I talked last time about how pastors are held to a high standard so that God and the church might not be slandered.
But as you look throughout this letter, you see that all Christians are Christ’s representatives. And as such, we are to be careful how we behave.
In chapter 5, he talked about how the younger widows (and looking at the context, all housewives) were not to give the enemy room for slander by their behavior (1 Timothy 5:14).
Now here in chapter 6, he says the same concerning slaves. He says,
All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.
Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers.
Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. (1 Timothy 6:1-2)
We don’t have slavery in our country now, but the principal still holds in our workplaces. And so not only for those who stay at home, but for those who work, we are to be Christ’s representatives.
We are to honor our bosses and always do our utter best as if we were serving Christ himself.
When people see us at our jobs, they should see us uncomplainingly doing all that is required of us, and when necessary even more.
How terrible it would be for people to look at the Christians in their workplace and say, “Boy, that’s a substandard worker. He’s just a total cancer in this place. We’re better off without him.”
If people think that of us, will that draw them to Christ? Of course not.
But if people see us working harder than everyone else, with a good attitude, and doing our job well, it draws their respect, and then if they find out we’re Christians, it brings glory to Christ and the gospel.
We’ll be like stars shining in this dark world that we live in. (Philippians 2:15)
How about you? Do you bring glory to God by how you work in your workplace? Or do you bring disgrace to his name and the gospel?
