Working As Stewards
Life In The Family
November 17, 2019
Rev. Tim Sharpe
Ephesians 6 teaches that every part of life — especially our work — is a stewardship from God, so Christians should serve faithfully in their earthly roles as if serving the Lord, seeking eternal reward rather than worldly gain or status.
Summary
The sermon on Ephesians 6 emphasizes that everything in our lives, including our work, is a gift entrusted to us by God to be used for his glory and the good of others. Paul addresses slaves as common workers—not to legitimize an unjust system but to call ordinary people in their everyday labor to a higher standard: obey earthly masters 'with fear and trembling' because ultimately we work for the Lord. There is no purely secular calling; God places us where we are and cares about how and why we work. Our motivation should be eternal reward and faithfulness to God, not money, identity, or personal fulfillment, and we are called to persevere and reject laziness as we honor God in difficult circumstances.
Key Points
- All of life (not just possessions) is a trust from God to be used for his glory and others' good.
- Paul addresses slaves as common workers; he is not endorsing slavery or social inequality.
- Christians are to work for the Lord, not primarily for earthly masters—obey with 'fear and trembling' as service to God.
- There is no truly secular calling: God places you in your work and cares about how you do it.
- We must do the right things in the right way, holding a higher standard because our ultimate reward is from the Lord.
- Work is not chiefly for money, personal fulfillment, or identity.
- Paul gives practical guidance for honoring God even in the hardest circumstances.
- The sermon concludes with prayer asking God to remove laziness and enable faithful, God-glorifying labor.
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