Here is a very familiar passage. Paul is busy with the responsibility of leading a Christian life as "imitators of God" paying close attention to the relationship of husband and wife, parent and child, and master and servant. As we look at this relationship we learn some very practical principles as Scripture focus' on the Christian life that we are called to live in ALL our relationships as we "sere the Lord" as servants. Often times you and I are concerned with the relationships here below before and instead of pleasing God our Father in Heaven of whom the reward it. Remember God is not a respecter of persons!

Always: The service of God is all encompassing with all of life standing in the service of God. Scripture does not enter into the social relationships below, but wants us to know that no matter what relationship we are in, we are ALWAYS and must always be in and under the service of our God although it gives concrete advise to some of these relationships. Not interested in the temporal, sociological, or temporary, but the ETERNAL and what it means to be a Christian in those relationship and having a positive impact (not a bad master, wife, child) as they stand according to the service of God! We are taken to a higher relationship. The earthly is temporal and we are taken for this relationship (servant and takes us to a servant of God) and we must live vertically in ALL of these relationships! No man has absolute authority and/or accountability. We are in this relationship as a husband or parent UNDER God in submission to Him!!! The Lord stands in the forefront of it ALL! He looks at the heart and is not a respecter of persons and does not play favorites as no one impresses God in these relationships. Two things are pointed out here: 1. Our relationship to God as it is essential and must be pleasing to God and primary...and 2. Our relationship to others which is secondary. Because we often pay so much attention to how we look to men and women that we miss how we look to God as it is engrained in our nature and as we deal with the repercussions of men. But, this is only temporal and it is NOT eternal. It is not our earthly boss but to God who we stand!

Heartily: Not just with eye service, but fearing God! That is why we labor "hard" or not about just "not getting caught" when the employer or teacher is around as we do not want to tarnish our image without paying attention to God who sees it all! It is in all our human natures. But doing it with fear and trembling because we are the children of God called to live a sanctified life as Christians. We fear and tremble as we see the awesomeness of the task and the responsibility before the face of God! Everything else is circumstantial and passes away! I serve God only in every relationship before His face! And...with singleness of heart as a citizen of Heaven first and foremost as we are in our relationship here below. "You cannot serve God and mammon." From the heart and soul which means we do everything wholeheartedly...doing our very best before the face of God our Maker and we are taken out of the mundane and are lifted up to the spiritual and this dictates how you and I behave in everything we do! We ARE the servants of the Living God!

Reward: Knowing of the Lord we will receive the inheritance. Only the child of God can see this as men put themselves back into the servitude and slavery of mere men again and deny themselves the true freedom under the Lord. You won't necessarily be rewarded in this life....but we already have the inheritance and will be rewarded for our works as we are required to labor diligently before HIS face, to His glory and praise in every aspect of our lives!