With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
All work is to be done willingly and cheerfully and wholeheartedly, as service rendered to the Lord Himself and not merely to human masters or employers for appearance or wages. It is part of the household duties laid on servants and masters, employers and employed, with fathers and children, requiring obedience without eyeservice on the one side and kindness without threatening on the other, with the promise that every good deed will be fully rewarded by the common Master in heaven who shows no partiality. Such service is done from the heart in singleness of purpose toward Christ, from principle and love to God rather than selfish impulse, under His constant eye which witnesses and records faithfulness even when no human eye inspects the work. The principle reaches every kind of daily labor, from office and publishing duties treated as sacred, to health and missionary work done with economy and helpfulness, to parents training children and children helping at home, to building and drudgery performed at one's best to the glory of God. Work done in this spirit forms character, ennobles even the lowliest task and joins the humblest worker with the highest servants above, bringing supernatural strength in human weakness, daily victory and growth, and at last advancement with the verdict of approval.
Words and Context
With good will means willingly, wholeheartedly and cheerfully, with interest and heaven-born dignity, even in drudgery and lowly duties. It is service from the heart and from principle, not from selfish motives or impulse, not merely to please people, to appear dutiful, or to earn wages. Diligence and not slothfulness in everyday work ennobles even the lowliest work, makes it wholly acceptable in the Lord's sight, and links the lowliest servant on earth with the highest servants in the courts above. When workers serve in this spirit, even a few workers can accomplish a great work, trusting that God recognizes and rewards good work.
As to the Lord and not to men means work is done as service to the Lord rather than merely to people, human masters or employers, not with eyeservice as menpleasers. Office and publishing labor is therefore to be treated as sacred service performed as in God's presence, with entire devotion, helping wherever the most good can be done, since God examines motives and faithful service does not depend on whether a human supervisor is watching. Every worker is to look beyond human authority, inspection and limits to God in heaven whose eye is constantly upon him for good, taking Jesus rather than any human being as pattern and letting no human voice set the limit of duty. Into every action of life, temporal as well as spiritual, including erecting a building, he is to weave faithfulness and loyalty and do his best with an eye single to the glory of God, asking whether Christ approves his use of time and work, and practicing righteousness in all that is done. Negligent, slothful work is chiefly an offense against God and forms character for unfaithfulness, while work done from principle to the glory of God builds character, grows in grace and knowledge, and brings the verdict well done with advancement to greater responsibility.
The verse belongs to household instructions for servants and masters, employers and employed, together with fathers and children. Servants are to obey masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in obedient singleness of heart as unto Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. Fathers are not to provoke children to wrath but to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and masters are to do the same toward servants and forbear threatening. Employers and employed are called to work as Christ's ambassadors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, with the whole heart consecrated for God to mold and fashion after the divine similitude, bringing a message of truth in the great work to be cut short in righteousness. The poor are taught not to rise up against those in power and not to resist oppression, while a terrible woe is pronounced upon those who tyrannize over the poor.
Whatever good thing anyone does will be received back from the Lord, whether bond or free. Masters and servants alike have a Master in heaven who shows no respect of persons and who will requite deeds in full measure. This is the order of Jesus Christ as Captain of salvation to His soldiers, laying out the plan of the battle, the imminent peril and conflict, and the cost to be counted. Obedience requires unity, candor, confidence, love and cooperation, dying to self and hiding in Jesus, without disparaging one another's work. With this preparation comes assurance of supernatural assistance, so that in human weakness workers do the deeds of Omnipotence in withstanding the devil, and all are to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
What Faithful Service Means
Faithful service is doing the will of God from the heart, in singleness of heart as unto Christ, with fear and trembling toward earthly masters, not with eyeservice as menpleasers. It comes from principle and love to God rather than from selfish motives or impulse, with good will as to the Lord and not to men. This obedience belongs with fathers not provoking children but bringing them up in nurture and admonition, and with masters forbearing threatening, knowing every good deed will receive the same reward from the Lord whether done by bond or free.
