“How are we to Serve those whom God has placed over us?”
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We have seen some major fighting and difficulty lately in our world concerning the matter of injustices and unfair treatment. There will always be unfair and cruel treatment of people because we live in a sinful and fallen world.
Now this does not make it right or is an excuse whatsoever to justify ungodly behavior including racism. I just wanted to say this before we get into the topic of what Paul is dealing with here in the beginning verses of Chapter 6.
1 Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.
Teach and urge these things.
Not all forms of slavery have looked the same down through history. Let us consider 4 different types or ways in which slavery has been practiced in history.
The first model was Hebrew servanthood. When we look at God’s righteous rules or His laws that He gave to His people in the Old Testament, we see a system of Hebrew servanthood that was set up for impoverished Israelites to become servants. This type of service was designed to help and even provide for poorer Israelites and their families. Even though Deuteronomy 15 verses 1-18 tell us that God desired that none of His people be poor, He nevertheless makes provision for those who were in poverty since this is a real thing and we live in a sinful and imperfect world. Leviticus chapter 25 helps us to see what this is all about.
35 “If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. 36 Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you. 37 You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit. 38 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.
39 “If your brother becomes poor beside you and sells himself to you, you shall not make him serve as a slave: 40 he shall be with you as a hired worker and as a sojourner. He shall serve with you until the year of the jubilee. 41 Then he shall go out from you, he and his children with him, and go back to his own clan and return to the possession of his fathers. 42 For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as slaves. 43 You shall not rule over him ruthlessly but shall fear your God.
What we see here is that someone could sell themselves into slavery in order to escape poverty. This person should not be treated as a slave but as a hired servant, a worker. This individual would basically enter into an agreement with an employer, working hard until they could once again establish themselves as a free and full citizen again. Of course there were certainly unjust and abusive slaveholders even among God’s people. But we must keep in mind that it was never God’s design or intention for cruelty or abuse. God choose this or allowed it to be a means to help those who were dealing with poverty. This was extremely different from the pre-Civil War slavery in the US and even after the Civil War that continued.
2. The Second Model was Roman slavery. This type of slavery was rooted into the Roman empire and its economy. Many bible scholars estimate that around one-third of the people in the Roman empire were slaves. This actually would have been around 50-60 million people. So, this meant that some slaves were teachers, craftsmen, managers, cooks, and even government officials. Many slaves owned slaves themselves. It is important to keep in mind here that Roman slavery had nothing to do with ethnicity or skin color, but had everything to do with economic and social status. However a slave was still a slave which meant that they were often powerless, and dealt with disgrace and insults. However, this type of system of slavery in the Greco-Roman world was in many ways different than what we know of from the slavery of the South in the U.S.
3. A third type of slavery we need to consider is indentured servitude. This type of slavery was more common in colonial America, as there were so many people who could not afford to come to America. What they would have to do is contract themselves out as indentured servants and agree to work in certain households until they could earn enough money to pay off their debt. Many Historians say that around one-half to two-thirds of European white immigrants who came to America came as indentured servants. They picture of slavery would have looked much like the Hebrew servanthood that we talked about earlier.
4. The final type of slavery, is a picture of slavery connected to the African slave trade. This last example was promoted during the 18th and 19th centuries, such that millions upon millions of Africans were traded and sold across Europe. Africans were transported in cruel, and terrible conditions that would leave many of them dead before they even arrived at a destination. Once they did arrive they were sold into slavery and were subjected to hard working conditions, as well as physical abuse, sexual abuse, and torture. Let me just be the first to say that this is evil, sinful, unjust and not what God designed in any form or shape. But this is not what Paul was addressing here in 1 Timothy chapter 6.
While of course there has always been injustices and cruelty in our world, this passage will be confusing and difficult for you if the only thought or picture of slavery you have in your mind is the African slave trade, and here is why. Some of the slaves that the apostle Paul was talking too were most likely sitting in church with Timothy and the other brothers and sisters that had gathered together on the Lord’s Day. The church loved them, cared for them, and were commanded to provide for them as they would other fellow members of the body of Christ. Paul was not ignorant of the evil and abuse that could happen and did happen, however in no way would he have ever condoned or supported the mistreatment of slaves.
