the heart always, but when you and I actually find a boss we “like,” we remark about it!
It might be really difficult for you right now to serve your employer with sincerity, eagerness, reverence and round-the-clock diligence. Your boss might even treat you harshly – exceedingly harshly. Remember, though, that you serve a Master in Heaven whose service is perfect freedom, and He blesses your good work. So be faithful and diligent. No matter your calling, your work is spiritual – and eternally significant!
You employers are to treat your employees “in the same manner,” Paul instructs, which equates to “loving your neighbor as you love yourself.” Positively, this means treating them with Godly love and justice, supporting and edifying your employees. Negatively, you’re to cease from threatening them (not from correcting or from punishing them when they err, but being harsh and hateful to them), which only reveals your arrogance and hatefulness. You’re to treat your employees respectfully and lovingly for two reasons: one, you both have the same Master in Heaven, and He sees all your motives and actions and will judge you; and two, your Lord isn’t partial in meting out justice. He won’t defer to your status as pastor or as senior VP of marketing. He sees you as created in His image, just like your servants/employees, and equally deserving of His justice. When you know you are but a servant of the Lord Jesus, to whom the Father has granted “all authority and power in Heaven and on earth,” you will better understand your position in life – and you’ll treat those under your charge with the reverence and love they deserve.
The situation we described earlier – obedient children, nurturing parents, kind bosses, eager employees – seems far-fetched for you and me today.
Again, it shouldn’t be.
Because we’re prideful sinners, just like our first parents in the Garden of Eden, you and I assert ourselves against God’s will and therefore against everyone else. We mock our parents and bosses; we slack at work; we ridicule our children; we browbeat our employees and crush their morale.
Look again to Holy Week: to the obedient and suffering Son, whose exaltation came by means of a cursed cross. Jesus found perfect freedom in doing the will of his Father, and he now enjoys everlasting glory in Heaven.
If you know him as your Redeemer, then follow him as your pattern. Obey those over you – for Christ’s sake and in his strength. Love and nourish those under you – because that is what your Lord does for you.
This is the transformed home, and this is the transformed office, that our glorious Redeemer makes possible.