The worker looks past human authority, inspection and limits to God in heaven, whose eye is constantly upon him for good, and takes Jesus rather than any human being as pattern, letting no human voice set the limit of duty. Faithfulness or unfaithfulness is witnessed, examined and recorded by God, who examines motives and expects entire devotion, even when no human supervisor is watching. Faithfulness in little things when no eye but the Lord reviews the work brings daily experience and victory through serving God with all the heart from love, seeking Him daily and planting truth in the soul.
Obedience is the order of the Captain of salvation to His soldiers, calling for unity, candor, confidence, love and cooperation, dying to self and hiding in Christ without disparaging one another's work. Each is to stand unwaveringly in lot and place as a sentinel for God, letting conduct accord with the sacred trust given, doing assigned work as unto God and not unto man under principles of a new and heavenly order. This means helping where the most good can be done rather than insisting on a prescribed position or specified line, refusing confederacy, confidences or compromise with worldlings and enemies of Christ, and refusing to grow restless and devise one's own plans to bring about God's promises as Abraham and Sarah did, since self-devised ways bring sorrow, misery and sin while working as unto God brings fulfilment of His gracious designs.
Work done from principle with an eye single to the glory of God weaves faithfulness and loyalty into every action of life, temporal as well as spiritual, and builds character for faithfulness, growth in grace and knowledge, and advancement. Negligent, slothful work is chiefly an offense against God and forms character for unfaithfulness, while diligent, cheerful drudgery with heaven-born dignity and noble principles ennobles even the lowliest work and makes it wholly acceptable, linking the lowliest servant on earth with the highest servants above. With such preparation comes assurance of supernatural assistance, so that in human weakness workers do the deeds of Omnipotence in withstanding evil, obtain precious daily experience, reveal Christ in character, and receive the verdict of approval and the reward of every good thing from the Lord.
Faithfulness in Daily Work
In office and publishing work daily duties are to be studied and treated as sacred service performed as in the divine presence with entire devotion. The labor of publishing truth is to be done willingly and wholeheartedly as service to the Lord and not merely to please people or to earn wages. Motives are examined by God, and faithful service does not depend on whether a human supervisor is watching, but helps wherever the most good can be done.
In health work helpers who profess the truth are to work from principle and from a high religious standpoint, doing duty as for God and not merely for wages. In a newly started institution with small means and few facilities this means coming as a missionary, uniting with fellow workers, practicing the greatest economy, and doing one's very best in whatever place accomplishes the most. Such willingness includes humble work such as cooking and giving character to the institution as one who belongs to it, rather than insisting on a prescribed position or a specified line.
In the family the same service with good will to the Lord and not merely to people covers parents' God-appointed work of training their children for Him, a responsibility that must not be neglected. It also covers children's work at home in learning faithfulness in labor, helping their mother, caring for younger children, and performing simple household duties as service to Christ.
The principle applies to all everyday work, temporal as well as spiritual, including erecting a building and even drudgery, to be done intelligently, righteously, diligently and not slothfully, at one's best with an eye single to the glory of God. The worker is to ask whether Christ approves the use of time and work, and even a few workers can accomplish a great work when they serve with goodwill and wholeheartedness as to the Lord rather than to please people. Drudgery done cheerfully for the Lord with heaven-born dignity and noble principles is ennobled and wholly acceptable, linking the lowliest servant on earth with the highest servants above. Responsibility comes from God and talents are received from Him to be used for His glory, so feeling undervalued or misused by fellow workers is no excuse for refusing to work, and faithfulness or unfaithfulness is witnessed and recorded by God.
Workers are called as Christ's ambassadors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, with the whole heart consecrated for God to mold and fashion after the divine similitude, bringing a message of truth in the great work to be cut short in righteousness. Each one is to do the assigned work as unto God and not unto man, letting conduct accord with the sacred trust, with principles of a new and heavenly order controlling spirit and actions. This requires standing unwaveringly in lot and place with fidelity, refusing confederacy, confidences or compromise with worldlings and enemies of Christ, and refusing like Abraham and Sarah to grow restless and devise human plans to bring about divine promises. Those who so work as unto God will see and realize the fulfilment of His gracious designs, while self-devised ways result in sorrow, misery and sin.
