Ephesians 6:5-9, KJV: “⁵ 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; ⁶ Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; ⁷ With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: ⁸ Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. ⁹ And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.”

This passage continues on the relationship portion of living this new life. Now, we see how we should behave as servants and masters, or in today’s language, workers and supervisors.

Again, we see that each one is to do right and follow Christ’s example. Workers, work as if your direct supervisor is Christ. Supervisors, supervise as your God does. We serve God. We follow Christ. It doesn’t matter what others do, but we work as unto God.

Today’s passage immediately makes me think of two other passages:

• Colossians 3:23, KJV: “²³ And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” Work as to the Lord, not men. How would your work change if you were doing it for God instead of men?
• 1 Peter 2:18-24, KJV: “¹⁸ Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. ¹⁹ For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. ²⁰ For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. ²¹ For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: ²² Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: ²³ Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: ²⁴ Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” It doesn’t matter what type supervisor we have, we are subject to them. We do what is right. We again have Christ as our example.

Having been disabled early in life, it has meant working harder both to achieve the same things that others can do easily as well as proving that you can do the job despite disability. It is simply part of the course. A danger in this, though is that we work that way to prove ourselves, rather than working hard for God and leaving Him in control.

It is amazing to me that God gives us both instruction and an example to live the new life. He is an amazing God.