A note from our pastor:

”Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; // With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not men:”

Ephesians 6:6-7

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

In our study verse this week, the Apostle continues his teaching for servants and slaves. While the lessons may not be directly applicable to our positions in life, the manner of living and the underlying principles hold tremendous value.

Last week we established being in the role of the servant or slave was not in accordance with the teachings of Christ, but was unfortunately a way of life in the culture in which the Apostle lived. Therefore, it was necessary for him to teach how to be both a servant and a disciple of Christ.

The instruction given here was to avoid doing the minimum necessary to keep your master happy. Some would be tempted to only work when the master or the slave driver was watching. When the servant was not being directly observed they would slack off in the amount and quality of the work being done. Thus, the Apostle describes this behavior as being eyeservice or being menpleasers.

However, if a servant was also a disciple of Christ, the instruction was to serve from the heart doing the will of God. The focus being not on pleasing men but on pleasing the Lord. This was not to say the servant must be happy with their state of being, but despite the terrible state in which they found themselves they should also be able to find joy in Christ.

Thus, the instructions given here by the Apostle are not an endorsement of slavery, but rather providing a mechanism for the servant to deal with the tribulations of life. In similar fashion, disciples may find themselves living under unjust governments, harsh employers, or other difficult situations. However, despite those external circumstances they can seek to work to please Christ and to find joy in his truth and hope.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah