BOSSES AND EMPLOYEES UNITED

Though slavery was and is a terrible injustice to humanity, the concept of servant and master, as expressed in the Bible, can help us understand the concept of an ideal employee-boss relationship and the Master-servant relationship.  How is the servant-master relationship relevant today?

We are continuing our study of the Book of Ephesians. This week, we are looking at Ephesians 6:1-9. Still focusing on the theme of unity, Paul delves into some controversial issues of unity. He addresses unity between generations and between social groups. How can unity be maintained among these groups? 

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Let Us Inviting God’s Presence:

God Most High, help us to see, understand, and put into practice how you expect us humans to relate and treat one another regardless of social status.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

The concept of slavery in the Bible is very different from the American slavery that existed from the 17th to 19th centuries.

It’s important to understand that the cultural and historical context of biblical slavery is distinct from the racially based and deeply oppressive system of American slavery.

In the biblical context, slavery often existed because of various circumstances, such as debt, conquest, or voluntary servitude.

Paul’s advice to slaves and slave masters primarily addresses this specific historical context.

Today, we can equate it to a servant-master, employee-employer, employee-supervisor or employee-boss relationship.

The following verses is a summary of what Paul is saying regarding slavery in his time:

In Ephesians 6:5-9, Paul advises servants to obey their masters with sincerity and wholeheartedness as if they were serving Christ.

Masters are urged to treat their servants with fairness and respect, knowing that they themselves have a Master in heaven who shows no partiality.

Similarly, in Colossians 3:22-4:1, Paul instructs servants to obey their masters in everything, working diligently and with integrity, again emphasizing that they should serve as if they are serving the Lord.

Masters are reminded to treat their servants justly and fairly, knowing they have a Master in heaven.

In 1 Corinthians 7:20-24: Paul advises servants who have the opportunity to gain their freedom to seize it if they can. However, he also reminds them that in Christ, their status as servants or free individuals is not the most important thing. What matters most is their relationship with God.

In 1 Timothy 6:1-2, Paul warns against servants disrespecting their masters and emphasizes that they should serve them all the more, especially if their masters are believers. He suggests that this respectful service is a way to honor God’s name and Christ’s teaching.

Finally,

In 1 Peter 2:18- 25: Peter, not Paul, in this passage, encourages servants to submit to their masters, even if they are unjust. He advises them to serve in a manner that reflects Christ’s example of suffering for righteousness. He emphasizes that enduring suffering unjustly can be commendable before God.

It is important to note that Paul and Peter’s writings address the situation of slavery or servitude in the context of the early Christian community.

They do not explicitly condone or endorse slavery as a moral institution but rather provide advice on how Christian servants and masters should conduct themselves within the existing social context.

The key message is one of humility, integrity, and devotion to God, with an emphasis on treating others with fairness, impartiality, love, and respect, regardless of social status.

Therefore, it’s essential to interpret these passages within their historical context and not apply them to justify or excuse the American slavery system, which was based on race and characterized by extreme brutality, injustice, and inhumane treatment of humanity.

Though we are talking about a very ancient practice, it can help us understand how Christians are to live and treat each other even in very tough situations. It requires that we do our best even when we know things aren’t fair.

We may be surprised by Paul’s advice to both servants and their masters. As a matter of fact, some might wonder why these masters didn’t just set their slaves free, especially if they were Christians. And that’s a valid point.

But we need to understand that in Bible times, servants and masters followed a different set of rules than what we have today. For the most part, they weren’t like the inhumane treatment of slaves as was in America, in which slavery was based solely on the color of the skin.

 In the Bible days, people from different races could be servants or masters. Some servants were even trained or educated. They could work as builders, doctors, or philosophers.

Sometimes, a master would let their servants go free after they served them faithfully for many years.

Though slavery was different in the New Testament from slavery in the 1800s, no inhumane treatment is ever “good.”

All cruelty or cold-heartedness toward any human being is evil, and those who practice it must answer to God.

Therefore, it is important to note that though the Bible talks about slaves, it is not saying that being a slave in the sense of inhuman treatment is okay.

It tells slaves and masters how to live better lives and treat each other with respect.

