HOW TO DO YOUR JOB

TEXT- COLOSSIANS 3:22-25

INTRODUCTION

TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH OUR STUDY FROM THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS AND OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN CHAPTER 3:22-25.

THE LAST TIME ME LOOKED AT CHAPTER THREE WE EXAMINED THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER.

THIS EVENING I WOULD LIKE US TO EXAMINE OUR ROLE AS WORKERS OR EMPLOYEES.

IF WE WERE TO SUBSTITUTE THE WORD "EMPLOYEE" FOR THE WORD "SLAVE" IT IMMEDIATELY BECOMES VERY CLEAR AS TO HOW THIS PASSAGE CAN BE APPLIED TO OUR LIVES TODAY.

IN DOING THIS WE ARE NOT DOING ANY HARM TO OUR TEXT BECAUSE THE SAME PRINCIPLES THAT APPLIED TO SLAVES DURING BIBLICAL DAYS APPLY TO EMPLOYEES DURING OUR DAY AND TIME TODAY.

WHILE SLAVERY DID NOT ORIGINATE WITH GOD AND IS NO LONGER PRACTICED HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, DURING THE FIRST CENTURY IT WAS COMMONLY ACCEPTED AS A FOUNDATIONAL INSTITUTION MUCH LIKE THE INSTITUTION OF THE FAMILY OR GOVERNMENT.

IN FACT, WITHIN THE ROMAN EMPIRE, NEARLY HALF OF THE PEOPLE WERE SLAVES.

ONE OF THE REASONS WHY PAUL DEALS WITH THE ROLE OF SLAVES AND MASTERS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FAMILY IS BECAUSE SLAVES WERE CONSIDERED JUST AS MUCH A PART OF THE HOUSEHOLD AS WIVES, HUSBANDS, PARENTS OR CHILDREN.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE THOUGH WAS THAT SLAVES WERE PEOPLE WITHOUT RIGHTS, WITHOUT PROPERTY AND EXISTED ONLY FOR THE COMFORT, CONVENIENCE AND PLEASURE OF THEIR MASTERS.

SLAVES WERE CONSIDERED LEGAL PERSONAL PROPERTY, WHO WORKED FOR ANOTHER PERSON.

AREN'T YOU GLAD THAT TODAY IN OUR SOCIETY SLAVERY IS CONSIDERED ILLEGAL AND THAT WE NOW OWN THINGS AND NOT PEOPLE?

LET'S LOOK NOW AT WHAT PAUL SAYS CONCERNING SLAVES IN BIBLICAL TIMES AND HOW WE CAN APPLY THESE PRINCIPLES AND TRUTHS TO HOW TO OUR JOBS OR CAREERS TODAY.

AS WE EXAMINE THESE VERSES THERE ARE FOUR PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS WE CAN MAKE.