1. How should we serve a Non-Christian?
1. How should we serve a Non-Christian?
1 Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.
Again during this time let us remember that slavery was a very big part of the Greco-Roman culture. Slaves were the employees who did the work for their wealthy masters or boss. Slaves during this time were acquired in several different ways.
-Some were prisoners of war. Numbers 31. Deut. 20.
-Some could be purchased. Exodus 21:7. Leviticus 25:44-46.
-Some people sold themselves into slavery. Leviticus 25:39. Deuteronomy 15:12-17.
-And even others were sold to pay off debts. 2 Kings 4:1.
When we go back to the Old Testament, we never see that slavery was forbidden or outlawed, but it was carefully guarded. Jewish slaves could not be held for more than six years.
2 When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing.
And slaves that were in fact abused by their masters were to be set free.
26 “When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free because of his eye. 27 If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because of his tooth.
As in the Old, the New Testament nowhere calls for the abolition of slavery. Even for Jesus and the apostles to have called for slavery’s abolition would have been to promote unemployment and social chaos, but eventually the influence of Christianity helped bring to an end the abusive forms of slavery in the Roman empire.
So, what does this phrase being under a yoke mean? This is an expression of submission or being under the authority of someone else. The word bondservant here is the Greek word (doulos) and it means to be in submission to another person. One who was obligated to obey orders.
-This would mean that even Jesus served the Father. Philippians 2:7.
-This would mean that believers are to serve God. 1 Peter 2:16. We are slaves to the Lord.
-And also then ultimately to unbelievers and believers
A slave was someone who was required to perform duties given to him by another who was over him in authority. Like a boss is for us today.
We now come to the word MASTERS. That word may sound awful to many of us today, but the Greek term here does not carry the meaning of someone who was harsh, cruel or abusive. This simply means or refers to someone with absolute, unrestricted authority and was even used of Jesus.
21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
So, how do we serve those who are non-Christians? Clearly we know that there are many non-Christian employers or bosses today. And here in our passage this would apply to anyone who is an authority over the believer at work. Believers were to regard these non-Christian masters as worthy of all honor. As believers we should show a respect to those in authority over us, regardless of how we feel about them. Even those employers who are very harsh and difficult to work for or are unfair are to be honored because of their role as supervisors in the work place. Here is a great example.
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
The main reason we are to honor a non-Christian boss or master is so that the name of God and our doctrine may not be spoken against. If we fail to honor our employers that could cause God and His Word which is truth to be spoken against.
So, we as believers have a responsibility to live in such a way that we do live out our faith in the work place. How is this done? We have a proper attitude of submission, respect and hard work as we work for a boss and ultimately to the Lord.
2. How should we serve a Christian?
2. How should we serve a Christian?
2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.
Teach and urge these things.
I think that when we consider working for a Christian employer or boss we see that there may be this temptation to expect special privileges because of our equality in Christ. There may be times that we can take advantage both in the employee and the employer if not careful.
Now let me say that those who are leaders in the church are to be followed by all in the church as we see in Hebrews 13:17. However, this does not carry over into the work place.
Christians who work for other Christians must not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers.
-Don’t think down about another brother in Christ.
-Don’t undervalue the authority of your Christian employer by treating them as equals on the job.
-We should have a submissive working attitude and behavior at all times.
-We should serve them even better since those who benefit by their good service are believers.
Here are some great principles that we see in Scripture of what our conduct should be in regards for believers on the job.
First, we should serve our employer obediently.
5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,
2. As believers we should serve our employer completely.
22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
3. We should show respect and a sincerity of heart.
5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,
4. We should also serve our employer excellently. We do our jobs to the best of our ability. We work hard.
23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
These principles are the foundation to Christian living and being a bright light in our dark world and place of employment. In our work places may others including those who God has put in authority over us see Christ and may the Lord be glorified and honored in all that we do here on earth below.
(Close in a Word of Prayer)