Our attitude is important in the work we do. There are times when we go about our work with a less than wonderful attitude, especially when we disagree with how things are being done by those who are directing our work. As followers of Jesus, what should our attitude be? In Ephesians 5:21, Paul says, “Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.” He then goes on to explicate aspects of mutual submission in the relationship between husbands and wives, between parents and children, and in 6:5-9 between slaves and masters. Thankfully, slavery is not legal in our day and age so when we study a passage like this one, it may be best to consider the teaching here to be about our relationships with those we work with as employees and employers. In verse 5 it says, “Slaves obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ”. We should obey those who are in authority over us with utmost respect and with an undivided integrity. He goes on in verse 6 to say, “not only while being watched, in order to please them, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from heart.” So many times, when those who are in authority step away from those who are working, there is a relaxing of intensity. The old saying is “when the cat is gone, the mice come out to play.” Paul is saying, don’t just respect those with authority when you are under their watchful eye. We should work just as hard when they are away. If we are obeying those in authority as we obey Christ, we will not slack off when they are away. In verse 7, he says, “Render service with enthusiasm”. He’s saying, serve with a positive attitude! We should maintain a loving and joyful attitude as we work. We can do this if we are rendering service “as to the Lord and not to men and women”. When we see ourselves as working for Christ in everything we do, we will have a different attitude. Knowing how good God is to us, how much he loves us, how much he does for us, we will naturally want to please him. When we think of ourselves as working for Christ rather than for people, we will work harder. We will work with greater integrity. We will work with more joy. We will have a much better attitude. It goes far better for us when we do.
Some of us are paid to work; some of us do volunteer work. No matter what, we are called to serve with a positive attitude as to the Lord and not to people. When we do this, our witness is stronger. Our fulfillment of Jesus’ vision to be salt and light is far more effective. May we “render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to men and women.”
