June 22nd Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 

A CHRISTIAN EMPLOYER 

Ephesians 6:9 “. . . 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.” 

Both employee and employer have as their master their heavenly Father. A Christian employer, Paul writes, is to treat their employees with respect acknowledging that God is Master over both employee and employer. What has been said in the previous devotions applies equally to the employer, “Do all you do to the glory of God . . .” (1 Corinthians 10:31) 

The Devil tempts employers to believe that they are in control, the boss, the place where the “buck stops.” In a worldly sense this is true. But ultimately it is God who is in charge of all things and all people. Thus, employee and employer are beholding to the same God who creates them and provides all they need to support their business, body, and life. 

Jesus has taught employee and employer alike to pray to their heavenly Father, “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11) Philippians 4:19 has this promise, “. . . God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” Psalm 23:1 says the Lord is your shepherd so that you will lack for nothing. Finally, in proverbs 3:5-6 Solomon encourages, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  God is god of the employee and employer. Both are equally important to Him. Jesus kept God’s law perfectly for both, died for them, and rose again for the forgiveness of the sins of both employee and employer. Both are totally dependent upon Him for their forgiveness, life, and salvation.  As employees are to show respect and fear with sincere hearts to their employers (Ephesians 6:5) so employers are to treat their employees in the same way. (Ephesians 6:9) Employees and employers by God’s grace through His gift of faith to them in Jesus are His adopted children. In His sight both are important and precious to Him.  Prayer. Lord, bless the relationship employees and employers have with one another that they live and work together in harmony and peace to Your glory and for their good. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Praise and thanksgiving, Father, we offer
For all things living, Created good!
Harvest of sown fields, Fruits of the orchard,
Hay from the mown fields, Blossom and wood. 

Bless, Lord, the labor We bring to serve You
That with our neighbor We may be fed.
Sowing or tilling, We would work with You,
Harvesting, milling For daily bread. 

Father, providing Food for Your children,
By Your wise guiding Teach us to share
One with another, So that, rejoicing
With us, all others May know Your care.  (LSB 789)