Serving Well
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
This is the final part of this section on how we ought to behave as members of God’s household.
The fact of our status as bondservants of Christ, means that this passage is universally applicable for all believers.
We all find ourselves in the employ of others in various ways and at various times.
On the issue of Roman slavery.
First-century slavery ≠ American chattel slavery.
It was not race-based.
Slaves were acquired by many means.
Through warfare, banditry, punishment.
In Roman slavery, the slave was the property of the master, to dispose of as the master pleased.
The slave was bound by law to obey their master’s every command.
Failure in service could mean all manner of violence, even death.
The Roman master held the power of life and death over his slaves.
Paul is not endorsing the institution of slavery.
He entreats slaves to pursue their freedom if possible.
And he forbids that any Christian should make themselves a slave.
21 Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)
22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ.
23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.
The command to submit to a human authority does not imply that the authority is morally approved.
The Bible often condemns the means by which slaves were taken as slaves.
Paul is, controversially for us today, not making a statement about systemic injustices or inequalities in society.
He is not evaluating the morality of slavery.
Unfortunately, the Church has had a checkered history with slavery.
Henry Highland Garnet: [While slavery] stretched its dark wings of death over the land, the church stood silently by—the priests prophesied falsely, and people loved to have it so.
Until the end of the Nineteenth century, slavery was widely accepted in the west by Christians.
In light of our checkered history with slavery, it is all the more important that when we read passages like this that we get the Bible straight.
That we understand what slavery has been in different ages.
That we know what the Bible teaches to differing people at different times.
Christian proponents of American slavery would often focus on these passages in order to keep their slaves (who were Christians) subservient without paying attention to the passages aimed at them.
So why is Paul not addressing slavery in a way that would make us comfortable?
Perhaps it was because Rome was not ready to abolish slavery.
Millions of people were enslaved (perhaps one-third of the population)
It was too deeply rooted.
Perhaps Paul was expecting that the reality of Gal. 3:28 would lead to its ultimate abolition (as it did).
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
This argument has some merit, but it does not account for what the NT does say against the institution of slavery.
Slavery is nowhere considered a part of the created order.
1 Timothy 1:9–11 (ESV)
9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,
10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,
11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.
Buying and selling human beings is an act of lawlessness and disobedience to God.
Manstealing was a capital offense according to Ex. 21:16
16 “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.
However, certain types of enslavement were permitted.
The wartime capture and forced labor of foreign peoples.
More importantly, voluntary servitude for the repayment of debts.
To be released after no more than 6 years.
The kind of slavery that existed in the African slave trade was entirely outside the scope of what would every have been permitted in a Biblical worldview.
But this passages does not concern slaveholders at all, but slaves.
What Paul is doing is instructing slaves who are Christians about how they ought to conduct themselves as followers of Christ in the context of their enslavement. (Pastoral counsel)
Faithfulness to Christ ≠ mounting armed rebellion or reforming the systems of government and its societal institutions (by force).
Such opportunities were explicitly withheld from first-century slaves.
We are always going to find ourselves in difficult contexts in our lives. And the test for us is whether we will remain faithful and endure for Christ through those trials.
We overcome through endurance.
Serving Unbelieving Masters
Serving Unbelieving Masters
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
All who are under a yoke as bondservants:
This indicates oppressive situations.
Suffering under cruel, demanding, or uncaring masters.
Slaves were vulnerable (no rights) and were often subjects to abuse.
The implication (especially in light of the following verse) is that the master is a non-believer.
What do you do when your boss is a Pagan heathen?
This passage isn’t only for a bygone era, it has great importance for today.
The relationship of slave & master was an economic relationship.
It is, at its core, and employee and employer relationship.
This is how we can apply it today. Context may change, but principles don’t change.
Modern employees are often under a sort of yoke.
Many jobs can feel dehumanizing:
Boring and routine.
At the mercy of executives and shareholders.
Subject to sudden reorganizations and layoffs.
Many employees have little to know agency in their place of work.
Regard their own masters as worthy of all honor:
This means that we don’t have regard for our masters on the basis of their actual or perceived worthiness.
Rather, we regard them as if they were worthy.
Every boss deserves a full day’s work from every Christian employee.
We are to honor our bosses.
Scripture doesn’t make exceptions for less-than-ideal work situations.
Peter makes this explicit.
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.
We are to honor our bosses even if they are incompetent, immoral, unreasonable, overbearing, etc.
We regard them as worthy on account of God’s sovereignty.
God has placed them in that position of authority.
Honoring one’s earthly master is to honor God.
Challengingly, we are to give them all honor.
This means that we honor our bosses even when they are not around.
No break room struggle sessions.
No ranting to your spouse at home.
Don’t disrespect or mistreat those in authority over you because you don’t like them or because they are not believers.
Sometimes Christians imagine Christian freedom as raising us above all other obligations.
We like to think that we are above menial tasks; that we must have some great evangelistic work to do.
Don’t fall into the trap of have an undeserved sense of moral superiority.
This is exceedingly difficult because we are all prone to fall into the trap of judging our unbelieving bosses harshly.
But this exposes our lack of trust in God.
This is a blessing meant for our sanctification, teaching us to walk by faith.
