"House Code" in the New Society (5) Employer/Employee
Ephesians 6:5-9 |
Introduction:
How many of us have complained about our employer during this past week? How about our employees? Our employers or employees can be our joy or burden. Isn’t it true that life will be so much happier if we only had the perfect employer and employees? In our study of the book of Ephesians, we learned about God gathering his redeemed children to form a new society. In this new community there is a different life style and value system from the surrounding world. In this letter, Paul pointed out very clearly how we are to relate to each other in the Christian community; how husbands and wives are to live together in love and mutual submission, children are to honor their parents and parents, especially the father, is to relate to the children in love and tenderness. This morning we come to the last category of the house codes. It is about the masters and slaves relationship. By the 1st century, it is estimated that anywhere from 16 to 30% of the Roman population are slaves. They include doctors, teachers and administrators. Aristotle says that there should be no friendship with slaves, they are simply living tools. But Roman law stated that slavery is not a natural law, and that reform was on the way. In movies we see barbaric treatment but they are not universal as perceived. With the coming of the gospel of Jesus Christ, many slaves came to follow Christ. They also learned that in this new Christian community, there is equality among all before the same creator and savior. No one is more superior than the other. From inequality to equality is a drastic change. What are they to do with this new found status? How should they relate to their masters, especially the unreasonable ones? How about the Christian masters? Previously the relationship with slaves is based on power and superiority. How should they define the relationship from now on? So Paul wrote to the believers at Ephesus to address this issue. Since we no longer live in such a society, this morning we want to identify principles that can be applied to our work place. To see how employer and employee relationships are to be defined in the context of God's revealed truth.
I. We are to cultivate a Christ-centered attitude at our work place. In that 1st century, the slaves do not work in a very friendly environment. A place with no personal freedom, limited resources and yielding to unreasonable masters. It can be a rather hostile environment. Certainly working in an unfriendly environment is not new in the bible times. We can easily think of Joseph and Daniel, both worked for ungodly government officials. Then there was this person called Obadiah. Who was his boss? King Ahab. What do we know about him? We are told that he was a wicked king. Jezebel was his wife. She was also a wicked person, trying to influence the Israelites to follow and worship Baal. Obadiah was a messenger between king Ahab and Elijah. The scriptures tell us that he was a devout believer in the Lord, but worked in a very hostile environment. Some of us may also find our working environment unfriendly or down right hostile. What then should we do? If we look at verses 5-8, we see these words repeatedly: as of Christ, of Christ, as to the lord, the lord will reward… It clearly depicts a picture of Christ-centeredness. Even in a rather unfriendly environment, one is to focus on the lord Jesus Christ. This is a very drastic and lofty expectation. The scriptures appeared to be quite clear on this: you may not like your employer, your boss, and there may not be any reason for you to like him/her, yet your focus is to be on Jesus Christ. You are to work as if you are working for the Lord. How so? 1. Obedience at work place. Again we see this word ‘obey’. “你們作僕人的、要懼怕戰兢、用誠實的心聽從你們肉身的主人、好像聽從基督一般。” The wife is to submit. Children are to obey their parents. Now, the employee is to obey the employer. Without obedience, there is only chaos. However, this obedience is not unconditional. The employee is to obey the employer as he would obey Christ. First, this means that one is not to obey any instructions that contradict God's standards. I think of a young man in Almaty. He refuses to put himself in a work situation where bribery is a way of life. This has created much hardship in his job search. Others consider him as unwise and narrow minded, but he knows where to draw the line. I also think of an accountant who refuses to accept a client who has a pornography business. God's law is to define the content and limit of our obedience. And to that matter, what kind of work we do. Secondly, we are not to obey anything that is illegal. As citizens of this or any other country, we have a responsibility to obey the laws of the land. When you find yourself in a situation that you are asked to do something either unbiblical or illegal, you need to explain to your employer your position. This could cost you your job, but as children in God's new society, what is right is always more important than what is good and convenient to us. 2. Obedience with sincerity of heart. 5,6. “用誠實的心聽從你們肉身的主人,” “從心裡遵行 神的旨意” This is about integrity. I still remember when I was a research fellow at Stanford. My advisor usually came into his office before 7:30am. And my desk is right by his door, therefore there is the pressure of getting into the lab around that time, even though we did not have any specific office hours. However, when he was on vacation, it was different. When the boss is watching, we take the 15 minutes coffee break. If he is not watching, then 15 minutes will stretch into 30 minutes. These two verses tell us that whether or not our employer or supervisor is watching, we are to work diligently, to be from our heart. We work as if we are working for the lord, who is constantly watching us. 3. Serving wholeheartedly. V7 vs7,”甘心事奉、好像服事主..” It tells us that we are to serve whole heartedly. We give our best as if we are serving the Lord. Not reluctantly or grudgingly, but looking forward to it. It’s easier said then done, isn’t it? You know that Monday morning feeling. I have to go back to work again. Then Tuesday we start to pick up again. On Wednesday and Thursday, we are in our best condition. When Friday comes along, we are thinking about the weekend. So in fact we may just work 2 days a week! There was a time we are told not to buy cars assembled on Mondays! Wholeheartedly means to give my best every day on my job. If I am an auto mechanic, I do my best as if this car belongs to Jesus Christ. Whatever job I am in, whether an engineer, computer specialist, secretary or janitor, I always give 100% of myself. Whether you are watching me or not, I do it wholeheartedly. Looking at the lives of Joseph and Daniel, one can safely assume that they served their masters wholeheartedly. Of course if the employer or supervisor is nice and considerate, it is easier to work wholeheartedly. But the scriptures seem to be saying even if he/she may not be reasonable, we are still to work wholeheartedly. If we are really unhappy at our work, we may need to consider a change of career or company. God's word is telling us to not let our environment dictate how we work. We are to follow God's value and instruction at work place.
