Ephesians 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart… I. Let us look, first, AT THE PRECEPTS AND DIRECTIONS GIVEN TO SERVANTS. And one is struck with this: there is no hint thrown out, no suggestion whatever offered, as to its being right or necessary to quit one's occupation in order to serve Christ and promote His cause in the world. It is not an infrequent thought, in the minds especially of young men, when brought to the Lord, that they must give up their worldly occupation, and devote themselves wholly and exclusively to minister in holy things. And now let us notice the particulars which the apostle expressly mentions for a Christian servant to attend to. 1. Observe the first command is obedience: "Servants, be obedient to your masters according to the flesh." 2. Further, in this preceptive part of his address, notice, secondly, how he enjoins a thorough devotedness to his master's interests. This will appear in making manifest your thorough trustworthiness and faithfulness. I do not speak of mere honesty; the apostle means much more than this, when he speaks of "showing all good fidelity." There is such a thing as seeking just to go through the daily routine with the spirit of a hireling, who will do no more than he must; who needs to be well looked after, or he will leave much neglected. Quite different is the spirit of a Christian servant: he will try his very utmost to please his employer; but he has a higher aim. What a pattern of this was Abraham's servant Eleazar, and Jacob in Laban's house, and Joseph in his captivity, first, in Potiphar's house, and then in his dungeon: his master "left all he had in Joseph's hand; he knew not ought he had, save the bread he did eat." No terms could more emphatically give the idea of perfect freedom from all care, produced and maintained by the perfect assurance of ability, assiduity, and incorruptible rectitude. II. But let us proceed to notice, secondly, THE MOTIVE WHICH THE APOSTLE HOLDS UP AS THE GOVERNING PRINCIPLE, THE RULING MOTIVE OF A TRULY CHRISTIAN SERVANT: "As the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart." "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily: as to the Lord, and not unto men"; "for ye serve the Lord Christ." Again: "That ye may adorn" - ye servants, plain, humble, unnoticed, who have little to set you off in the eyes of the world - "that ye may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." In a word, let there be at the root of all - godliness: "Setting the Lord always before you." 1. Now, first, what a comprehensive principle is this! It reminds us of those wonderful triumphs of mechanical skill by which the same engine can be applied to lift the most ponderous masses, or to drive with the utmost delicacy, as with the feeble blow of an infant, the slenderest pin into its place. So with this principle of doing all as to the Lord. 2. And then, secondly, how ennobling and elevating a motive it is! The highest archangel knows no higher. 3. And then, thirdly, how consoling and comforting a motive is this to the humble Christian! "I am poor and needy, but the Lord careth for me" may he say. "One need not be in high station to serve the Saviour." III. And then, thirdly, LET US NOT FORGET THE PROMISE ANNEXED TO IT. "Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free." Oh! how often this is manifested even here in this life! Many are the houses where the pious servant has been the first to introduce the gospel, and by his "patient continuance in well-doing," has demonstrated its reality and power. (J. Cohen, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; |
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