6:6 “not according to eye service as people-pleasers.” Paul has explained that slaves are to obey their earthly masters as they do their heavenly master and now he specifies the manner in which they are to obey. He first states “not according to eye service as people-pleasers.”(also Col 3:22-24). Literally, it means “eye service” connoting “to serve with a view to impressing others.” It likely it refers to the outward activity of work without the corresponding inward dedication. In other words, the service is outwardly correct with no sense of inner obligation to the master for the sake of God and of Christ. In our society, the parallel expression would be “the boss is coming, look busy”. And, of course, cheeky people have extended this to the ultimate boss, with the saying and bumper sticker, “Jesus is coming, look busy”. Of course, they’re right in that Jesus is coming back, but the implication is that they can fool Jesus, just like they fool their bosses. But, since Jesus can see the heart, the standard of outward performance or just shining when the boss is looking is not enough, since Jesus is already always amongst us! In Luke 12:35-37 as in many other places, Jesus emphasizes to make sure that our hearts are truly ready for his return 35 “Be prepared, and keep your lamps lit. 36 You are also to be like people who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door for him when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; In other places Jesus says that he is coming “as a thief in the night. The point being that we must be ready for Him when He comes, and not act as the World acts, but serve Him in faithfulness and diligence. We are to act “but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God wholeheartedly.” Paul exhorts slaves to obey their masters as those who are slaves of Christ. “doing the will of God wholeheartedly, from one’s innermost being.
6:7 with goodwill rendering service as to the Lord, and not to people. This gives a further amplification to the nature of the service. Christians are to obey, serving with goodwill, or affection, not with affectation. With “goodwill” or “loyalty” in our service to others, having “zeal or enthusiasm”. This service with goodwill is to be done. Although slaves or servants are carrying out the orders of earthly masters, the attitude of goodwill that accompanies this service in the end seeks to please the perfect heavenly Lord and not the fallible earthly master. Believers are to render service to our Lord Christ. Since we serve earthly masters, who are sinners, we as employees, and still more slaves have endless reasons to harbor resentment, especially when masters perpetrate great injustices against us, but in the end, this doesn’t excuse us in the manner of our service toward them. Paul, realizing that slaves could harbor many justified resentments, reminds them and us that our obligation is to the Lord, not people.
6:8. “knowing that whatever good each person does, —Slaves, and whoever we are who serve others in some way, are motivated to obey because we know that our Master in heaven is going to reward us. “Whatever good each person does” is stated to emphasize that no good deed is forgotten, even giving a cup of cold water to a child in the name of a disciple, as Jesus puts it, and that no slave or servant who is Christ’s is forgotten when it comes to reward, even if they think that they have been overlooked. This is important because it means that no slave is excluded. No doubt, many slaves had done good deeds that went unnoticed by their masters who excluded them from the credit they deserved. This is not the case with God, for he will notice the good deeds of every slave. [Example of Mordecai for delayed reward, and how God uses it].
Even when you think that God doesn’t see all of the good that you’re doing, that He doesn’t notice all of the effort that you’re putting in, remember that God rewards in His time, and His way, and His rewards are more wonderful than anything we could ever imagine. And, in the meantime, down here, we will being doing good for people, and also magnifying the name of Christ by showing by example that there’s a difference between Christians and unbelievers. John 12:34-5 34 I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.” And, of course, because what we do is motivated by love for God, and love for one another, then not only will our work be regarded as good by our masters and bosses, at the same time this good will be measured by God’s standards as morally upright.
this he will receive back from the Lord. This good that we have done, and not something else will be received back from the Lord. Just as the Proverbs 19:17 says One who is gracious to a poor person lends to the Lord, And He will repay him for his good deed. We can be sure that we will receive it back. Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return”. The slave gives service. And every slave who does good to his or her master shall definitely some day receive reward from the Lord, the supreme Master. 2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad. We see this idea also in the parallel passage in Col 3:23-4 23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve
whether slave or free. The inclusiveness of this promise means that Paul is not only talking to slaves here, but this idea holds, whether people are free with regard to their person on earth, or are slaves. The Lord treats both slaves and masters the same in the present time Gal 3:28 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ; 1 Cor 12:13 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. All are equal before God.
And masters, do the same things to them, stop threatening them, Although more space is devoted to the slaves and their duties toward their masters, the Christian masters, or bosses, or leaders also have specific responsibilities towards their servants, or employees. The exhortation that they are to “do the same things to them” means that we are to lead with a spirit of integrity, dedication, and goodwill toward those that are being led by us, and that Masters were to exhibit toward their slaves the same goodwill and kindness, and integrity as they do in any service for the Lord. This is in keeping with Col 4:1 where Paul exhorts masters to treat their slaves justly and fairly. “forbearing the threat,” is a clear instruction to masters concerning their dealings with slaves, or to “stop using threats” to terrify the slaves into submission. In Philemon Paul writes to a master of the run-away slave Onesimus, who is a Christian, and who has benefited Paul greatly. Paul is sending him back to his master who is also a Christian. He is pleading with Philemon as a Christian brother to hold nothing against Onesimus, but to accept him back gladly, as a brother in Christ, saying in Philemon 10-15 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I fathered in my imprisonment, 11 who previously was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. 12 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, 13 whom I wanted to keep with me, so that in your behalf he might be at my service in my imprisonment for the gospel; knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him. The motivation for masters to deal with integrity toward their slaves is that they, too, have a Master and will be held accountable by that Master in heaven. In other words, they are servants of the same Lord as their slaves. This means that how we act when we are put in charge, or are leading is of critical importance. We do not Lord it over each other as the non-believers do, but practice servant-leadership. How we treat each other matters to God, and when we’re in these kind of relationships, we should always act like Christians. Christian employees should serve their employers with fear, diligence, integrity, and goodwill and Christian employers should deal with their employees with integrity and goodwill, without threats, realizing that we have a heavenly master to whom we are accountable for our attitudes and conduct, and we should remember that our behavior is a testimony, one way or another, to the unbelievers with whom we work. All of these instructions to persons within the household are God’s formula for the wise walk of spouses, children, parents, slaves, and masters. Each of these must be filled by the Spirit in order to consistently carry out the Will of God.