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Respect and Obey
As Christian workers, we should respect and obey whoever is in a leadership role.
“Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ: not with eyeservice, as men pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.” (Eph 6:5-6)
In practical terms for us today, this passage is teaching us to obey our employers, just as though we were obeying Christ. If our employers ask us to do something that is not against God’s teaching, we should do it without grumbling and complaining. We are to be model employees, always willing to go the extra mile to meet their needs. Why? Because Jesus knows all our needs, and we should imitate Him.
You may be wondering, do we have to obey our employers even if they want us to do something that is wrong and unethical? No. If our employer asks us to do something that is wrong and against the Word of God, then we should not do it.
“We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)
Where do we draw the line between obey God and men? Daniel’s three friends demonstrated the truth behind it to us.
While serving as government administrators in Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were told by their employer, King Nebuchadnezzar, to bow down and worship a golden idol. They were given direct instructions by their employer to do something that was wrong and against their faith. But what did they do? Did they obey God or their king?
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” (Dan 3:16-18)
Since they would not obey the king’s order, they were thrown into a furnace. But God later saved them.
If we are ever faced with this dilemma, always obey God over our employer. We may be punished or even fired. However, God will bless us for standing up for the truth. He will rescue us from the blazing furnace, just as He did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. We are to respect and obey our employers and do what they ask us to do as long as it passes the test of truth.
Being respectful and obedient at work is nothing new, and pleasing God over men is also a cliché. But what is new is that we can recalibrate our aim to please God more by recognizing what is needed, in the Lord, by our employer or coworkers, and going the extra mile to meet their needs.
“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9)
Trust in the Lord because He knows who we are really pleasing. Let us love God and love men in a Godly way, for God is love. To know more about the truth of God, we rely on the Scripture, Holy Spirit, bible study and prayers. Let us be immersed by the truth of God and aim to please Him even more by coming to the Fall Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation in September.
Thursday, September 26, 2024 6:50PM to 8:10PM
Friday and Saturday, September 27-28, 2024 9:00AM to 8:10PM
Sunday, September 29, 2024 9:00AM to 1:00PM
Complimentary lunch and dinner will be served.
Please find our church location below:
True Jesus Church
4N550 Church Road
Bensenville, IL 60106
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In the meantime, please feel free to join us for our regular Sabbath (Friday evening and Saturday) services online or in-person.
Friday Evening Service: 7:50PM – 9:00PM
Saturday Morning Service: 10:50AM – 12:00Noon
Saturday Afternoon Service: 1:30PM – 2:40PM
Email us at ilovejesus@tjc-chicago.org