All work is to be done willingly and cheerfully and wholeheartedly, as service rendered to the Lord Himself and not merely to human masters or employers for appearance or wages. It is part of the household duties laid on servants and masters, employers and employed, with fathers and children, requiring obedience without eyeservice on the one side and kindness without threatening on the other, with the promise that every good deed will be fully rewarded by the common Master in heaven who shows no partiality. Such service is done from the heart in singleness of purpose toward Christ, from principle and love to God rather than selfish impulse, under His constant eye which witnesses and records faithfulness even when no human eye inspects the work. The principle reaches every kind of daily labor, from office and publishing duties treated as sacred, to health and missionary work done with economy and helpfulness, to parents training children and children helping at home, to building and drudgery performed at one's best to the glory of God. Work done in this spirit forms character, ennobles even the lowliest task and joins the humblest worker with the highest servants above, bringing supernatural strength in human weakness, daily victory and growth, and at last advancement with the verdict of approval.
Words and Context
With good will means willingly, wholeheartedly and cheerfully, with interest and heaven-born dignity, even in drudgery and lowly duties. It is service from the heart and from principle, not from selfish motives or impulse, not merely to please people, to appear dutiful, or to earn wages. Diligence and not slothfulness in everyday work ennobles even the lowliest work, makes it wholly acceptable in the Lord's sight, and links the lowliest servant on earth with the highest servants in the courts above. When workers serve in this spirit, even a few workers can accomplish a great work, trusting that God recognizes and rewards good work.
As to the Lord and not to men means work is done as service to the Lord rather than merely to people, human masters or employers, not with eyeservice as menpleasers. Office and publishing labor is therefore to be treated as sacred service performed as in God's presence, with entire devotion, helping wherever the most good can be done, since God examines motives and faithful service does not depend on whether a human supervisor is watching. Every worker is to look beyond human authority, inspection and limits to God in heaven whose eye is constantly upon him for good, taking Jesus rather than any human being as pattern and letting no human voice set the limit of duty. Into every action of life, temporal as well as spiritual, including erecting a building, he is to weave faithfulness and loyalty and do his best with an eye single to the glory of God, asking whether Christ approves his use of time and work, and practicing righteousness in all that is done. Negligent, slothful work is chiefly an offense against God and forms character for unfaithfulness, while work done from principle to the glory of God builds character, grows in grace and knowledge, and brings the verdict well done with advancement to greater responsibility.
The verse belongs to household instructions for servants and masters, employers and employed, together with fathers and children. Servants are to obey masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in obedient singleness of heart as unto Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. Fathers are not to provoke children to wrath but to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and masters are to do the same toward servants and forbear threatening. Employers and employed are called to work as Christ's ambassadors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, with the whole heart consecrated for God to mold and fashion after the divine similitude, bringing a message of truth in the great work to be cut short in righteousness. The poor are taught not to rise up against those in power and not to resist oppression, while a terrible woe is pronounced upon those who tyrannize over the poor.
Whatever good thing anyone does will be received back from the Lord, whether bond or free. Masters and servants alike have a Master in heaven who shows no respect of persons and who will requite deeds in full measure. This is the order of Jesus Christ as Captain of salvation to His soldiers, laying out the plan of the battle, the imminent peril and conflict, and the cost to be counted. Obedience requires unity, candor, confidence, love and cooperation, dying to self and hiding in Jesus, without disparaging one another's work. With this preparation comes assurance of supernatural assistance, so that in human weakness workers do the deeds of Omnipotence in withstanding the devil, and all are to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
What Faithful Service Means
Faithful service is doing the will of God from the heart, in singleness of heart as unto Christ, with fear and trembling toward earthly masters, not with eyeservice as menpleasers. It comes from principle and love to God rather than from selfish motives or impulse, with good will as to the Lord and not to men. This obedience belongs with fathers not provoking children but bringing them up in nurture and admonition, and with masters forbearing threatening, knowing every good deed will receive the same reward from the Lord whether done by bond or free.
