“Gospel-Shaped Work and Relationships”
SERMON Title: Gospel-Shaped Work and Relationships
SCRIPTURE: 1 Timothy 6:1-2 ESV
Introduction
When we read Scripture, some passages feel distant or even troubling at first. Today’s text speaks of “bondservants” and “masters,” which can sound like an endorsement of slavery. Before drawing out Paul’s main point about our work ethic and workplace relationships, we need clarity.
Paul’s word here is doulos—translated “slave,” “servant,” or “bondservant.” In the first-century Roman world, up to a third of the population lived as bondservants for varied reasons (debt, war, birth). Many performed manual labor; others managed households, taught, or practiced medicine. It was not race-based, and freedom could often be granted or earned.
In Israel’s law, the pattern resembled time-limited indentured service: the poor could sell their labor, but release came in the seventh year; mistreatment was forbidden, and kidnapping for slavery was a capital crime. God set humane boundaries around a common ancient practice, dignifying the vulnerable in ways that were revolutionary for the time.
In the New Testament, Paul never calls slavery good or God’s ideal. He addresses believers inside a broken structure and applies the gospel to transform relationships from within: in Christ there is neither slave nor free (Galatians); masters must act justly, remembering they have a Master in heaven (Colossians); and Philemon is urged to receive Onesimus “no longer as a slave but more than a slave—as a beloved brother.” Far from endorsing slavery, the gospel restores dignity and reshapes relationships.
So in 1 Timothy 6 Paul is not commending slavery; he is teaching Christians to live faithfully for Christ within imperfect systems. We do not live in that same structure, but his principles still speak powerfully to how we approach our work and our relationships at work.
1) A Gospel-Shaped Work Ethic Honors Christ (v.1)
“Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled” (v.1).
Paul names work a “yoke”—weighty, sometimes frustrating, even unfair. Yet his command is honor. Why? Because our work is not ultimately about paycheck or personal fulfillment; it is about God’s reputation. The quality of our work and the character we bring to the workplace will either adorn the gospel or undermine it.
For many of us, most waking hours are spent at work, school, in meetings, or managing a home. If people know we follow Jesus, our diligence, honesty, and patience either commend Christ or contradict Him. And if no one knows we belong to Christ, our integrity, though admirable, will not point anyone to Him. Hiding our faith at work—out of fear, discomfort, or career anxiety—sends the wrong message about our deepest allegiance.
So what does honoring those in authority look like?
Respect: even when a supervisor seems undeserving. Our response is an act of service to Christ.
Dependability: show up, meet deadlines, follow through.
Integrity: no cutting corners, time-wasting, or back-channel complaining.
Ownership: take responsibility for mistakes rather than shifting blame.
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Col 3:23). Our human boss is not our final boss—Jesus is. If coworkers described your work ethic, would it draw people toward or away from the gospel? Paul’s vision is that our lives give the world no reason to revile God’s name, but many reasons to reconsider Him.
2) Gospel-Shaped Relationships Reflect the Family of God (v.2)
“Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better, since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved” (v.2).
Shared faith can introduce a subtle temptation: “We’re equals in Christ, so I don’t need to be as careful or diligent,” or, “Since we’re family, I deserve more flexibility.” Paul confronts that drift. Brotherhood in Christ is not a license for mediocrity or entitlement; it is a summons to increase diligence. When we serve faithfully under fellow believers, we bless those whom God calls beloved.
This principle applies broadly today:
Employee under a Christian supervisor: your work is more than task completion; it is a way to bless a brother or sister and to honor Christ.
Student under a Christian teacher: attentiveness, timely work, and respect glorify God and strengthen the community.
Team member with a Christian lead: resist assuming exceptions or special treatment—serve the team even better because they are God’s people.
It also applies inside the church. Ironically, “because it’s church,” we can plan less carefully, follow through loosely, or assume grace will cover avoidable lapses. Paul’s counsel corrects us:
Beware mediocrity. Excellence is a gospel issue. Our effort should match the message we carry.
Resist entitlement. Shared faith is never leverage for favors, discounts, or leniency. Generosity is grace we extend, not pressure we apply.
Serve all the better. Where those you report to—or those you serve—are believers, double your care, respect, and thoroughness. You are blessing Christ’s beloved and upholding the reputation of God’s household.
Our daily relationships—in office, classroom, shop floor, and sanctuary—are laboratories where the gospel becomes visible.
3) Our Work Becomes Worship When It Flows from the Gospel
At the deepest level, a gospel-shaped work life is not merely about effort but motivation. In Christ, work is reframed: no longer only survival, ambition, or duty, but participation in God’s redemptive purposes. Ordinary tasks—emails, lesson plans, caregiving, spreadsheets, setup/teardown for ministry—take on eternal significance when done for Him, with Him, and through Him.
Philippians 2 says Jesus took the form of a servant (doulos). He did not grasp at privilege but humbled Himself for others, bearing the heaviest yoke—our sin and death. His servanthood sets the pattern for ours. When you patiently help a colleague, complete a job with integrity, or show kindness to someone who hasn’t earned it, you echo Christ’s humility and love.
Seeing work this way reveals its relational and eternal dimensions. Your faithfulness influences people, shapes communities, and quietly displays the kingdom in everyday life. Even the small, unseen acts—showing up on time, honoring commitments, speaking truth graciously—bear witness to a Savior who gave everything for us. The workplace yoke grows lighter when it is yoked to Christ’s purpose; effort becomes offering, and tasks become prayers with fingerprints.
Conclusion
Paul’s teaching calls us to a gospel-centered life in the ordinary and the difficult. Work is not only about expectations, paychecks, or productivity; it is about honoring Christ. Relationships are not merely organizational charts; they are opportunities to embody the family of God. And service is not just doing things; it is worship when it flows from gratitude for Christ.
Whether employee, student, teammate, or volunteer, the same principles hold:
Let your work ethic reflect devotion to Christ.
Let your relationships display humility, respect, and care—especially with fellow believers.
Let your everyday service become worship offered to God.
When work feels heavy or relationships are hard, remember: you are not laboring in vain. The Spirit of Christ equips, strengthens, and guides you to serve faithfully—even when unnoticed. In a world that compartmentalizes faith, Paul insists the gospel touches everything. How we work and how we treat people become the canvases where the next generation sees Christ’s reality. Your steady, everyday faithfulness strengthens the church, blesses others, and honors God.
So, brothers and sisters, press on—not in your own strength, but in the power of the One who calls you beloved and equips you for every good work.
Reflection and Response
Take a moment before the Lord:
In my daily responsibilities, am I serving with diligence and integrity that honors Christ?
Where familiarity with fellow believers has crept in, have I allowed mediocrity or entitlement to lower my standards?
Have I used shared faith to seek special treatment, rather than to serve all the better?
How can I more intentionally treat my work—as employee, student, teammate, or volunteer—as worship that points others to Jesus?
“Whatever you do… do all to the glory of God.” May our work and relationships be living proofs of the gospel’s power.