Dearly Beloved Children Slaves and Masters

Dearly Beloved Children

Slaves and Masters

How much has Ephesians 6:5-9

effected the American work force?

Think of how much more these verses

can do for the place you work.

The American Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865,

the Reconstruction era that followed completed the revolution,

smashing the 254 year old system of slavery in the American South.

I can hardly image being on one of the slave ships

and reading these words in Ephesians 6 verse 5:

“Slaves obey your masters”

The closest most of us can come

to understanding these verses

are thoughts of the work place.

In 1870, the “Nine-Hour Movement”,

labor disputes in Canada

resulted in a Trade Union Act,

which legalized and protected union activity in 1872.

The first parades lead to an annual celebration.

American labor leader Peter J. McGuire

witnessed one of these labor festivals in Toronto.

Inspired, he returned to New York

and organized the first American Labor Day,

on September 5, 1882.

Because slaves and masters, employees and bosses

have not treated each other with respect,

many people have suffered and died.

The working man’s holiday

has become the last holiday of the summer;

a time for the last get-a-way before school

or before the cold weather sets in.

Many of us, on the

first Monday in September,

never give a thought of the battles that took place

to make the work place a better place.

 Labor and management have not always

been in agreement.

I know what it is like to carry a picket sign;

and most of us remember, or have heard,

of violence on the picket lines.

Many would say

better wages and working conditions

were achieved by those battles.

But ask yourself the question…

“Where would we be today

if it wasn’t for the cool heads

that sat at the bargaining table?”

These are the people

you don’t always hear about.

As you and I enjoy this Labor Day,

think about those employees and bosses

who lived out Ephesians 6:5-9.

Think about where labor and management

would be without them.

Scripture Reading

Ephesians 6:5-9 NIV

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear,

and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.

6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you,

but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,

8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone

for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

9 And masters,

treat your slaves in the same way.

Do not threaten them,

since you know that he who is both

their Master and yours is in heaven,

and there is no favoritism with him.

Colossians 3:22-25 NIV

22 Slaves,

obey your earthly masters in everything;

and do it,

not only when their eye is on you

and to win their favor,

but with sincerity of heart

and reverence for the Lord.

23 Whatever you do,

work at it with all your heart,

as working for the Lord,

not for men,

24 since you know that you will

receive an inheritance

from the Lord as a reward.

It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

25 Anyone who does wrong

will be repaid for his wrong,

and there is no favoritism.

Colossians 4:1 NIV

4:1 Masters,

provide your slaves

with what is right and fair,

because you know that you

also have a Master in heaven.