December 11, 2016 Dr. Jim Cecy

Equipping Godly Workers Titus 2:9-10 Introduction: Although the Apostle Paul is speaking specifically to the slave-master relationship in the first century, his counsel is applicable to workers of every age. Titus 2:9-10 “Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.” Early Life Lessons: Doing quality work is a form of evangelism. Being a lousy worker is the anti-gospel. It is a great thing to do a little thing well. Hard work won’t kill us! In fact, we were made for it! None of us are born with a godly work ethic!

I. THE NECESSARY QUALITIES (Titus 2:9-10a) Workplace Quality #1: Obedience — Christians in the workplace need to be urged to be submissive to those who have authority over them. “...to be subject to their own masters in everything.” (Titus 2:9) • Ephesians 6:5 “Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ.” • Colossians 3:22 “Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.” “to be subject” = Greek: hupotasso = to place oneself under authority • Obedient Worker Principle #1: It’s a voluntary submission — “urge bondslaves to put themselves in subjection…” • Obedient Worker Principle #2: It’s not a selective submission — “...in everything” • 1 Peter 2:18-21 “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.” The Example of Jacob Working for Laban (Genesis 29-31)

Workplace Quality #2: Hard-working — Christians in the workplace need to be urged to be wellpleasing and productive. “to be well-pleasing” (Titus 2:9) = “to bring satisfaction” • Proverbs 14:23 “In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” • Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. • Ephesians 6:5-8 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eye service, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. • Proverbs 10:26 “Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy one to those who send him.” • Proverbs 18:9 “He who is slack in his work is brother to him who destroys.” • cf. Example of Jacob — Genesis 30:25-30 • Genesis 31:6 “And you know that I have served your father with all my strength.” “I’d rather have one person working with me than twelve just working for me.”

Workplace Quality #3: Supportive — Christians in the workplace need to be urged to be respectful and not argumentative. “not argumentative” (Titus 2:9) = Greek: antilego = speak against/argue/talk back/treat disrespectfully • Philippians 2:14-15 “Do all things without grumbling or disputing that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.” • Proverbs 27:18 “He who cares for his master (e.g. his boss) will be honored.” “The guy who is pulling the oar doesn’t have time to rock the boat.”

Workplace Quality #4: Honesty — Christians in the workplace need be urged not to steal anything of value, no matter how small. “...not pilfering…” (Titus 2:10) KJV = “purloining” Greek: nosphidzo = stealing, pilfering, engaging in petty theft • Proverbs 5:21 “For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He watches all his paths. • Luke 16:12 “If you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own.” • cf. Example of Jacob — Genesis 31:36-38 • Proverbs 11:18 “The wicked earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.” • Proverbs 13:11 “Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, but the one who gathers by labor increases it.” • Ephesians 4:28 “Let him who steals steal no longer, but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good…” Thou Shall Not Steal = Thou Shall Not Pilfer = Thou Shall Not Take Anything That Does Not Belong To You

Workplace Quality #5: Trustworthiness — Christians in the workplace need to be urged to be faithful and reliable. “…showing all good faith…” (Titus 2:10) • 1 Corinthians 4:2 - “...it is required of stewards (i.e. managers) that one be found trustworthy.” • Proverbs 25:19 “Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.” • Learn the Way of the Ants (Proverbs 6:6-11) • cf. Example of Jacob — Genesis 31:38-42 “

II. THE ULTIMATE MOTIVE (Titus 2:10b) God has commanded THAT we work for a living (Gen. 3:19; 2 Thess. 3:10) and He has also commanded us HOW and WHY we work. Titus 2: 10b “…so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.” • 1 Timothy 6:1 “Let all who are under the yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of honor so that the name of God and our doctrine may not be spoken against.” We labor FOR the Harvest by faithfully laboring IN the Harvest. Do our work habits and practices attract people to Christ or repel them? • Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” • 1 Peter 2:12 “Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles (i.e. unbelievers), so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.” — when Christ returns.” • 2 Corinthians 5:9 “Therefore also we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.” • Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”

© 2016 Dr. James M. Cecy, Campus Bible Church, Fresno, CA. 93726 www.campusbiblechurch.com