The worker looks past human authority, inspection and limits to God in heaven, whose eye is constantly upon him for good, and takes Jesus rather than any human being as pattern, letting no human voice set the limit of duty. Faithfulness or unfaithfulness is witnessed, examined and recorded by God, who examines motives and expects entire devotion, even when no human supervisor is watching. Faithfulness in little things when no eye but the Lord reviews the work brings daily experience and victory through serving God with all the heart from love, seeking Him daily and planting truth in the soul.
Obedience is the order of the Captain of salvation to His soldiers, calling for unity, candor, confidence, love and cooperation, dying to self and hiding in Christ without disparaging one another's work. Each is to stand unwaveringly in lot and place as a sentinel for God, letting conduct accord with the sacred trust given, doing assigned work as unto God and not unto man under principles of a new and heavenly order. This means helping where the most good can be done rather than insisting on a prescribed position or specified line, refusing confederacy, confidences or compromise with worldlings and enemies of Christ, and refusing to grow restless and devise one's own plans to bring about God's promises as Abraham and Sarah did, since self-devised ways bring sorrow, misery and sin while working as unto God brings fulfilment of His gracious designs.
Work done from principle with an eye single to the glory of God weaves faithfulness and loyalty into every action of life, temporal as well as spiritual, and builds character for faithfulness, growth in grace and knowledge, and advancement. Negligent, slothful work is chiefly an offense against God and forms character for unfaithfulness, while diligent, cheerful drudgery with heaven-born dignity and noble principles ennobles even the lowliest work and makes it wholly acceptable, linking the lowliest servant on earth with the highest servants above. With such preparation comes assurance of supernatural assistance, so that in human weakness workers do the deeds of Omnipotence in withstanding evil, obtain precious daily experience, reveal Christ in character, and receive the verdict of approval and the reward of every good thing from the Lord.
Faithfulness in Daily Work
In office and publishing work daily duties are to be studied and treated as sacred service performed as in the divine presence with entire devotion. The labor of publishing truth is to be done willingly and wholeheartedly as service to the Lord and not merely to please people or to earn wages. Motives are examined by God, and faithful service does not depend on whether a human supervisor is watching, but helps wherever the most good can be done.
In health work helpers who profess the truth are to work from principle and from a high religious standpoint, doing duty as for God and not merely for wages. In a newly started institution with small means and few facilities this means coming as a missionary, uniting with fellow workers, practicing the greatest economy, and doing one's very best in whatever place accomplishes the most. Such willingness includes humble work such as cooking and giving character to the institution as one who belongs to it, rather than insisting on a prescribed position or a specified line.
In the family the same service with good will to the Lord and not merely to people covers parents' God-appointed work of training their children for Him, a responsibility that must not be neglected. It also covers children's work at home in learning faithfulness in labor, helping their mother, caring for younger children, and performing simple household duties as service to Christ.
The principle applies to all everyday work, temporal as well as spiritual, including erecting a building and even drudgery, to be done intelligently, righteously, diligently and not slothfully, at one's best with an eye single to the glory of God. The worker is to ask whether Christ approves the use of time and work, and even a few workers can accomplish a great work when they serve with goodwill and wholeheartedness as to the Lord rather than to please people. Drudgery done cheerfully for the Lord with heaven-born dignity and noble principles is ennobled and wholly acceptable, linking the lowliest servant on earth with the highest servants above. Responsibility comes from God and talents are received from Him to be used for His glory, so feeling undervalued or misused by fellow workers is no excuse for refusing to work, and faithfulness or unfaithfulness is witnessed and recorded by God.
Workers are called as Christ's ambassadors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, with the whole heart consecrated for God to mold and fashion after the divine similitude, bringing a message of truth in the great work to be cut short in righteousness. Each one is to do the assigned work as unto God and not unto man, letting conduct accord with the sacred trust, with principles of a new and heavenly order controlling spirit and actions. This requires standing unwaveringly in lot and place with fidelity, refusing confederacy, confidences or compromise with worldlings and enemies of Christ, and refusing like Abraham and Sarah to grow restless and devise human plans to bring about divine promises. Those who so work as unto God will see and realize the fulfilment of His gracious designs, while self-devised ways result in sorrow, misery and sin.