My children are adults, my husband works from home, and I don’t have paying job.

But the instructions from Paul to children, parents, slaves, servants, employees, masters and employers are very meaningful to each one of us no matter who we are, what our occupation is, or what stage of life we are in.

(ESV)  Ephesians 6:1-9 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.  Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,  not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,  rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,  knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.  Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

I have thoroughly enjoyed studying Ephesians 6:1-9 and have been challenged to apply Paul’s message to every little or big thing I do. I want my actions to be as if they are specifically for Jesus Himself.

I appreciated the lecture given by one of the members of my Bible study. She gave us the following questions which help us check our heart attitudes wherever we serve or work:

• Am I anxious to honor and please my manager and coworkers?
• Do I want the organization I work for to succeed apart from my benefiting?
• Would my management team and coworkers characterize me as responsive, responsible, and obedient to my work tasks?
• Can others depend on me?
• Do I perform tasks outwardly but inwardly grumble and criticize the validity of the given task?
• Do I complain and vent to those around me about work issues, other people or management?
• Do I work with excellence and at the same level of quality when alone as I do in the presence of others?
• Are my conversations in email, text, and other forms of communication God-honoring and free of subtle or direct insulting remarks toward managers and coworkers?
• Do I pray for those in authority over me?
• Am I prepared, willing to, and wise in sharing Christ’s gospel with the osaround me?

She also gave us wonderful biblical examples of obedient children, godly parents, and faithful servants. But the perfect son and the perfect servant is Jesus Christ.

Many thanks to April Byrd! Her lecture is presented in the video below.