Most of us eat every day, some of us too much because yesterday's food
is not enough to supply energy for today's needs. Why then, do some
of us expect yesterday's portion of heavenly manna the word of God to keep us
through today's challenges. On this program, we are going to change all of
that. Let's experience God's words today and receive the power we need to live
healthy, vibrant lives. Welcome to Your Daily Portion with your host, author
speaker L. David Harris. Good morning, Good morning, Good morning.
It is Tuesday, September five, twenty twenty three. Hello, my name
is L. David Harris. I am your host, and this is your
Daily Portion where we give you God's Word every single day, and today is
no exception. We are continuing in our lesson study series through the Book of
Ephesians under the caption Slavery in Paul's Day, Slavery in Paul's Day. We'll
get into that in just a moment, but first I'd like to say welcome
to you and ask you to please go over to your Daily Portion dot com
and join our online community there. I would like for you also to add
where are you anywhere in the world like I want to know what country,
what city, like, where are you in the world. That helps me
to become encouraged and stay encouraged knowing that the Gospel of the Kingdom is being
preached into all the world for a witness because Jesus promised that it's then and
only then that the end will come. And I know that this is not
the only way to spread the gospel, but it sure is encouraging to me.
So please go over to your Daily Portion dot com. Also pick up
your Daily Portion book and we can build faith and fellowship together. Let's go
ahead and pray and then get underway. Father in Heaven, thank you for
this day. Please give us your wisdom. Please help us to love and
to serve you, and help us to apply your truth in our lives.
In Jesus name, I pray, Amen and Amen again. Slavery in Paul's
day. Now, if I were to go through this the way that the
caption reads, then really you would just get a history lesson, and I'm
not interested in that today. It's important to understand, absolutely, yes,
But my primary concern today is that we can apply the principles of the scriptures
related to that in our day and in our society. So I'm gonna,
you know, do my best to do that. So really I want to
re term this so we can make it applicable to us and part in the
long the long title. But Paul's guidance in relationships in hierarchical work environments,
you see, there are environments where there is a boss, there is a
manager, there is a team of manager, a team of officers, and
then the workers going down down through the list. Right, So that is
the way that we're going to do it. In a summary of Paul's insights,
I'll call it on workplace relations And absolutely there was some specific things that
he was dealing with where masters and slaves were concerned. But again, I
want to contemporize it so we can apply it. Okay, And so the
number one takeaway that I have for today is mutual respect. In professional environments,
you work for someone, right, You're on a team somewhere, you
have employees, you have members of your team over whom you supervise. Yeah,
so this is this is what I want you to think about mutual respect.
And Ephesians chapter six, verses five through nine. It's gonna say something
like this, if we look at it in through a contemporary lens. Employees,
when you do your tasks, do them with respect and sincerity. Does
that resonate with you? Do you work for someone okay, as if you
were serving a higher purpose or mission. Endeavor to do your best always,
not just when you are being observed. Approach your work with enthusiasm, as
though you were working for a cause larger than just a paycheck. Working as
unto the Lord. Remember that any good work is intrinsically rewarding. Employers in
the same spirit, treat your employees with fairness and understanding. Refrain from using
your position for intimidation. I wish I had the time. I hope you're
listening. Recognize that everyone is equal in dignity and worth mutual respect in professional
environments. Let's go to the second one, commitment to personal and professional growth
in First Corinthians, chapter seven Versus twenty through twenty four. We could read
it in a contemporary sense. Stay committed to your current path, but always
seek opportunities for growth and improvement. Remember that personal growth and professional roles are
intertwined. Value the journey and experiences you've gained, and recognized the importance of
staying true to your convictions. Everyone regardless of their position, should remain dedicated
and principled. That's a good one. Commitment to personal and professional growth.
How about this one number three? Promoting equality and inclusion or inclusivity from Ephesians,
Chapter six, verse nine. Leaders foster and environment of mutual respect.
And so if you are a leader, a manager, or whatever supervisory position,
it is up to you because the company or organization will only grow in
the same measure that you lead. You understand, refrain from using your position
to instill fear or insecurity. I wish I had the time. Even in
the church, there are individuals, unfortunately, who actually use their position to
cause fear instill insecurity. So the Bible is teaching us a principle to not
do that. Remember, every person deserves respect and has intrinsic value. That
means value based on the fact that we exist like God. God created us
with a reality of value. No matter what position you're in or not in,
everyone has value. Okay, So, given our contemporary context, Paul's
words can be seen as a call for equality mutual respect. It doesn't matter
if I'm your boss, you're my boss. We are equal mutual respect.
It doesn't matter if I am your supervisor, you are my supervisor. We
must show respect and understanding. Ah doesn't matter if I am your supervisor or
you are my supervisor. We must seek to understand before we seek to understood,
to be understood. All of this in workplaces, all of this in
workplaces now, really without ignoring what Paul was teaching directly to the people that
were listening. Historical teaches teachings, when viewed through a contemporary lens, can
offer valuable insights into modern challenges. As we navigate the complexities of today's work
environments, it is essential to champion here's that word again, respect, fairness
and inclusion or inclusivity, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their role, is
treated with dignity and understanding. Can I just say I did say that I
addressed the elephant in the room, the pink elephant in the room some time
ago. God never condoned slavery as we see it in the context of the
Transatlantic slave trade. Yes, there were people who worked for people in Jamaica
Land. We love. We have what what some people call who pardon me,
some people call helpers. These are individuals who are in the home who
address the things more most of the time on the inside of the four walls
of the home, the cooking, the cleaning, sometimes the care of children.
And then there are workmen who work on the house and the grounds and
things that happen on the outside. Right, there are people who are blessed
enough to have drivers and other kinds of helpers sinola, assistants, valets.
Right, these individuals are all equal to the persons who employ them. I
don't have any of these people, but if I did, I would know,
based on what the scriptures are teaching me, that everyone must be treated
with dignity and understanding, dignity and respect, knowing that their value comes because
or as a direct result of the creator who created them. And so the
blessing is that God has not left us alone or confused in our day.
Slavery in the way that I described it earlier has always been wrong. And
when we have our workplace relations, treat each other with dignity and respect.
Peace. Thanks for joining us listening. Friends, Always remember we cannot live
by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
This has been your daily portion with l David Harris. Make it a
great day.