Our Labor

“Obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely … Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you … Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”—Ephesians 6:5–7 NLT

Am I being treated fairly? Am I being paid enough? Am I overworked? Do I get the credit I deserve? Workers in every kind of job ask these questions. Concerns like these seem natural, but the Bible urges us to have a different perspective.

The context is Paul’s letter to believers in Ephesus. They lived in the Roman culture, where slavery was normal. Paul wanted Christians to know the right attitude toward work and life and the way God wanted them to approach their relationships with others.

We are to approach our labor from a spiritual dimension, working “with enthusiasm,” always seeking to do “the will of God with all your heart,” and doing our best even if no one notices.

Some workers resent or dislike their supervisors or employers. But Paul said that we should respect them and seek to please them all the time. We should work with sincerity that comes from our hearts without any ulterior motives. We are to approach supervisors in the same way we approach God, with humility, remembering that He knows our hearts.

In all our relationships, Christians should be different, for we are God’s witnesses and ambassadors (v. 20). Our goal should be to serve God, to please Him and do His will, and to be good examples.

What is your attitude toward others? Your church? Your pastor? Your family? Fellow workers? Your life?

Reflection Question: How can you cultivate a godly attitude in your workplace?