Ephesians 6:1-9 ESV
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
Rev. Dwight Yoo
Relationships, including work ones, are important to God. Most of our waking hours are spent at work. God wants to address this large portion of our lives.
Specific roles
Paul addresses those under submission, under authority. Children are called to obey their parents. Paul appeals to the fifth commandment. The ordering of these commands is one of severity or priority. We may feel that dishonoring parents isn't as bad as adultery, stealing, or murder. But this isn't how God sees it. Our parents are the first form authority in our lives. If we cannot submit to authority we can see, how can we submit to authority we cannot see, i.e. God. Your honoring of your parents is reflective of your relationship with God.
But make sure we differentiate between the relationship of children and parents AND adults and parents. Adults with parents are called to not obey, but honor them. This is not a conditional command. We are to honor our parents, even if they are undeserving! When we marry, we become authorities, we are now to consider ourselves carefully in acting as adults rather than child-like. We are to honor, but no longer under their authority.
Fathers are called out specifically. They are not to provoke their children to anger. What provokes anger in children? Humiliation, excessive disciple, gross insensitivity, excessive goals, etc. So we are not to give them iron-fisted authority. We are to raise them up in how to follow the LORD. We are not trying to control them; rather teaching then how to make godly relationships. We are not to subdue them under your control. Not only that, we are not to just to make them happy. We are to disciple them. We are not to always let them get their way. We will make them unhappy in the short term; so they will prosper in the long term.
Slavery in the Roman empire is different from the slavery we experienced in the United States. It was not racially motivated, imposed. It was voluntary. There were classes of slaves. Doctor slaves, teacher slaves... Learned and well trained slaves. This is the slave that Paul addresses. The slave who works, works for God. Not because the slave was singing worship songs as they worked, but rather God cares about good work. He cares about good craftsmanship. When we do good work, God is pleased... because we image Him. We are to work not to please the boss when they are watching... But full diligence because God is pleased by this.
Those in authority should exercise their authority in light of the LORDSHIP of God. They are not to threaten or abuse their authority. In God's eyes, we are equal in dignity. We must conduct ourselves giving dignity to everyone equally, regardless of earthly authority.
Common roles
We are the same. We are to submit and lead as Christ. We are all brothers and sisters in the family of God. We are all common image bearers of God.
We are all to submit even those who do nothing for us. Because Christ did for us even as we were enemies. Wives submit because Christ gives more then enough to make up for whatever our husbands do not do for us. Husbands are to lead and love as servants... Because of how Christ has served us. When children have parents who have serious shortcomings... They need to remember that their Father in heaven is more than they need for all that shortcoming. Workers are to work in light of the unending love and grace of God. Work does not give them identity or significance.
Results of faithfulness in our roles
Our generation is all about fast and sexy. We don't want to hear about everyday diligence. The mundane day to day is how God works. This is our testimony to the world. In our everyday relationships. Our job day to day. Our employees under our management.
