Becoming an Influential Christian in the Marketplace
This sermon explores what it means to live out one's faith in the everyday environment of work. It offers scriptural guidance for both employees and employers, emphasizing how our attitudes and actions in the marketplace reflect our relationship with God.
This sermon explores how believers, as both employees and employers, are called to reflect the life of Christ in their workplace through submission, wholehearted service, and just conduct, ultimately adorning the gospel.
Overview
This sermon challenges listeners to consider their attitude toward work, contrasting the typical reactions of unbelievers with God's clear expectations for Christians. It opens by asking probing questions about our relationships with employers and employees, setting the stage for a biblical examination of workplace conduct.
The speaker first addresses employees, calling them to submission even to unreasonable employers, citing 1 Peter 2. This submission, done for the sake of conscience toward God and endured patiently when suffering unjustly, "finds favor with God" and demonstrates the life of Christ. Further, employees are urged to perform their service "as to Christ" (Ephesians 6, Colossians 3), not merely to please people or only when being watched, but with sincerity and a whole heart.
For employers, the sermon emphasizes applying the golden rule: treating employees exactly as they wish to be treated. Ephesians 6 and Colossians 4 guide employers to avoid intimidation and threats, grant justice and fairness, and remember that both they and their employees have the same Master in heaven. This requires accountability and a spirit of love and respect.
Ultimately, the sermon concludes by highlighting the power, freedom, and blessing found in submission to authority, whether in the workplace or spiritually. It asserts that a believer's godly testimony, through their conduct and integrity in labor, is crucial for ensuring the message of the gospel remains unhindered and untarnished.
Key points
- Employees are called to be submissive to their employers, even those who are unreasonable, with all respect (1 Peter 2:18).
- Enduring unjust suffering for the sake of conscience toward God "finds favor with God" and reflects the life of Christ (1 Peter 2:19-20).
- Christian employees should work as if serving Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rather than merely pleasing men (Ephesians 6:5-7, Colossians 3:22-24).
- Believers should be well-pleasing, not argumentative, and refrain from pilfering or stealing, so they may "adorn the doctrine of God our Savior" (Titus 2:9-10).
- Employers are to treat their employees with justice and fairness, without intimidation or threats, remembering they too have a Master in heaven (Ephesians 6:9, Colossians 4:1).
- God rewards faithfulness in work and holds both employees and employers accountable for their conduct.
- Submission to authority brings power, freedom, and blessing, leaving behind a godly testimony of the Christian life.
In Charles Stanley's words
“You are where you work the living gospel of Jesus Christ.”
“There's not a single one of us who cut corners or punch out ahead of time if Jesus were the employer.”
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily. Put your whole heart into it as for the Lord, rather than men.”
Outline
- Introduction: What is Your Attitude Toward Your Job?
- I. Admonitions to Employees
- A. Submission to Employers (1 Peter 2:18-20)
- 1. Even to unreasonable employers
- 2. Finds favor with God when suffering unjustly
- 3. Demonstrates the life of Christ
- B. Service as Unto Christ (Ephesians 6:5-8; Colossians 3:22-24)
- 1. Not by way of eye service or as men pleasers
- 2. Doing the will of God from the heart
- 3. Working heartily, as for the Lord
- C. Honest and Well-Pleasing Conduct (Titus 2:9-10)
- 1. Not argumentative
- 2. Not pilfering or stealing
- 3. Adorning the doctrine of God our Savior
- D. Serving Christian Employers (implied 1 Timothy)
- 1. To serve them "all the more" or work harder
- E. God's Favor and Reward for Faithful Employees (1 Peter 2:19-20; Ephesians 6:8)
- II. Admonitions to Employers (Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 4:1)
- A. Apply the Golden Rule: Treat Employees as You Wish to Be Treated
- B. No Intimidation or Threats
- C. Grant Justice and Fairness
- D. Remember Your Master in Heaven and His Impartiality
- E. Accountability to God for Employee Treatment
- III. The Power, Freedom, and Blessing in Submission
- A. Demonstrates Jesus' example of submission
- B. Leads to God's favor and blessings
- C. Creates a godly testimony that honors the gospel
Scripture references
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
5 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;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
Insights
Working for others is serving Christ's purposes in the world.
God allows difficult situations to display His gospel through us.
Our workplace conduct adorns or tarnishes the truth of the gospel.
Questions & answers
What is the sermon's main point about a Christian's attitude toward work?
The sermon argues that a Christian's attitude toward work should differ significantly from an unbeliever's. It should reflect submission, wholehearted service, and honesty, aiming to demonstrate the life of Christ and adorn the gospel in the marketplace.
How should employees respond to unreasonable or unjust employers?
According to the sermon, employees should be submissive with all respect, even to unreasonable employers. When suffering unjustly for the sake of conscience toward God, this finds favor with God and provides an opportunity to demonstrate the life of Jesus Christ.
What does it mean for an employee to work "as to Christ"?
Working "as to Christ" means performing one's job with the same sincerity, diligence, and wholehearted effort as if Jesus Himself were the employer. It is not about eye service or merely pleasing men, but doing God's will from the heart, knowing Christ is the ultimate heavenly employer.
What responsibilities do Christian employers have toward their employees?
Christian employers are responsible for treating their employees with justice and fairness, without intimidation or threats. They must remember that both they and their employees have a Master in heaven who shows no partiality, and they will be held accountable to God for how they treat their workers.
What does the sermon say about stealing or cutting corners at work?
The sermon explicitly states that believers should not be pilfering or stealing from their employers, including actions like leaving 30 minutes early without authority. It argues that there is no biblical justification for doing a poor job or compromising integrity, even if mistreated.
What are the benefits of biblical submission in the workplace?
The sermon teaches that there is power, freedom, and blessing in submission to authority. God assumes responsibility for blessing those who walk in submission, liberating and prospering them, and enabling them to leave a godly testimony wherever they work.
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