Godly Submission is Worship

The Historical Context

Living that is a fitting response, and follows Christ’s example.

How we relate to those in authority over us. Submission. (To give up ourselves to the will of another) To obey

The Historical Context

It was a practice both common and abused.

Ephesians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Submission of Employees

Slaves translates the Greek douloi, and indicates subjection and usually bondage. In biblical times slavery was common and much abused. In both Greek and Roman cultures, most slaves had no legal rights and were treated as commercial commodities. Roman citizens came to look on work as beneath their dignity, and the entire empire gradually came to function largely by slave power. Slaves were bought, sold, traded, used, and discarded as heartlessly as if they were animals or tools. Considerate masters such as Pliny the Elder, who was deeply grieved over the death of some of his slaves, were exceptional.

Slaves translates the Greek douloi, and indicates subjection and usually bondage. In biblical times slavery was common and much abused. In both Greek and Roman cultures, most slaves had no legal rights and were treated as commercial commodities. Roman citizens came to look on work as beneath their dignity, and the entire empire gradually came to function largely by slave power. Slaves were bought, sold, traded, used, and discarded as heartlessly as if they were animals or tools. Considerate masters such as Pliny the Elder, who was deeply grieved over the death of some of his slaves, were exceptional.

Ephesians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Submission of Employees

The Roman statesman Cato said, “Old slaves should be thrown on a dump, and when a slave is ill do not feed him anything. It is not worth your money. Take sick slaves and throw them away because they are nothing but inefficient tools.” Augustus crucified a slave who accidentally killed his pet quail, and a man named Pollio threw a slave into a pond of deadly lamprey eels for breaking a crystal goblet. Juvenal wrote of a slave owner whose greatest pleasure was “listening to the sweet song of his slaves being flogged.”

MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1986). Ephesians (p. 323). Chicago: Moody Press.

Slavery in Scripture

Accusation: The Bible is wrong because it condones slavery.

Slavery in Scripture

The Bible doesn’t condone kidnapping or abusive slavery!

Exodus 21:16 ESV

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

Different Degrees of Servant-hood

Slave- Forced Slavery and de-humanizing abuse. (Daniel and the Israelites in Babylon)

Bond-servant-Where someone was a servant under contractual agreement. (Gehazi)

Servant- Servant with even greater liberty. (Ruth)

In the NT Period

Slavery was a part of the economic system. Slavery could be because of financial debts to be payed, you could be poor at the point of starvation and sell yourself into slavery, and some where abandoned at birth by their parents and were taken as slaves from early childhood.

It’s also important to note that servants were considered a part of the family structure. The home was the “business” and while servants were employees, they were also the responsibility of their masters. There were a part of the family structure and sometimes even became intimate parts of the family. Like in the OT where a slave could voluntarily pledge himself to his master by boring a hole in his ear.

Though the bible doesn’t forbid slavery, it did offer regulations to govern it humanely and it set up the principles that brought about it’s demise.

The Demise of Slavery

It was Christianity that brought about the demise of Modern Slavery.

Encyclopedia of the Reformed Faith Slavery

The Enlightenment and evangelical religion were two forces opposed to slavery. Quakers, Moravians, and Methodists were among the first voices of opposition. Efforts by leaders such as Thomas Clarkson, Granville Sharp, and William Wilberforce led to the prohibition of slave trade in Great Britain (1807) and the British Empire (1827). Then slavery was abolished (1833).

The importation of slaves ended in the United States (1808). Quakers, revivalists, and abolition societies opposed the institution. The Presbyterian General Assembly (1818) condemned slavery, insisting that Christians should work for its extinction.

No Direct Comparison in our Day (Military is the closest)

Application to all realms of authority.

The importance of authority and submission in God’s view is highlighted here. This is another illustration and a clear one of the type of worship we are to offer Christ. This applies to marriage, parenting and even to some part employees. You aren’t bound like to a master, like a slave, but they have made a commitment and are obligated to labor for their employer. Follow similar principles

A Submission That Pleases God

The manner of our submission to all realms of authority.

A Willing Obedience to Jesus

“obey”- to keep on obeying, to surrender yourself to their directions

- “With Fear and Trembling”-an anxious eagerness to do your duty. (a fear of displeasing)

Trying to win his favor like it’s your first day.

This tends to wane with familiarity and time.

Children have a natural desire for this, to please their parents, we should cultivate this in them.

- “As to Christ” (For him, out of love and devotion to him.)

It’s the good works he saved us for. You may have despised your employment before you were saved, but now you do it for a different master, and he is worthy!

True spiritual work isn’t merely coming to Church or having personal devotions, witnessing. But every aspect of your life is worship, to him, for his glory when you do it with the right heart attitude.

What if I don’t enjoy my job?

Jacob served for Rachel and the days were few for the love he had for her. If you purpose your heart on loving Christ, even the most menial tasks can become a delight! (Shovel gravel and fill potholes)

Even if your authority is unrighteous.

1 Peter 2:18–20 ESV

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.

Note: You are not bound to an employer, if you cannot follow this command, you should then find another place to work. In the mean time, you are commanded to be diligent and faithful where you are.

1 Peter 2:18-20

With sincerity and diligence

- “ With A Sincere Heart” (Not hypocritically, but genuine and thorough) (If being filled with the Spirit doesn’t make you a better employee, you haven’t got it yet)

Diligent (Not as People Pleaser, only when others are looking) (Reliable, productive, and cooperative)

-Diligent

“eye-service”-only when others are looking. This is just a mere outward show without any sincere desire.

Gehazi pleased Elisha so long as Elisha was around.

“Not as People Pleaser”- eye-service shows a focus on pleasing man instead of God.

You ought to be Reliable, productive, and cooperative. A Lazy christian worker is an oxymoron.

With a Desire to Do Good

- A Desire For the Good of Others

Not motivated by greed. As Christians we understand that we stand to inherit everything, the new world, the eternal kingdom so we don’t have to fight for this worlds good.

So instead, we can now seek the good of others and love. (A sincere desire for your employers good)

A desire to do your husband good, your parents.

Trusting God to give the appropriate reward

Jesus will reward you for your labors. Wives, when you submit to a husband who is less than a Christlike example, you’re doing it to God and he will reward you accordingly. Children, same to you. Same to you, employees hired hands.

A willing obedience to Jesus with sincerity and diligence, with a desire to do good, and trusting God to give the appropriate reward.

A Vision For God’s Glory (Practical Application)

1. Don’t over-focus or over-spiritualize service to Christ.

Riding a tractor, laying tile, making furniture, harvesting honey, building houses, fixing vehicles, crunching numbers, caring for your children, keeping your home and every other type of labor are not menial tasks that you need to escape from in order to serve Jesus. God isn’t calling everyone to abandon vocation and go be missionaries somewhere. That is where you serve Jesus and it is spiritual, it is God honoring when you do it with your heart toward him for him!

Application

Gospel work doesn’t just need preachers, it needs men and women who can aid and support the work of the ministry to help it carry on. Ask yourself, how can I support the work of the ministry? If God has blessed my job lately, maybe I can purpose to give more

2. True Service to Christ is not in unshackling yourself from every burden, but bearing your yoke and purposing your heart.

1 Corinthians 7:21 ESV

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.)

Illustration

My experience from despising working in the logging industry to enjoying and advancing in it when I learned to do it for the Lord!

See your place of work as your calling, your mission field by virtue of your being there.

3. See your place of work as your calling, your mission field by virtue of your being there.

Titus 2:9–10 ESV

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.

It is a testimony to unbelievers

It shows your alliegance to your master.