II. We are to cultivate a Christ-centered attitude towards our employees. By the 1st century, even though there was no abolition of the slavery system, reform was under way. The Roman government stated that slavery is not a natural law. More and more slaves were being freed. Some of the freed slaves acquired names such as Freeman. With the coming of the gospel message, with the emphasis of how men and women are to be treated with dignity and equality, there is now a base, a vehicle for change. In that first century society, some slave masters have also come to know the Lord. Now, what should they do with the slaves? To us, we ask how the Christian employers should treat their employees? In vs9, “你們作主人的待僕人、也是一理…” This means, treat them the same way the slaves treat you. That is, you are to relate to them as if you are relating to the Lord. Can you imagine the shock wave that went through the first century society? The Christians masters were to treat their slaves like they treated their lord Jesus Christ. How so? What does it mean to us today? 1. Equality. As employer or supervisor, we may have more knowledge and definitely more power. Yet this does not mean we are more superior than those we hire. Before God, we are all equal. The “也是一理” of vs 9 also means do to them as if you would like for them to do to you. This is the golden rule Jesus spoke of in the Sermon on the Mount. As employers we want our employees to respect us. Yet, do we respect our employees? I think of a supervisor in a medical school. At times, he would freely express his anger by banging the doors. This is not showing respect to those who work for him. To show respect to employees sometimes means to include them in the decision making process, especially those that will affect them. We are to remember that they too are human beings, created in God's image, with worth and dignity. The employers want their staff to serve them. But as a follower of Jesus Christ, they are also to learn to serve their employees. For example, how about once in a while we make the coffee or boil the water instead of the employees always doing that for you? 2. A safe environment. Vs9, “不要威嚇他們….” Words like, “if you don’t do this, then I’ll fire you or reduce your pay…” are threats. We are not to use threats to control our staff. This does not mean there is no standard of behavior or operation. If so, then the work place with become a chaotic environment. The standard of behavior and performance must be clearly communicated to the staff. Evaluation is to be based on these understood standards. Threats are weapons of the powerful over the powerless. Threats are often used between nations, and sometimes within families. A relationship based on threats is no relationship at all. When our staff work in a threatening environment, then there is really no job safety and security. If so, how can we expect to work wholeheartedly? Instead as a Christian employer, we are to do our best to create a friendly and secure environment for our people. A place where they know the different roles and positions, but it is also a place of equality. A place where individuals are treated with equality and dignity. 3. Fairness. In a parallel passage in Col 4:1, the masters are told to provide their slaves with what is right and fair. Paul’s reasoning here is that our lord treats us fairly, therefore we are to treat others fairly. The slaves are never treated fairly. For they have no dignity and rights. They are second-class citizens or non-citizens. But in God's new society, this must not be so. In today’s workplace, the employees must be treated fairly. I am referring to wages in particular. In our society we see so many employers taking advantage of their staff without a legal residence status. They work long hours with less than minimum pay, so the employers can get maximum profit. There are employers who pay less than fair market wages to employees who need them to sponsor visa application. We also see how many of the academic institutions in this country take advantage of foreigners paying them wages that few Americans would take. Then there is racial prejudice. Decisions are made based on the color of skin. These are unfair and unjust practices. This is what the lord hates. It is this kind of unfairness and injustice that caused God to speak these words in Amos 5:24, “惟願公平如大水滾滾、使公義如江河滔滔!” Psalm 82:3 ” 你們當為貧寒的人和孤兒伸冤．當為困苦和窮乏的人施行公義。 當保護貧寒和窮乏的人、救他們脫離惡人的手.” God treats his children fairly therefore he wants his children to treat each other fairly.
Conclusion: Even though in this and other epistles, there is no mention of the abolition of slavery, yet one sees these principles having a far-reaching effect on the society. It provides the foundation for changes. And it is a change that shakes the very structure of the society. In God's new community, we are all equal. Those who are employed by others are to treat their employers as if they are working for the lord. They work with integrity and honesty. They work wholeheartedly. Likewise, those in position to employ others are to treat their staff with equality and dignity. Remembering that we both have the same lord in heaven. We are in the same family of God. Aaron Feuerstein owns the Malden Mills factory in Lawrence, Mass. Decades ago, when all the other textile mills left town to settle in sunnier and cheaper locations, he decided to stay. He was laughed at by industry leaders. Several weeks before Christmas last year, the factory was burned down. Feuerstein and the CEO of this company almost immediately announced that his workers would continue to be paid and receive health care benefits during the reconstruction of the factory. Again, the business world was surprised. Later in an interview he explained his decision, “It was the right thing to do.” The people needed him and he did not forsake them. He was loyal to his employees. He treated them fairly. As citizens of God's kingdom, as members of God's family, we are to be different from the world around us. Husbands and wives live in love and mutual submission. Parents and children live in tender love and obedience. The employers treat the employees with dignity and respect. The employees relate to their employers as if it is to the Lord. This is how the glory of God is manifested through his redeemed community.
Rev. William Hsueh Aug.12, 2001 Houston Chinese Church, Houston, Texas |
