April 12
________________________________________
CONDUCT FOR SERVANTS
All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against. 2 Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers or sisters, but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles.
– 1 Timothy 6:1-2:
________________________________________
In this letter, Paul addresses the importance of how masters and slaves in the community of believers must conduct themselves. In verse 1, he tells all those who are yoked as slaves are to respect and honor and serve their master well. Paul gives them the reason why this is a must for all Christian servants. If they do this, they will be honoring God as well and the doctrines they have taught will not be challenged or compromised. Can you imagine teaching something and then do the opposite of what you just taught? It will be hypocrisy to preach something that they cannot follow in their own lives.
In verse 2, he tells the slaves how it is more important that they give a double respect and honor to their masters if they are believers themselves. Since they are both serving the Lord Jesus Christ, it is only right to serve them all the more. In the letter to the Colossians, which was written earlier than this letter to Timothy, Paul commands the slaves to obey their masters as they would obey the Lord himself. In Colossians 3:23, it says that whatever you do, do your work heartily as you would do it unto the Lord. In verse 24, of this letter, Paul tells them that the reward that they will receive is from the Lord Jesus Christ himself.
In our world today, we don’t have servants and masters but we have employers and employees. So many of us, employees, do not treat our employers with the same respect that we would to someone we are in relationship with. Paul couldn’t emphasize more the importance of doing everything you do as you would unto the Lord. Instead of employees trying to sneak in personal stuff at work, shouldn’t they honor and follow their bosses because whatever one does to someone, they are doing it to the Lord as well? Sadly, dishonesty and selfish ambitions plague our workplaces now. If you were a master or a boss, it will be a novelty to find honest and truthful workers.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why should we honor our superiors just like we would honor our Lord Jesus?
• What do you think are the effects of a workplace that is compromised?