Ephesians 6:5
“Slaves be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ”.
The beginning of this passage was addressed a few days ago. Today the second part will be our focus. We can be obedient employees, but do it grudgingly. Todays verse addresses the attitude.
This was something new that Jesus introduced in His time. In Matthew 5;27, 28, He says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” The leaders of the day didn’t teach this. This was revolutionary. Peter said after another such statement, “Who can be saved?”, (Luke 18:26). They were astounded and concerned.
Peter had the correct response. The pharisees sought to explain it away. They drew the line at the act of adultery. Their reasoning was, “No one is innocent when it comes intentions of the heart. So that can’t be our standard.” God meant the intentions of the heart to be the standard when He gave the Law to Moses.
This makes today’s verse far more difficult. There’s a common phrase, “I’ll do it, but I’m not gonna like it.” That doesn’t work with Jesus. How do we do that? The answer is Jesus’ answer to Peter, “What is impossible with man is possible with God”, (Luke 18:27).
God does this by giving us a new heart, (Ezekiel 36:26). We begin to want to do His will. We still have difficulty, so we cry out to Him. David says this in Psalm 91:15, “When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.” We are new people. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, the new has come into being”, (2 Cor 2:15). We can obey a tough boss in a sincere manner. We don’t have to agree with them.
The middle part of the verse says, “with fear and trembling”. This doesn’t mean we are to be anxious. Just one who fears God. That means we obey Him. I would says this means we are to be people of integrity. We don’t draw attention to ourselves, we have a good attitude and a good work ethic. We put ourselves into our work. People know they can trust us.
We should have a life that glorifies God. Not so much by words, but by our work ethic. “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house”, (Matthew 5:15).
This kind of life brings much joy to us. God is pleased, others are pleased and He gives us honor. Thank You, Lord.