Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. — Ephesians 6:6
When I was a teenager, I remember taking a job in a retail store. After I completed my training, I did a variety of things around the store, from running a register, stocking shelves, and general customer service. There were quite a few other teenagers that worked at this store and I remember that we all used to spend time talking as we worked together. Then, there were the managers and leaders who watched over us.
Some of those leaders were well-liked. They were genuinely nice people. Others were not liked at all. Not because they were horrible people. Many people did not like them because they pushed for accountability. These leaders expected you to work hard and do your job, no matter what.
Many people worked hard when these leaders were around but often laughed about not working hard when they weren’t. They knew if they were nearby, they were being watched, and they needed to work. As soon as they left the area, they might spend time talking or doing other things in the store.
When Paul writes about eyeservice in this verse, he is talking about when someone is watching. He had just explained that Christians should work hard for those they work for, but not just when they are being watched. In other words, Paul says to do the right thing, even when no one is watching.
If we examine our lives, do we live and work according to God’s will and purpose for our lives? Many Christians simply live their lives for God when they are being watched by other Christians. God expects us to do the right thing, even when no one is watching.
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