Love is... R-E-S-P-E-C-T; Ephesians

May the mumbling commence!

Are you working for a living?  Or are you an employer?  Regardless, Paul has instructions for you in these relationships, too.  Read from Ephesians chapter six (Eugene Peterson’s The Message paraphrase):

Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ.

Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free.

Masters, it's the same with you. No abuse, please, and no threats. You and your servants are both under the same Master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them. (Verses 5-9)

R-E-S-P-E-C-T… find out what it means to me.  Find out what respect means to all people – regardless of their station in life.  Respect is important in our relationships if our relationships are to be loving.  This respect is even more essential when the balance of power is strongly on one side or the other.

Employees – you are no longer to say, “I just work here.  Don’t ask me.”  You are no longer working hard only when the supervisor is around.  Ultimately, we work for Christ.  Christ is our Master Employer – no problems with equal opportunity there!

And work with a purpose.  Work to get things done – not to milk the clock and get more out of a project.

Work with the proper attitude of joy and servanthood as you go about your daily jobs.  Your good work and good attitude will be rewarded by our Master Employer – whether you are the employee or the employer.

Employers – treat your employees with respect.  Do not abuse or threaten them to get more out of them.  Know that you are on level footing with your employees before the Cross of Christ.

For all involved – work hard with love.  Give respect.  Build respectable behaviors and attitudes.  And gather together the blessings of God in Christ Jesus.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out