Ephesians 6:5-9

Ephesians 6:5-9

Slaves, obey the lords according to the flesh with fear and trembling in sincerity of your heart as the Lord – not according to a desire to call attention to yourself as a people pleaser but as a slave of Christ while doing the will of God out of your soul – while serving with good will as to the Lord and not to mankind having known that if each one should do something good he will receive this back from the Lord whether he is a slave or a free man.  And lords, do the same things to them – while giving up the threats – having known that their lord and yours is in heaven and there is no partiality from Him.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

In this section, we have an interesting expression.  Paul speaks about the “lords according to the flesh.”  I believe he is using this expression to illustrate a neat point.  We only have one true Lord: Jesus Christ.  But, that doesn’t mean we don’t have earthly masters: “lords according to the flesh.”  If Paul fundamentally had an issue with us putting ourselves under people of this world, he would say so.  To use Paul’s verbiage here, it is okay to be a slave.  It is okay to be a servant.  It is okay to submit to other people – so long as they do not usurp God’s role in our life.  In fact, one might even suggest that such a role is beneficial.  After all, what better way to practice submitting to God than to submit to people in this life whom God has chosen to demonstrate Himself in our own life?

To whom do you submit?  Why can submission be difficult?  What is the benefit that can be gained through submission?

Second Thought:

Paul then describes how it is that we should serve.  We should not be about calling attention to ourselves.  We’re not to be “people-pleasers.”  Rather, we are to do the will of God out of our very soul.  I think this is a real issue.  So often we do things to please people.  So often we do things not because God has called us to do them but rather because we want the praise of others.  Then we find ourselves burning out.  Then we find ourselves being frustrated.  It fundamentally comes back to an issue of identity.  When we live out of our identity from Christ we will feel satisfied.  When we live out of our identity that comes from others, we will eventually find frustration and disappointment.

From where does your identity come?  Are you a people pleaser or a God pleaser?

Third Thought:

Paul doesn’t only speak to the slaves; he also speaks to the masters.  He tells them that they should give up their threats.  Let’s face it.  This is one of the biggest fears of people who are at the mercy of others.  Nobody likes to have their ability to provide for their family threatened from above.  Paul says to stop it.  It’s just not Christ-like behavior.  Then Paul gives them a bit of a reminder.  He reminds them that God isn’t a God of partiality.  God is not interested in their power, prestige, or money.  Rather, God is interested in how they behave and if they follow Him.  Again, Paul is telling them that if they are in a position of power, they had best use that God-given power appropriately.

Do you control anyone by way of threats?  How does it make you feel to know that such behavior will be judged harshly by God?  Are you controlled at all by way of threats?  How does such behavior hinder your efforts?

Passage for Tomorrow: Ephesians 6:10-13