Colossians 3:22-25 NLT
[22]”Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. [23] Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. [24] Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. [25] But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.”
Well, thankfully, most of us live in societies that no longer permit slavery as it was in Paul’s day. God never, ever created people to own other people but, sadly, some people think they have the right to treat others like possessions.
Paul addressed this issue in the context of his society. In the first place, how were slaves to treat their owners?
Why did Paul start with slaves? Was the reason that slaves’ attitudes could greatly influence the way their masters treated them? A rebellious, disobedient slave would need harsher treatment and stricter discipline to bring him into line than a compliant slave.
Although this can be so, Paul elevates slaves (servant, employee) to a much higher level than mere pawns. A slave is as much a person as anyone else, with the same right to choose as God gave to all people. Therefore, a slave is responsible to decide how he treats his master regardless of the way his master treats him. Why? He is accountable to a higher Authority just as his owner is also accountable.
In all interpersonal relationships within the body of Christ, the pecking order starts with one fact…we all stand on level ground at the cross. No matter on what level human society puts us, in God’s kingdom we are one.
Galatians 3:28 NLT
[28] “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
This means that no one, no matter their position in society, has the right to lord it over another. It also means that slaves, on a lower rung than masters, have no right to resist authority because both are accountable to God.
God requires certain attitudes from both levels because, in the end, both slaves and masters serve Him first. Obedience and willing service please the Lord, not influenced by the way the slave is treated but because it’s the right way to serve the Lord.
Let’s translate this into today’s scenario. Although employees are not slaves, the principles remain the same. Attitudes are everything. Cheerful, willing attitudes go a long way towards pleasant and harmonious relations in the workplace.
However, in modern society, sin has turned the principle of authority and submission on its head. Employees now call the shots and employers are required to capitulate. Governments pass laws to protect employees at the expense of authority and submission. The rights of wrongdoers are even protected by law, so that resistance, strikes, marches, protests, and blatant lawlessness action are condoned for the sake of ” rights”, and perpetrators are protected.
From an early age, children’s rights give them leverage over parents and teachers. In cases of lawlessness, government regulate it’s right to protect children and even override discipline at home and at school at the expense of parental responsibities.
Once again, when God’s order is ignored or deliberately defied, chaos rules.
What’s the solution?
As at home, so in the workplace, the only way life works is to honour the Lord and submit to His ways. The most difficult thing in all of our lives as God’s children is to bring our own unruly spirits under His control and do what He tells us. This means making deliberate choices to follow His way, no matter how much it conflicts with our way or clashes with our desires.
Once again, it’s all about “Christ in us”. His presence in us tempers our attitudes towards others on every level. Humility allows us to accept and function faithfully on whatever level God has put us because He is in charge and decides our lot in life.
A life of true humility and obedience to God’s commands is impossible outside of willing submission to His authority first and above all. Jesus asked an unanswered question,
Luke 6:46 NLT
[46] “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?”
Rebellion only makes our lot more difficult. Submission and gratitude in all circumstances paves the way for harmony in the workplace as God requires. As I said, attitudes are everything.