Slavery was part of life in Paul’s time. Thus, his advice is about how both slaves and masters can live a new life together in Jesus. This is the point that Paul makes in Galatians 3:28 when he says:

28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) (Split)

So, even though things were different back then in terms of servant-master, we must remember that treating anyone inhumanely is never what God desires for us.

We should always seek to be kind, courteous, loving, and respectful of one another, regardless of our social status.

Jesus taught us that we should love one another. That’s something we can put into practice every day as it relates to the employee-boss relationship, remembering that we are all one in Christ.

How does the counsel Paul gives about the master-servant relationship relate to our relationship with Christ? Continue to Part 5: Slaves of Christ

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Ephesians

(Lesson 11)

Practicing Supreme Loyalty to Christ

Part 5 – Slaves of Christ

So, Paul advises Christian servants to obey their masters. Paul also tells them to work as if they were working, not for their masters but for Jesus.

Servants in Paul’s day were considered the property of their masters. Therefore, Paul reminded the servants or slaves that they did not belong to their master but instead belonged to Jesus.

In other words, He was saying that they must not give their masters the loyalty that belongs only to Jesus. Jesus’ authority is supreme.

Paul’s ideas about slavery helped Christians in his day change the way they thought about masters and servants.

So, although the church in Paul’s day was not called to change the social culture, it was to lay the foundation that would eventually end any unjust or inhumane system.

Paul redefined the master/servant relationship. He let it be known that when a master or servant accepts Christ, then Christ becomes the center of the relationship.

Thus, Paul gives the following advice to the servants or subordinates.

(1) Obey your masters with respect and sincerity, as to Christ (v. 5).

(2) Don’t work only when being watched. Work as if you were serving Jesus (v. 6).

(3) Serve willingly, as if you were serving God rather than men (v. 7). and

(4) Know that you will receive a reward not from men but from the Lord (v. 8).

Today, in some form or the other, we serve earthly, temporal masters or bosses. But we must always remember that our true service is to Jesus, and our ultimate reward will come from Christ at His return.

True conversion makes us strictly honest in our dealings with each other. It makes us faithful in our everyday work. Every sincere follower of Christ will show that the religion of the Bible qualifies them to use their talents in the Master’s service. (Messages to Young People, p. 72. Adapted for clarity)

So, whatever we find our hands doing, we should do it with all our might. In other words, we should do our very best! 

Faithfulness and integrity in little things, the performance of little duties and little deeds of kindness, will cheer and gladden the pathway of life, and when our work on earth is ended, every one of the little duties performed with faithfulness will be treasured as a precious jewel before God.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 591.

Now, Paul does not stop simply by instructing servants or slaves on how they should treat their masters; he also gives the masters instructions. What does Paul tell the masters? Continue to Part 6: Masters Who Are Slaves 

Ephesians

(Lesson 11)

Practicing Supreme Loyalty to Christ

Part 6 – Masters Who are Slaves

Though the masters may have thought that they were off the hook, the funny thing is Paul in Ephesians 6:9 tells the masters to do “the same things” that he instructed their slaves to do. He says:

9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him. (Ephesians 6:9)

Why does Paul give this advice to the masters?

Paul tells masters to be kind to their servants. He tells them to stop threatening and mistreating them.

Therefore, encouraging the slave masters to look beyond their current state in society, Paul gave this command to them for two good reasons:

(1) Every master has a heavenly Master above in which we are all “fellow servants” of Christ. In other words, they, too, are servants.

(2) Masters must treat their servants with dignity and respect, for there is no difference between them and their servants when they stand before God.

Christ came to this earth with a message of mercy and forgiveness. He laid the foundation for a religion by which Jew and Gentile, black and white, free and bond, are linked together in one common brotherhood, recognized as equal in the sight of God. The Saviour has a boundless love for every human being.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 225.

The fact is, the only way masters and slaves, masters and servants, employees and bosses, employees and employers, or bosses and subordinates can come together is if both show kindness in their relationships, treating each other as Jesus, their Master, treat them, for we are all adopted into one family through Christ Jesus. Thus, whether servant or master, we are all one in Christ Jesus. 

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