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 Sabbath, September two, two 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. We only have two solid more weeks really three before this lesson study
series is over. But anyway, I don't want to rush things here.
We are discussing practicing supreme loyalty to Christ. Practicing supreme loyalty to Christ.
We'll get into that in just a moment, but first I'd like to say
welcome, Welcome, Welcome, to everyone joining us, especially those joining us
for the very first time. Please go over to your Daily Portion dot com.
Join our online community. There we are building faith and fellowship. I
need you to know, if you don't already know that that is a reactive
space because I am being proactive by speaking to you television, radio, internet,
podcast and all of that. And now in that community, you speak
back to me, you ask your questions regarding the lesson study, and on
occasion I will put something in more times on Saturday or Sabbath. Right,
but go again to your Daily Portion dot com and we can continue to build
faith and fellowship there. Let's go ahead and pray, and then we will
get underway. Father in Heaven, thank you or this day, the Sabbath
day, and for the blessing that you have entrusted to us to open your
word again together and for the tens of thousands of people or more who are
with us every single day. Please unify our minds, give us the same
biblical faith, and teach us how to serve one another until Jesus comes in
Jesus name, I pray, Amen and amen again practicing supreme loyalty to Christ.
Now let me just say there is a giant pink elephant in the room,
if you will, if you're from a culture that doesn't use that idiom
or that that phraseology to make a point, it is. It's the thing
that we see, but a lot of people want to avoid, right,
and that is slavery. Now in our current culture, we understand because we
have a rich unfortunate maybe rich is the wrong words. Scratch that like,
edit that out. We have of a sordid past relating to slavery. The
Transatlantic slave trade is the one that's top of mind in my case here.
There are many, many different wicked devices relating to slavery, but that one
is the one that most people are familiar with in our modern society. Right.
So I'm just going to answer a question straight right here, right now.
Does the Bible condone slavery as we understand the Transatlantic slave trade? Wise?
No, the answers no. I'm not arguing about that today. It
is not my goal or interest to do that. Why the Bible uses these
terminologies is a different discussion about slaves and masters. We're going to modernize it
so that we get the principle and don't get distracted based on the King James
versions words relating to the relationships we're going on in these particular texts. Okay,
I wish I had the time, I just literally don't. So we're
going to modernize it, okay. And so in Ephesians chapter six and verse
nine, we read and masters, treat your slaves in the same way,
do not threaten them. You see how this is so easy. This is
clearly not related to that kind of slavery that is so triggering to most of
us. Since you know that he who is both their master and yours is
in heaven, there is no favoritism with him. And so really today I
just want to touch briefly the building blocks or some principles that will help people
who are supervisors. Some of you may use the term bosses, managers,
or whatever. You have people who report to you in a work environment.
It could be in your home setting, may have a helper, you may
have grounds people, you may have farmers who knows, I don't know what
your wealth level is. And then sometimes in the business setting organizations, companies,
or maybe even a religious setting where you are in a nonprofit and you
have people who answer to you. In any case, the biblical perspective for
people who have some authority over others. Where work is concerned is number one
service. Jesus modeled leadership as a servant to others, so we must be
servant leaders. Then comes integrity. Proverbs chapter ten, in verse nine emphasizes
the importance of integrity. This means being honest, transparent, and fair in
all of your dealings. If you have to pay someone, you pay them
the fair living weight. You don't take advantage of them. You don't build
on the backs of people your empire. No, you must be if you're
following Christ, fair in all of your business dealings. And then, of
course comes love and kindness. Colossians chapter three, in verse twelve calls for
compassion and kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. This could involve genuinely
caring for your workers or employees, understanding their struggles, and being patient with
their growth. I've already said humility in another word, right, fairness,
I've talked about that. And then comes stewardship so much more. The Parable
of the talents in Matthew chapter twenty five teaches about wise management and the use
of resources. As a supervisor, this could mean responsibly using resources available to
you for the benefit of the organization and your employees. And then the one
that I love a lot, good communication. Some of you know what I
have done in the past good communication. In Proverbs chapter fifteen, in verse
one, the Bible discusses the power of gentle words and the destructive potential of
harsh speech. Effective, RESTful, and empathetic communication should be a priority.
And so we see that from a supervisor's perspective or a boss or whatever word
that you use in your and your society. And then comes employees, people
who work for others, or maybe you're not an employee, but you are
a consultant or a contractor of some contractor of some sort, and you're delivering
service regardless. Here are some principles even for us, right, I said
us huh. Diligence. In Proverbs chapter twenty two, in verse twenty nine,
the Bible praises skilled and diligent workers. Consistently doing your best work and
always striving for improvement is critical. I think it was Saint Jerome that's a
good, better best, Never let it rest until the good is better and
the better best. But the late Earl Cleveland ee Cleveland said good, better,
best, never let it rest until the good is better and the better
better. Yes, we are always striving for more for better. And then
comes respect. In Romans chapter thirteen and verse seven, Paul instructs to give
respect where it is due. Respect colleagues, respect supervisors, and the organization
for which you work or clients as the case may be. That is key.
And then, of course integrity do we need to really say that again,
we need to be honest in all of our dealings. Deliver what you
promise, do not steal time or resources from those you serve. And then
comes cooperation. I wish more people in companies and organization would get this one.
In First Corinthians, chapter twelve, in verse fourteen, the Bible discusses
the importance of each part of the body working together. The same principle holds
true in a teen work or workplace environment, everybody lifting his or her own
load so that the whole or the entire body of that situation will benefit.
Of course, there is humility, there is stewardship, there is service.
Again, and I want to talk about peace and forgiveness. We are encouraged
so that we constructively manage conflicts and be willing to forgive and move beyond disagreements.
Interesting topic, Let's continue 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.