Friends with the Boss

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.–John 15:15

Once upon a time, a jokester posted this sign at his workplace: “The beatings will continue until morale improves.”

Whether a leader is a small business owner overseeing a few workers or a president of a large corporation with hundreds of individuals on the payroll, a leader is responsible for motivating his or her employees to complete a goal. The manner in which a “boss” interacts with his or her staff determines the effectiveness of any organization, whether the workforce consists of volunteers or highly paid executives.

Physical “beatings” are not an appropriate means of inspiration, but, unfortunately, many supervisors intentionally intimidate their employees verbally, mentally, and emotionally. As a result, an organization is saturated with fear, mistrust, and resentment.
A leader must know the right way to motivate the right people at the right time in order to get the right results.

Conversely, exemplary and productive employees will complete the tasks they are assigned effectively. Jerry Clower once said, “The key to being a good employee is to find out who the boss is and, then, do what the boss says!”

During the time of Christ, slavery was common. Slaves or “servants” were treated as property and were not given any rights. A servant’s master or “lord” was in complete control. Harsh consequences were served to any servant who was not cooperative.

While at times Paul used the term “slave” to indicate his submission to Christ, he consistently trumpeted the joy of being a slave for Jesus in comparison with the emptiness of being enslaved in sin.

In John 15:15, Jesus underscored he did not view his followers as hired servants or slaves. Jesus said, “I have called you friends.” For Jesus, he considered his followers “friends,” because he had communicated with them on an intimate level. Jesus had shared His heart with them. Since he was the Son of God, he had actually shared the heart of God with them. They knew why he had been sent to earth. While they did not understand all of the far reaching implications, He had shared with his friends that he would have to die. Even more puzzling to his disciples, Jesus told them he was come back to life after he died.

After the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, the disciples were empowered with the Holy Spirit and this little band of men spread the Gospel throughout the world in relatively “warp speed.” Why? Well, their friend Jesus had told them what was going to happen. When they saw him post-crucifixion, post-death, they knew they had a true friend. Also, they were compelled to let people know that they could be a friend of God, too.

Consequently, God should not be seen as a boss just waiting to fire you in grand “Donald Trumpian” style. He certainly is the boss, but always remember he’s on your side. Jesus is your friend. He did not, and is not, hiding the truth from you. He loves you.

A Friend of God

You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.—John 15:14

We all have different types of friends. Realistically, many folks we consider friends are just acquaintances. They know our name and we know theirs. On another level, some folks are considered friends based on past associations. I have “college friends” to whom I have not spoken for several years. Other “friends” garner that distinction because they live near us or attend church with us. However, most of these folks are not true friends.

Being a true friend requires some sacrifice. I have heard many men say, “A true friend is a guy who will help you move.” For me, based on that test, I don’t have too many friends. Just ask someone to meet you at your house this Saturday morning to help you load a washing machine or a sofa bed onto a truck. Then, you’ll know how much they like you—you’ll know if they are your friend.

Richard Foster has said, “The desperate need for today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.”

Jesus wants us to go deeper. He challenges us to stop relating to people as business acquaintances or neighbors that we only give an occasional wave, as we drive by their houses or pass them in the hall. True friends do not just talk about popular movies or temperature changes. He commanded “love one another as I have loved you (John 15:12).”

Continuing, Jesus gave us a standard for relating to one another. He said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends (John 15:13).” Talk about deep. Jesus expressed that the highest act of love is to die for another—just as He did for the ones he loved. O.K. We can only conclude friendship is not for “sissies.”

We may not ever have to die for someone, but, to be friends, we are going to have to sacrifice something. Listening, encouraging, forgiving, supporting, waiting, and helping are ways we love others—ways we are deeply friends.

This depth of relating to one another is commanded, not suggested, by Christ. He followed his words with, “You are my friends if you do what I command you (John 15:14).”

Please hear this deep down in your soul. Ready? There is no obedience without sacrifice.

You can’t meet God’s ideal for relationships with others—including your spouse, your children, your co-workers, your enemies—without giving up something. Casual Christians and “I’ll-do-it-if-I-feel-like-it” people are not friends of God. To produce the fruit of love in our lives we must be willing to get dirty. I once heard someone say, "Ministry is messy." If you are really helping someone, you may get soiled, hurt, or even cursed, but this means you are loving people just like Jesus would.

Are you a friend of God? Are you a true friend? How deep are you?

In Ephesians 3:18, it is recorded that Paul prayed that the Ephesians would comprehend “the breadth, and length, and depth, and height” of Jesus’ love. That is my prayer for you today.

Cut Off

Just south of us, in rural George County, Mississippi, is a large "you pick 'em" vegetable and fruit farm. The Eubanks family has produced crops in Mississippi for a century. Currently, they farm over 1000 acres, including over 20 types of fruits and vegetables. Someone once told me that their operation is completely streamlined and monitored by the latest technology. The farm workers are given full responsibility for a specific section of a field. Then, the workers prepare the soil, plant the crop, and harvest the produce. All of their actions are recorded in a computer data base.

At harvest time, the employees are paid based on what is produced. So, when the produce or fruit is picked, they enter a code assigned to them into a computer which indicates who gathered the produce submitted. Productive workers are rewarded for the quality and quantity of what is yielded from the field. However, if the laborer was not attentive to the plants and failed to provide fertile soil for his crop, he receives no compensation for not producing. Minimal compensation is given for inferior fruit or vegetables. Farmers make their living based on what is produced, not on what was planted.

Similarly, God is in the production business. As the supreme spiritual vinedresser, he is not satisfied with folks who are just in the Christian field. He looks at what is produced. He is interested in seeing our baskets filled with spiritual fruit.

Jesus said that Father God “cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit.” Please notice, Jesus is talking about branches that are “in” Him. So, he is referring people who claim to have a relationship with Him. Translators have translated this passage as “cuts off,” “takes away,” or “removes.” Individuals who practice a superficial relationship with God and do not live like Jesus are useless. God removes people like that so that they will not hinder the work of the Kingdom of God.

Some interpreters believe “cutting off,” in John 15:2, means a person can be “born again,” but, due to their rebellion, can fall out of a relationship with God. Then, the once “saved” person is doomed to Hell. I believe this is referring to a loss of rewards (see I Cor. 3:15) and not a loss of salvation. J. Vernon Magee once said something like, "There will be some branches in heaven that are going smell like smoke."

However, a person who lives like an unbeliever—disobeying God's will in lifestyle choices, financial stewardship, church attendance—needs to check themselves to determine if they ever truly surrendered their life to Jesus. All true branches are going to want to be productive.

Can you imagine a member of a basketball team refusing to play when the coach called her number? You could only conclude that a basketball player that does not want to score or play must hate the coach, his teammates, and/or the institution for which he plays.

Why would any true believer who has truly asked God to forgive their sins, believing Jesus died a tortuous death and came back to life, not want to live a life of dedicated service to the God of all grace. Why would they prefer to stay home when fellow Christians are meeting in worship? Why would they withhold the tithe and offerings from their church? Why would they act like an atheist or agnostic by not consulting with God or his scriptures when major decisions arise? Would a person connected to God never let anyone know they are a Christian?

Are you attached to the vine? If you answered "yes," show me your fruit.