Obligations of Employees and Employers (1)

[Colossians 3:22 – 4:1]

Tomorrow, September 2nd, is Labor Day. Labor Day is a holiday established to comfort workers for their hard work and to increase their work motivation (Internet). Today, on Labor Day Sunday, I would like to ask three questions and find answers in the Bible.

(1) The first question is: Until when should we work? To be more specific, how many days a week should we work?

Deuteronomy 5:13-14 says: “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your ox, or your donkey, or any of your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.” The Bible instructs us to work for six days and rest on the seventh day. Therefore, on the Lord’s Day, we come to God's house to keep the Sabbath by offering praise and worship to God. May the Lord grant you rest and peace for your soul.

(2) The second question is: What work should we do?

We should do the work of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” We must always be diligent in the work of the Lord, standing firm and immovable, and dedicating ourselves to His work. Our labor in the Lord will never be in vain. What is the work of the Lord? In John 6:28-29, the crowd following Jesus asks Him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” (v. 28). Jesus' response is: “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” We should always strive to believe in Jesus and to encourage others who do not believe in Him to come to faith. To achieve this, we must focus on spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

(3) The final third question is: How should we do the work?

We should do the work of the Lord with God's love (1 Thess. 1:3). We are to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to dying souls with love. Additionally, we should find satisfaction in doing the Lord's work (Eccle. 5:18). We must never be dissatisfied while doing the Lord's work. We should also take joy in all our labor (Eccle. 2:10).

In Romans 8:12, the Apostle Paul writes to the Romans, saying, “So then, brothers, we are debtors. This term ‘a debtor’ can have two possible meanings: (1) One meaning is 'someone who owes money,' and (2) another meaning is 'someone with obligations.' Thus, it is written in English as “we are under obligation.” In short, ‘a debtor’ refers to a person who, being “in Christ” (Rom. 8:1), is someone with a “duty” (Gal. 5:3). Paul used this term in Romans 1:14: “I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.” As a debtor, Paul was committed to fulfilling his duty of preaching the gospel, which is why he wanted to go to Rome to preach as well (v. 15).

Over the past few weeks, we have been reflecting on our respective duties in the family according to Colossians 3:18-21. The duties outlined are: wives are to submit to their husbands (v. 18), husbands are to love their wives and not be harsh with them (v. 19), children are to obey their parents in everything in the Lord (v. 20), and parents are to avoid provoking their children (v. 21). Today, as we look at Colossians 3:22 through 4:1, the Apostle Paul addresses the obligations of slaves (or servants) and masters. In modern terms, this can be understood as the obligations of employees and employers. I hope to gain grace and insights as we reflect on the obligations of both employees and employers today.

             First, the obligation of an employee: Obeying the employer.

Employees are to obey their employers, and the Bible instructs them to do so not only to those who are kind and gentle but also to those who are difficult. This is stated in 1 Peter 2:18: "Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust." The term 'difficult' here means 'crooked,' 'rebellious,' or 'unjust' (Park). This means that even if an employer is rebellious or treats employees unfairly, the Bible commands employees to obey their employers. Employees are expected to endure hardships and sorrows caused by a difficult employer while remaining respectful and obedient. Why does the Bible instruct employees to obey even difficult employers? There are at least two reasons:

(1) The first reason is that enduring suffering while doing good is commendable before God.

1 Peter 2:19-20 says: “For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it, you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.”

(2) The second reason is that employees are called to endure suffering while doing good.

This means we are challenged to have a sense of divine calling in our workplace. 1 Peter 2:21 says: “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” Employees who believe in Jesus are called to follow in His footsteps. These footsteps are not comfortable or free from suffering. Therefore, just as Jesus endured suffering, employees should follow His example by enduring mistreatment and unjust suffering with God in mind, overcoming their difficulties and bringing glory to God.

Then how should employees obey their employers? I would like to meditate on three things:

(1) Employees should not work hard or diligently only when their employers are watching them.

Colossians 3:22, first half: “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers …” and Ephesians 6:6, first half: “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers ….”(KJV). When I was in high school, I worked at a hamburger restaurant called Carl’s Jr. I still remember it vividly. When the American manager was in the restaurant, I worked hard, and when the manager wasn’t there, I would sneakily steal hamburgers from the kitchen while making them. Then, when I went to college, I worked at a store run by my friend’s parents. Even then, when her parents came to the store, I worked hard in front of them, and when they left, I didn’t pretend to work hard anymore and just worked as I pleased. If we look at the first half of Colossians 3:22, the Bible says, “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers ….” Here, “eyeservice” means “working only in front of the master’s eyes” (Naver Dictionary). Why does employee only work in front of his employer? The reason is that he is trying to please men (v. 22). That is, the employee works hard only in front of his employer to please his employer. Then, when the employer no longer sees or can no longer see him, he stops working hard. Why does the employee work hard only when the employer is watching? The purpose is to intentionally show the employer that he is working hard, so that he will be praised by the employer (KJV Bible Commentary). Here, I would like to think about the menpleaser. The reason why the employee works hard or diligently only when the employer is watching is because it is thought that the employee is a menpleaser.

When an employee tries to please his or her superior at work, he or she may try to flatter and flatter him or her. In this case, the employee will have no choice but to hide (conceal) his honest (hateful) feelings toward the superior (Ref.: Proverbs 26:24). Then, the proud superior is likely to fall for the flattery of the employee [‘Proud people are easily flattered’ (Eugene Peterson)]. And the employee will be at great risk of complaining and expressing his or her resentment or dissatisfaction toward the superior to his close coworkers in places where the superior is not present. The apostle Paul said: “Am I trying to please men or God or men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10, New Korean Translation); “But we speak as one approved by God to preach the gospel, not as trying to please man but as God who tests our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4, Modern Korean Version). These words show that Paul was not trying to please people. If he had done so, he would have said, “I would not be a servant of Christ.” Rather, as one approved by God to preach the gospel, Paul was only trying to please God who tests our hearts. Therefore, the apostle Paul did not flatter anyone. When an employee flatters his employer, he is giving him exaggerated praise or expressing favor in order to please his employer (Internet Dictionary).

However, in Ephesians 6:6, the Modern Korean Version of the Bible says, “Not with eye service, as flatterers ….” In English, it refers to pretending to work hard just to please the employer and receive praise from him, and in English it is called “sight-labor.” It means service performed (only) under the master’s eyes (“ophthalmodouleia” is the meaning of the Greek word for “eye service”). In this case, the employee is stimulated to work hard or diligently only when the employer is watching. On the other hand, he is lazy (sluggish, indolent) when the employer is not there. This made me think about “laziness” or “sluggishness” a little bit. The reason is that I think the employee works hard or diligently only when the employer is watching because, of course, he intends to please the employer, but when the employer is not watching him, he becomes lazy or sluggish. Pastor Byung-sam Kim mentioned in his book ‘7 Obstacles to Success’ that there are 7 obstacles hidden in the path of success that we Christians must overcome, and one of those 7 obstacles is “laziness.” Pastor Kim said that laziness is a sin because it cuts off communication with God, causes many complaints, and cuts off relationships with everyone (Internet). If we look at the Proverbs, it talks about “laziness” several times, and the common message is that lazy people become poor. The interesting thing is that lazy people use their hands lazily, but their minds are diligent [they use many tricks (Ref.: Proverbs 15:19)]