Servants Of Christ

Introduction

Dog the Bounty Hunter. Bail bond. Skipping bail, not paying back bond/loan.

You owe that bond and you are subject to penalty until it is paid back.

This passage that has the Greek word “doulos.” Slave, servant, bondservant.

Because of the way slavery was structured, bondservant is my preference.

And because of the way the American chattel slavery system was used, it taints the word slave.

Different system. One that the Old Testament declared anathema:

Exodus 21:16 ESV

16 “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.

For most in ancient Rome, they found themselves slaves through different means: birth, restitution, default on debts, selling oneself voluntarily.

Other than being born into the position of slavery, the rest of these are forms of bonds.

Bonds which some were able to pay back or fulfill their obligation.

Many bondservants were treated better than employees, even becoming like family to their masters.

This reliance led to the decrease of slaves in the Roman Empire because of the high cost of providing for them. Cheaper to hire laborers.

They received some form of payment for work. This is a lot closer to an employee/employer relationship than the American slavery system.

For all these reasons, we find this instruction here in what is a “household code.” The master / bondservant relationship also falls under the home.

Work Well For Christ

vv. 5b, 6b-8

The whole basis of Ephesians: “as to Christ.”

Paul lays this foundation by emphasizing that relationship. Like husbands passage.

The reminder that

I am a bondservant of Christ.

He paid for me…paying my debt. I am no longer mine but I am His.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ESV

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Since I am not my own, this changes how my life is prioritized.

What do I do? I do the will of God.

Dad’s list. And then there was what I received back.

God blesses with something greater than money.

Purpose. Love. Eternal Fellowship.

Because of this…then...

Work Well For Others

vv. 5a, 6a

Obey with sincerity and not just on the surface.

Hollow service receives shallow praise.

The point of Jesus’ teaching in the SOM,

Matthew 6:1 ESV

1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Giving, Praying, Fasting.

Am I serving to be seen by God or by man?

For most of those who were bondservants, there was an agreement they entered.

When you enter into an agreement to work, work with sincerity.

Have a good work ethic.

“Quiet-quitting.” Work well or not at all.

Your work ethic tells others about Jesus.

Work Well With Respect

v. 9

Power dynamics that led to taking advantage of servants and abuse.

A bondservant was a “Person totally responsible to and dependent upon another person.”

The thinking was: They exist to serve me and make me money.

However!

Ephesians 5:21 ESV

21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

This view was completely counter-cultural.

Show no partiality!

Is this your son? your paid servant? your bond servant? Treat them the same.

God’s love guides the lord.

If you have authority, how can you use it to display the love of Jesus?

How can you be a servant-leader to those under your authority?

Conclusion

Within the influence of Christ, there is an equalization of status.

Each are equal in their value, but different in their roles.

No one exists to serve you or make your life better.

The shift waitstaff hate the most is Sunday afternoon.

Here’s how we shift how we treat others: we remember where we started from:

The more we dig through roman artifacts the more we have learned about the master/servant relationship.

Many of them included in their wills or even while they were living freed their servants.

We have even discovered a few instances of not only the paperwork to free them, but on the same day adopting them.

Picture that, going from slave to free and then free to son or daughter.

Exactly what every Christian has experienced.

You were a slave to sin, but God freed you from that bondage.

And not only did He free you, but then He made you a son or daughter, a co-heir with Christ!

What a glorious exchange!