Ephesians 6:6 (DRB)

Passage

Not serving to the eye, as it were pleasing men: but, as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

Nearby Context

Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, provoke not your children to anger: but bring them up in the discipline and correction of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your lords according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, as to Christ.

Ephesians 6:6 Not serving to the eye, as it were pleasing men: but, as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

Ephesians 6:7 With a good will serving, as to the Lord, and not to men.

Ephesians 6:8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man shall do, the same shall he receive from the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "will of God", "serving", "pleasing", "servants", "christ", "doing", and "heart". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "will of God" and "serving", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 5's "Servants be obedient to them that are..." into verse 7's "With a good will serving as to...", so "will of God" and "serving" belong inside that flow. In Ephesians context, the local focus is grace, union with Christ, the church, and new creation.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "will of God" and "serving" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.