SEARCH Lesson 127 – Getting Along with Others

Key Verse

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
— Matthew 7:12

Duties of Employers and Employees

Ephesians 6:5-9; 1 Timothy 6:1-2

The Law of God is sometimes divided into two parts: That which applies to our duty toward God, and that which applies to our duty toward our fellowman. We cannot serve God acceptably without proper regard for our fellow man—our neighbor, our servant, our master. The world sees an example more quickly than it hears a precept. It is possible that nowhere is Christianity more observed than in the conduct of the Christian laborer on the job.

QUESTIONS

  1. What is the responsibility of the employer, as far as his employee is concerned? Use our text and Colossians 4:1 to substantiate your answer.
  2. What is, perhaps, the most important word that governs the employee’s relationship to his employer? (Ephesians 6:5) Why is this so important?
  3. Many times an employee may have complaints about his boss—he doesn’t spend enough time on the job, he doesn’t pay enough wages, he expects too much, etc. The employee must remember that the boss pays the wage that has been agreed upon and it is his prerogative to do whatever he pleases—this is not the employee’s business. Does the Bible give any license to the employee to talk in a derogatory manner about his employer? What does our text say regarding this?
  4. What is meant by the phrase: “Not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers”?
  5. Why is it so important to work faithfully in this world? How would the Scripture quoted in question 4 apply to monitoring carefully the amount of time spent on breaks, lunch hours, etc.?
  6. Who is the most important—the employer or the employee? Explain.
  7. Name at least one result of employees’ counting their employers worthy of all honor.
  8. Explain how our key verse relates to both employer and employee.

THEME THOUGHTS

SUPPLEMENTAL SCRIPTURES

  • Deuteronomy 24:15
  • Colossians 4:1
  • Titus 2:9
  • 1 Peter 2:18