Being a Christian doesn’t make you better than others, it makes you a life line for others.
There is a missional aspect to our respect for our masters as well.
We honor our human masters precisely because we wish to persuade them.
Caution: Submission to human authorities is not absolute.
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
But we must never do what God has forbidden.
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
But whenever and wherever it is possible, Christians should do all they can to honor their human masters.
Why?
For the sake of the name of God (His reputation and character)
We are God’s representatives.
We represent his excellent character (holiness, love, justice, etc.)
5 Now therefore what have I here,” declares the Lord, “seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Their rulers wail,” declares the Lord, “and continually all the day my name is despised.
A Christian who gives less than his best effort paints a poor picture of Jesus Christ.
God cares a great deal about his reputation and what outsiders think of Christianity.
Paul has indicated this at many points in 1 Timothy.
2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
7 Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach.
The way that a Christian behaves on the job is a major part of his/her testimony.
This has historical significance.
Roman masters got itchy when their slaves started worshiping new gods.
Now there were competing loyalties.
If Christians were to behave badly, it would reinforce their worst suspicions about Christianity and close a door for evangelism.
For the sake of the teaching (His gospel)
Never give an occasion for unbelievers to disrespect God or to ignore the gospel of Jesus Christ because of our conduct or our attitude.
The gospel is the only hope of their salvation, and our behavior should never discredit that message.
Whether or not someone accepts or rejects the gospel depends partly upon the message bearer.
9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
When a slave renders difficult obedience, he presents a powerful testimony that can serve as a compelling witness to his master. He images forth the very suffering that Christ himself underwent.
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.
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
Be an open Christian at your work so that your work will be judged and evaluated in the context of your faith.
Preparing the soil and spreading the seed of the gospel.
Serving Believing Masters
Serving Believing Masters
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.
The gospel was taking root in the Roman world and it was already overturning Greco-Roman culture.
Slave and master alike were turning to Christ and even worshiping together in the same church.
This begs the question how are these formerly separate groups to relate to each other?
Galatians 3:28 puts for the radical new reality for the church.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Paradoxically, there was absolute equality before God, yet great inequality within the broader society.
Now Paul has already addressed the conduct of Christians masters.
They should not mistreat them or do violence to them (Eph 6:9):
9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
That they should deal with them justly (Col 4:1):
1 Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
That they should consider them as beloved family (Philemon 16):
16 no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
His reasons for not addressing masters in this letter is unknown, but we can infer that perhaps the believing slaves at Ephesus were a bigger priority for Paul than the masters.
Perhaps some slaves began to think: Gal 5:1
1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
My master is my brother, therefore I am no longer a slave.
But the NT nowhere tells slaves that they are permitted to throw off their own yoke.
So what can they do?
Pray for their deliverance.
Purchase their freedom legally.
The simply and controversal truth is that slavery is just another kind of suffering, and for the Christian, suffering is not something to be avoided at all costs.
It is to be endured for the sake of Christ.
Not to be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers;
Certain slaves were becoming disrespectful towards their masters.
Seeking to take advantage of their masters because they wer brothers in Christ.
This highlights an important and unfortunate reality:
People often treat their own family worse than they treat guests.
We presume upon a familial connection.
In the workplace, Christian employees can similarly presume upon this spiritual brotherhood for personal gain and advantage.
Expecting forgiveness and taking liberties in a way that would never fly in a strictly secular workplace.
When Christians do this, they are acting worse than unbelievers.
Christian workplaces can easily become toxic workplaces.
Our expectations of one another are sky-high.
Our judgment upon others’ failure is unforgiving.
But the distinguishing mark of Christian fellowship is supposed to be love.
Servants are to do good service.
This is the language of being a benefactor to someone else.
Servants are to do a good thing to their masters by working excellently.
Our motivation is brotherly affection.
Others are our beloved brothers.
We should love our brothers in Christ and hold them dear for the sake of Christ, who is their Savior and ours. How can I hate who Christ loves and died for?
Conclusion
Conclusion
The honor we show to others is an important aspect of how we honor Jesus Christ.
The solution is to make our service to earthly masters a matter of service to Jesus Christ.
Christians workers are not out to please their bosses, but always the Lord.
We are free to be faithful even when they are not faithful.
Every situation is an opportunity to live a Christian life that pleases God.
Working for God in the work place is not always easy.
And difficult workplaces make living according to biblical principles very hard.
God gives us two compelling reasons to endure in work and seek to please God in our workplaces.
God is your master—you owe Him your obedience.
5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,
6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,
8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
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.
23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
Good service to earthly masters is service to the heavenly master/the ultimate master.
God became our slave—We follow his example.
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
We obey a master who demonstrated extravagant generosity to us. He willingly served as our slave.
Since he has already done all for us, we should respond by doing our utmost for him and in all our work.
The workplace is the place where we have the greatest opportunity to reach and how we behave in our workplace will speak an important word about our God.
Our gospel and our work are inseparable.
Servitude is at the heart of the Christian calling.
Marriage: Husbands and wives.
Family: Parents and children.
Work: Masters and slaves:
True servitude is Christ-centered. It leads us to Christ and it makes us like Christ.
43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
