Reprise
We must remember the series of
lessons Paul has put before us. He begins the letter to the Ephesians with
that central idea of the authority of Christ - and that all authority , rightly
exercised, descends from the authority of Christ. For indeed we are taught
that all authority in heaven and on earth is given to Christ.
Paul then takes us through a
series of personal relationships - those who lead the church, the husband and
wife, the father and children - and ends this week with the relationship
between slaves and masters. Recall that in his time the most common social
unit was an extended household, consisting of a master and mistress, their
children and their slaves and families. So Paul is simply continuing his
comments on proper relationships. He now ends that series with what the world
would have viewed as the lowest of people, the slave.
(Eph 6:5-9 NIV)
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of
heart, just as you would obey Christ. {6} Obey them not only to win
their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will
of God from your heart. {7} Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving
the Lord, not men, {8} because you know that the Lord will reward
everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. {9} And
masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you
know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no
favoritism with him.
The Least Favorite of
Virtues...
Is humility. But do let us
recall why. If we are courageous, we may be rewarded in this life. If we are
generous, we may feel good about it. But if we are humble, we are certain to
discover that this world does not place any value upon it. Indeed, it is the
central issue between this world's virtues and Christ's teaching: the issue of
pride and humility. Pagan philosophers agreed about the need for courage,
generosity and such; some even thought marital fidelity worthwhile. All held
to personal honesty. But pride was the source of power for these things. To
the Christian, God is the source of power. So it is that we must choose: are
we to be virtuous because we are proud of ourselves, or because God strengthens
us to do so? Consider how Paul commands the slave of his time:
·
The wife is to "fear" her husband; the slave is to
obey with "respect and fear" (translated elsewhere as "fear and
trembling.") Is this just because of slavery? Or is it the fact that our
world demands lip service of the servant, but God will demand integrity?
·
The slave is to serve with "sincerity of heart." This
means that we must forsake secret cheating and petty revenge. How often have
you desired to "get even" with the company? In America the union
movement is practically based upon the desire to "get back" at
management. Yet our Lord commands exactly the opposite attitude.
·
There is most definitely an aspect of "turn the other
cheek" in this. Are you a slave? Then bear with it, turning the other
cheek, so that your Father in heaven will reward you. Are you oppressed on
your job? Bear with it in the name of Christ, and Christ will reward you for
it.
·
We are to serve "wholeheartedly." There is more to be
said about that word, but at the very least it means that we are to embrace our
station in life and to do the best we can with it. This is not sullen
oppression, nor stoic acceptance, nor mystic resignation - but the complete
enthusiasm of one who enjoys the day's work.
·
The situation is transitory. They are our masters
"according to the flesh." That means two things:
·
First, that God recognizes no such distinction by right. It is
something that man has done. It is therefore trivial.
·
Second, it is something which can last no more than a lifetime.
We are meant to be eternal. It is a trivial thing; but if we are not faithful
in trivial things, who will trust us with eternal things?
·
Do you need an example of the virtue of being a good servant?
One should suffice. Christ, on the night before the Cross, washed the feet of
the disciples. If your Lord and Savior was willing to do that (and the servant
is not above the master) then tell me what you must not tolerate.
Words of Advice to Masters and
Managers
Paul, in each section, has
commandment for each part of the relationship. It is the same here; he has
words also for the slave master and, by implication, for those in authority in
today's workplace.
·
He begins with the concept that you must treat these slaves just
as the slaves are to obey you. Think of it this way: treat your employees as
if you had Jesus Christ as one of them. In a sense you do - for as often as
you do it to the least of his brothers, you do it to Him.
·
You are to take this seriously - with the same wholehearted
attitude the slave is supposed to have. This too is a matter of integrity.
You cannot be a pious, generous man outside the office and a tyrant inside -
and still maintain your integrity. Again, this comes back to pride. Are you
serving God, or are you worshiping yourself?
·
One specific injunction is given: do not threaten them. Why
does Paul focus on this one bit of behavior? I think it is because servants
and slaves (and most employees) don't usually get a glimpse of "the grand
plan." Whatever it is that management has in mind, most of us are
convinced they haven't told us yet. In such an environment a threat is
magnified beyond its actual words. "You'd better straighten up" can
be heard as "I'm about to fire you."
