Home Base 3: Freed to Serve Freely
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Intro
Intro
Freedom is not the divorce from a master or having self mastery. It is being under the right master.
Most of the worst trouble I ever got into was because I did not obey those who had authority over me. We often think we are free if we don’t have to submit to someone else’s rule, but lack of submission often leads us into situations that are far more enslaving than the submission we were running from.
I was once pulled over for speeding. I was running behind and I thought that by driving really fast I would get to my destination on time but it backfired. By freeing myself from the tethers of the law I actually took much more time to get to my destination. I had to hang out with a nice OHP officer for 10 minutes or so. Had I followed the speed limit, I would have made it to my destination quicker. I may have still been late, but not as late as I was.
Being submitted to authority actually brings us freedom when it is the right authority. Everyone is submitted to someone, whether we like that or not.
Ultimate freedom comes from being submitted to Christ. He is the true and benevolent master who is also the greatest servant. He leads with the proven heart of a servant and he calls all of us to serve and lead as he serves and leads.
Tension
Tension
Our world today, particularly American/Western culture, hates the idea of being subjugated to anyone. Yet here Paul instructs slaves (δοῦλος) to be obedient to their masters. The idea of being subjected is one we may struggle greatly with but it is an issue of deep, Spiritual importance because the way we serve those over us says a lot about the level to which we are submitted to Christ.
In truth, we probably all struggle with submission at one degree or another. Submission is a reality of the Christian life but it is antithetical to life under Adam. We will never overcome our rebellious nature in our own strength. Thankfully we have Christ not only as our example for submitting to those over us, but as the one who died to free us from sin so that we can freely serve others.
Truth
Truth
Before we dive into our passage for today, I want to remind us of two key verses for this entire section.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
The underlying theme of this part of Paul’s letter to the Colossians is keeping our focus on the primary goal of our lives. We were not saved to preserve ourselves or to find ourselves, but to pursue Christ. Everything we do is to be focused on him, and to bring honor to him.
If we gain the entire world but lose our soul, we will find that there is nothing for us in the end (Mark 8). Christ is the future and he is our future. This perspective frees us to live our lives realizing that there is grace for a better future than anything this world could produce for us.
We do not need to dominate others, or complete a bucket list, or whatever to be happy and live a good life. We need Christ and that is all. Because of this we can truly serve others with no strings attached and no pretentiousness.
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching—like those who are strictly people-pleasers—but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people,because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ. For the one who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there are no exceptions.Masters, treat your slaves with justice and fairness, because you know that you also have a master in heaven.
The term “slave” Paul uses here is quite loaded with meaning. In one sense it refers to a person who is owned by another and in a different sense it means a person who has freely submitted himself to another.
In our case, regardless of our lot in life we have been purchased by Christ so whether or not we are slave to another person we are certainly slaves of Christ. This simply means we are not our own, but belong to him.
for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
I. Our motivation for working hard for those over us is Christ.
I. Our motivation for working hard for those over us is Christ.
Paul’s exhortations
“Fearing the Lord.” (22)
“As to the Lord and not for people.” (23)
“Serve the Lord Christ.” (24)
To fully grasp the concept of serving our earthly masters well, we must look at who Jesus is.
Christ is the quintessential servant, though he is master of all.
Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,
who though he existed in the form of God
did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped,
but emptied himself
by taking on the form of a slave,
by looking like other men,
and by sharing in human nature.
He humbled himself,
by becoming obedient to the point of death
—even death on a cross!
Think about the way Christ served and submitted to people who are far below him on many occasions.
He obeyed Mary and Joseph
And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
He obeyed the Father though he himself is also God.
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
He payed taxes.
Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.
When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”
He submitted himself to the Jewish Council, Herod, and Roman authorities.
He allowed himself to be crucified.
None of us will ever stoop lower to serve as Jesus did.
If Jesus, the Master and Creator of all serves and comes to serve the world, how much more we?
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
We serve other people well because Christ served us well. Our service is in honor of him and in remembrance of him. By serving, we identify with Christ.
The Apostles and church leaders throughout history also give us an example of service to the world.
Those who are over us in this life are representative in some way of all of humanity. When we serve our bosses well, we practice serving like Jesus serves the world.
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. 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.
II. We work hard so others can see the work ethic of Christ in us.
II. We work hard so others can see the work ethic of Christ in us.
A Christian is to be an extraordinary worker.
We strive to do well, even when we are not being noticed because we know we work first for God, and then for people.
Our working for people is in the Lord’s name.
Consider Daniel, Elijah, Nehemiah, Joseph, and many others. They did not always serve righteous kings, but their integrity showed their masters the goodness of God.
Christian, when we serve our earthly masters well we are doing the same. They may see Christ in us and this could even lead to them coming to Jesus.
Nebuchadnezzar is an example of a king who was transformed through the integrity to a man of God who was committed to serving the world in God’s name.
Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
III. We work hard because it is good for our souls.
III. We work hard because it is good for our souls.
We have a tendency to want to live for ourselves alone, to make life about us.
When we practice serving our masters sincerely and with enthusiasm for the sake of Christ, it helps us to stay humble and away from grumbles.
We are also practicing trusting in God for our ultimate reward and for justice.
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
IV. We treat those under us with grace because God treats us with grace.
IV. We treat those under us with grace because God treats us with grace.
A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
The word for justice here is δίκαιος, which in this context means to treat someone fairly, with equity, righteousness, impartiality, and innocence. A master is to be innocent in the way we treat those under us.
He follows the word justice with the word ἰσότης which means equality and fairness so we are getting a double emphasis of this concept of governing/leading with just fairness.
Paul appealed to Philemon to treat Onesimus, his rebellious slave, in this way. Onesimus had become a believe while he was with Paul and so Paul urged Philemon to treat him not as a slave, but as a brother in the Lord.
When we consider everyone to be an image-bearer of God it changes the way we view and treat them. Even if we cannot honor the person, we honor the image of God in them.
If you are an employer, you should treat all of your workers well but especially the fellow believers who work for you.
Application
Application
Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. 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.
God has revealed himself to us through Christ as a servant.
He shows us the true character of a servants heart by the way he lived for others and died for us all.
We are followers of Christ, those who have been set free from slavery to sin through Christ’s subjection of himself to the Father and those under a sin nature.
Now, we are those who serve others as Christ has served us not because the world deserves it but because Christ is glorious and we aim to show his glory to everyone.
So, how has your heart, attitude, and work ethic been? Is Christ honored? What needs to change in you so that Christ may be glorified through the way you work for those over you?
See the Fruit to Root Using the 4 Questions Guide for further help. Myself or Pastor Dwight would be ready to help walk you through these things also.