6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
There is a great word in the original language that I just have to comment about. It is literally “eye-servant”. Think of that. Are you bound by what others think about your outward appearance? If so, you might be an “eye-servant” to them. This passage is giving instruction to servants/slaves. We don’t have too many of these, but many of us know about employer/employee relationships. If you are an “eye-servant” at work you put on a show for the boss when they arrive. You make yourself look good for them. You get busy doing what you are supposed to be doing when they are around. The rest of the time you don’t perform to you best. You have a double standard for yourself. When the boss is around, you are on your toes, doing your best. Other times, well, they are not as important. When they are around, you value what they value. If they like innovation, you come up with new ideas and are ready to present them at a moment’s notice, usually when others are around so you look good. If they like a friendly atmosphere, you put on the ‘friendly face’ so that they see how friendly you are. You seem to mold yourself to their expectations. Maybe you don’t do this, but I bet you know someone who does. They change depending on who is around. Doesn’t that bug you! You just wish they could be the same person all the time, not just when certain people are around. We must be careful to monitor our motives. The ‘why’ of our actions is important. What we do and how we do it matter. We need to be motivated in our actions by our love for the Lord. We need to work, not for an earthly boss, but for the Lord. We need to give our best, not because we get a paycheck and a promotion, but because we want to honor the Lord in everything that we do. So, are you an “eye-servant”?
The Arnold Journey 