·
He then reminds the master that he has a Master in Heaven. This
has some very powerful thought to it:
·
It is an example of the "measuring stick" principle.
You are a master? How do you treat your slaves? By that standard of treatment
Christ will treat you, for you are likewise the bondservant of Christ.
·
Do your slaves offend you? Do they steal? Do they cheat you?
Remember the parable of the Unjust Servant? "I forgave you all that debt
- and what did you do to your fellow servants?"
·
Finally, there is this. We have a tendency to mistreat those who
work for us because they cannot bring us any favors. But recall what our Lord
said: you will be repaid at the Resurrection of the righteous.
Our Lord is driving towards a
concept of servanthood. Perhaps it is best expressed in the story of the
Centurion. Do you recall how calmly that centurion assumed that his servants
would obey - and that this was the example of faith for Christ? Indeed, Jesus
was "astonished" at such great faith. Perhaps he was astonished
because he had met a man who was the kind of master Christ wanted him to be -
and therefore had the kind of servants Christ desires.
The Value of Work
At one time I had a college
roommate who was a pre-medical student. He loved to tell the story of his
interview at Harvard Medical School. The interviewer asked him, "Why do
you want to be a doctor?" He would replay his reply with a sly grin:
"To get rich."
That sums up our attitude towards
work today. We do it to make money. We don't do it because it is worthwhile.
Or do we? And should we?
Work is not just gainful
employment
Whatever we do we are to do
heartily, as if doing it for the Lord.
That's hard to do in some jobs (it's an interesting paradox to think of this
idea with regard to, say, a prostitute or a thief.) But consider: most of us
continue to work because of the paycheck. We continue to work at what we do
because the accomplishment brings us a sense of satisfaction. How much more,
then, if we also know that we are pleasing to God?
Work is honored by God
The Sabbath was created as a day
of rest - from work. God worked in creation; Jesus worked as a carpenter.
The laborer is worthy of his hire.
Therefore, we should not despise the working man - but work too.
Work fills the vacuum created
for it
Man is - by result of sin -
designed for work. If he does not work, something else will take its place.
But Paul counsels us to work instead of stealing, for example,
so that we will not by our lack of work be tempted back into theft.
Submission
Submission, as we have noted, is
not popular. It implies humility and trust in God as the source of virtue -
instead of pride. But submission is the weapon of the Christian:
·
It is the weapon by which the servant demonstrates the power of
the Gospel to those in authority over him.
·
Indeed, God tells us
that bearing up under injustice for the sake of Jesus Christ is commendable
before God. If you suffer injustice on the job, and bear it for the sake of
Christ, will he not reward you for it?
·
We often reject the idea of serving with "fear and
trembling." But this same phrase is used of our salvation - we are to
work it out with fear and trembling.
·
To cap it all off, there is this: all things may be done to the
glory of God. If it is your task in life to sweep the floors and be considered
the lowest of the low, do it for the glory of God, and he will honor you for
that.
A Final Thought on Slavery
Slavery, per se, does not concern
us much any more in America. It is of "historical interest only."
But perhaps we should pay more attention to it. Have you ever considered where
slavery came from? Here is what Chrysostom, writing in a time when slavery was
commonplace (and not racial slavery, as in American history), tells us about
the origins of the practice:
But
should any one ask, whence is slavery, and why it has found entrance into human
life, (and many I know are both glad to ask such questions, and desirous to be
informed of them,) I will tell you. Slavery is the fruit of covetousness, of
degradation, of savagery; since Noah, we know, had no servant, nor had Abel,
nor Seth, no, nor they who came after them. The thing was the fruit of sin, of
rebellion against parents. Let children hearken to this, that whenever they are
undutiful to their parents, they deserve to be servants. Such a child strips
himself of his nobility of birth; for he who rebels against his father is no
longer a son; and if he who rebels against his father is not a son, how shall
he be a son who rebels against our true Father? He has departed from his
nobility of birth, he has done outrage to nature. Then come also wars, and
battles, and take their prisoners.
Our Founding Fathers knew quite
well that only a righteous people are fit to remain a free people. It is a
lesson we have forgotten; it is a lesson we may soon learn again.