From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase

It has well been said that one of the supreme tests of godliness is what a Christian does - and does not do - when he is alone.

The Passages in Question

A reader has asked, "What is the meaning of 'eyeservice' in Ephesians 6:6 and Colossians 3:22?" Let us begin by looking at the passages in question:

Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. (Ephesians 6:5-8)

Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. (Colossians 3:22)

The Word in the Greek

The word translated "eyeservice" in these two passages is the Greek ophthalmodoulia, a compound word formed from ophthalmos (an eye) and doulos (a slave). It is used only in these two New Testament passages. It means "service performed only under the master's eye" - in other words, work that is diligently performed when the master is present and watching, but neglected when he is not looking or is absent.

The Immediate Context

In the Greek and Roman world, bondservants or slaves were bought and sold as commodities. Such practices were never God's intention for mankind, but are an outworking of the curse of sin. In New Testament times as in all eras, slaves were often poorly treated by ungodly masters.

Some slaves became Christians in the early church. The most well-known example is Onesimus, the runaway slave of Philemon, on whose behalf Paul pleads in his epistle to the latter. In Romans 16:23 Paul sends greetings from "Quartus, a brother." Quartus literally means "number four" or "fourth one" and it was not uncommon for slaves to be named in this way in view of their low estate in society. But in Christ, there are no such distinctions: "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free - and have all been made to drink into one Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:13).

Even in an environment where mistreatment was common, Paul tells Christian slaves that they are to obey their "masters according to the flesh" with sincerity, not only when they are watching, but also when they are not watching or absent, because ultimately such service is not rendered merely to a human master but to the Lord "as bondservants of Christ." It is noteworthy that Paul makes no distinction as to whether the master is a believer like Philemon, or an unbeliever. The same standard applies. However, Paul does warn Christian slaveholders, "Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven" (Colossians 4:1).

The Broader Principle

The broader principle of "not with eyeservice" most certainly also applies to employees in their relationships to their employers, and children in their relationships to parents. But over-arching all other considerations, the principle applies to Christians in their relationship to their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whose bondservants we all are. It has well been said that a supreme test of godliness is what a Christian does - and does not do - when he is alone.

We find many examples in Scripture of people who thought they could violate the "eyeservice principle." Cain (Genesis 4) and David (2 Samuel 11 and 12) thought they could literally get away with murder. Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) thought they could get away with lying to the Holy Spirit. But they and others soon realized, as we all must, that we are never alone. This is true of mankind in general, and it is true more specifically of those indwelled by the Holy Spirit:

Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19)

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)

For His eyes are on the ways of man, and He sees all his steps. (Job 34:21)

The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. (Psalm 11:4)

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. (Proverbs 15:3)

The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

"Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?" says the Lord; "Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:24)

For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. (Matthew 10:26)

There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13)

How Is It With You?

Dear Christian reader, how is it with you? Do you follow one standard of behavior when other people are watching, and a different standard when they are not? Remember that God is always watching, and that your body is His temple. The living God dwells within you. In 2 Corinthians 7:1 Paul tells us that it is for this very reason that we must be constantly striving to "perfect holiness in the fear of God." We must do so "not with eyeservice...but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart."

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