It Is Commendable

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:22–24, NIV 1984).

My Musings – It is very easy for this text to be misunderstood as an endorsement of slavery, which it is not. Paul’s instructions here are not to the slaveholders, but rather to those under the bondage of slavery. We must understand that Paul and the other Apostles were not social reformers. They were all about spiritual transformation. Even if they were social reformers, there was very little they could do as slavery was so deeply embedded into the social fabric of that time, and for ages to come. And not all forms of slavery were necessarily as harsh and inhumane as we have seared into our minds today.

Peter, in his first Epistle, goes on to say “slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.” (1 Peter 2:18–21, NIV 1984).

This applies to all kinds of injustice, whether from masters, employers or rulers. Submission, respect, and bearing up can make us both “conscious of God” as well as “commendable before God.” How we “follow in His steps” speaks volumes about how the transformation process is going in our lives. And as Pual states elsewhere, “if you can gain your freedom, do so.” (1 Corinthians 7:21, NIV 1984). If you can free yourself from injustice, do so. But again, let me reemphasize that this in no way is an endorsement of slavery or the condonement of injustice of any kind.

Paul also has some instructions to masters, that can equally apply to employers and rulers as well. “Masters, provide your slaves [employees, subjects] with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.” (Colossians 4:1, NIV 1984).

My Advice – There will always be injustice in this world. There will always be bad actors and people who are inconsiderate or harsh. But we follow Christ. “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7, NIV 1984). These are the steps we may be asked to follow. But like Him, “after the suffering of [our] soul, [we] will see the light of life and be satisfied.” (Isaiah 53:11, NIV 1984).

Affect change, social reform, and justice where we can, “bear up under” it when we must. “Because [we] know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.” (Ephesians 6:7–8, NIV 1984).