1
having your conduct honorableamong the
Gentiles(1 Peter 212)
in the

• Workplace

2
1 Thessalonians 411-12

• (Pauls general instructions concerning
  Christians living in the world)
• That you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to
  mind your own business, and to work with your own
  hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk
  properly toward those who are outside, and that
  you may lack nothing.

3
The Christian in the Workplace

• The Christian as Laborer
• Ephesians 65-8 Colossians 322-25
  1 Timothy 61-2 Titus 29-10 1 Peter 218-20

4
Ephesians 65-8

• Bondservants, be obedient to those
  who are your masters according to the flesh, with
  fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to
  Christ 6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers,
  but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of
  God from the heart, 7 with goodwill doing
  service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8
  knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will
  receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a
  slave or free.

5
Colossians 322-25

• Bondservants, obey in all things
  your masters according to the flesh, not with
  eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of
  heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it
  heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24
  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the
  reward of the inheritance for you serve the Lord
  Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid
  for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

6
1 Timothy 61-2

• Let as many bondservants as are under
  the yoke count their own masters worthy of all
  honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine
  may not be blasphemed. 2 And those who have
  believing masters, let them not despise them
  because they are brethren, but rather serve them
  because those who are benefited are believers and
  beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

7
Titus 29-10

• Exhort bondservants to be obedient
  to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all
  things, not answering back, 10 not pilfering, but
  showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn
  the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

8
1 Peter 218-20

• Servants, be submissive to your
  masters with all fear, not only to the good and
  gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is
  commendable, if because of conscience toward God
  one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For
  what credit is it if, when you are beaten for
  your faults, you take it patiently? But when you
  do good and suffer, if you take it patiently,
  this is commendable before God.

9
Scriptural Guidelines for Laborers

• Obey those who are over you unless they ask you
  to do something illegal or unethical
• Work with proper respect and good will toward
  your boss
• Labor sincerely and heartily as to the Lord

• Demonstrate you can be trusted with
  responsibility
• Offer such a service not only to good employers,
  but even to those who are unfair
• In doing so, you are pleasing God!

10
The Christian in the Workplace

• The Christian as Laborer
• Ephesians 65-8 Colossians 322-25
  1 Timothy 61-2 Titus 29-10 1 Peter 218-20
• The Christian as Manager
• Ephesians 69 Colossians 41 Proverbs 2216
  Deuteronomy 2414-15 Malachi 35

11
Ephesians 69

• And you, masters, do the same
  things to them, giving up threatening, knowing
  that your own Master also is in heaven, and there
  is no partiality with Him.

12
Colossians 41

• Masters, give your bondservants what
  is just and fair, knowing that you also have a
  Master in heaven.

13
Proverbs 2216

• He who oppresses the poor to
  increase his riches, And he who gives to the
  rich, will surely come to poverty.

14
Deuteronomy 2414-15

• You shall not oppress a hired servant who
  is poor and needy, whether one of your brethren
  or one of the aliens who is in your land within
  your gates. 15 Each day you shall give him his
  wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he
  is poor and has set his heart on it lest he cry
  out against you to the LORD, and it be sin to you.

15
Malachi 35

• And I will come near you for
  judgment I will be a swift witness Against
  sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers,
  Against those who exploit wage earners and widows
  and orphans, And against those who turn away an
  alien-Because they do not fear Me," Says the LORD
  of hosts.

16
Scriptural Guidelines for Managers

• Remember that you have a boss in heaven!
• Treat employees with justness and fairness
• Do not oppress or seek to exploit those who are
  under your authority
• Do not threaten or bully

• Applying the golden rule will help to manage
  employees properly

Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you,
do also to them, for this is the Law and the
Prophets. Matthew 712
17
The Christian in the Workplace

• The Christian as Laborer
• Ephesians 65-8 Colossians 322-25
  1 Timothy 61-2 Titus 29-10 1 Peter 218-20
• The Christian as Manager
• Ephesians 69 Colossians 41 Proverbs 2216
  Deuteronomy 2414-15 Malachi 35
• The Christian as Evangelist
• Balance Mark 1615-16 with Titus 29-10

18
Mark 1615-16

• And He said to them, Go into all
  the world and preach the gospel to every
  creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will
  be saved but he who does not believe will be
  condemned.

19
Titus 29-10

• Exhort bondservants to be obedient
  to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all
  things, not answering back, 10 not pilfering, but
  showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn
  the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

20
Scriptural Guidelines forEvangelizing in the
Workplace

• Dont forget the power of a good example (cf. 1
  Peter 212 31-2)
• Dont let your speech betray your profession as a
  Christian (profanity, gossip, anger) (cf. Eph.
  54) filthiness, foolish talking, coarse jesting

• Circumstances are rarely good for substantive
  spiritual discussions (be discerning)
• Seek to turn casual conversations (re spiritual
  matters) to invitations for home Bible studies

21
Conclusion

• Principles concerning Servants and Masters can
  rightly be applied to the Laborer
  Employer/Supervisor relationships today.
• In evangelism, the challenge is to balance our
  efforts to save and our duties to work.
• Remember, Spiritual zeal is no excuse for
  cheating those who have hired you.