Tuesday, May 14th, 2024

Scripture: Col. 3:22 Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

Teaching: The context of this verse is Paul giving instructions to different groups of people in society for how to live in Christ, glorifying the Lord, in their present, earthly circumstances. While it can be difficult to grapple with instructions like these in today’s world, to understand God’s Word, we must. Slavery was an institution of society in Paul’s day, and even today, slavery exists around the world. Yet, the good news in this verse is twofold.

First, it is a glorious thing that through Paul giving instructions to slaves on how to live in Christ, we know for a fact that the Gospel can reach even those in the bondage of slavery. No matter what someone’s present circumstances on earth, they can receive the grace and love of Jesus Christ and thus, should never be overlooked by Christians carrying the message of the Gospel to the nations.

Secondly, even though a slave’s earthly circumstances prevent them from many things that earthly freedom allows, they, too, can earn eternal treasure in heaven. By living with the joy of the Lord, trusting in what is to come rather than dwelling on what is now, they witness for Christ and in doing so, store up treasure in heaven. Regardless of earthly circumstance, all whosoever believe in Christ are granted eternal life, and are in Christ. Being in Christ makes them a brother or sister in Christ to each of us. For a powerful expression of this fact, read Paul’s letter to Philemon. It is a letter in which Paul urges Philemon, a believer, to accept back his former slave, Onesimus, who became a believer while with Paul as a brother in Christ – a change of heart and relationship that was unthinkable except in Christ.

Takeaway: Sometimes we all take for granted the freedom we have to share the message of the Gospel, to witness for Christ in our daily work, and pursue opportunities that glorify Christ. To that, we all should remember Jesus’ words, “To whom much is given, much is required” (Luke 12:48). We should also remember James, who describes pure and undefiled religious as caring for and loving those who can give us nothing in return (James 1:27). Therefore we should witness to the Lord at any and every opportunity He gives and love and care for all those – slaves, widows, orphans, and the likes – who have nothing to give us in return but simply because Christ loves them as much as He loves us.