Here in this section, we see Paul turn his attention to the other common relationship in that time in Ephesus, the relationship between the master and his slave. He begins by saying that the slave should obey his master with fear and trembling. Paul says the slave should do the work of his master with a sincere heart, as if he were working for Christ. He warns them to do this with sincerity not to please people, but instead they are to remember that they are doing the will of the Lord, and essentially serving him. He reminds them that whatever good anyone does, whether or slave or free, it will be repaid to him in eternity. Paul then shifts his focus to the masters, telling them to do the same. He implores them to stop threatening their slaves, but instead to remember that the master of both their slaves and themselves is in heaven, and he doesn't see them as slave or free, he sees them as they are.
"Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven." Colossians 3:22-4:1
"For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ." 1st Corinthians 7:22
Again, a lot of this could be applied to the church today, but I want to focus on the role with which I am most familiar with. This summer I have had a very trying job at the school. Very little appreciation, very little planning was done, and very little consideration was given to me over any of it. I found myself on more than one occassion incredibly angry, and really doing all my work our of spite. Now if I am to hold what the bible says as true and try and abide by what it says, this is certainly not the attitude I should have. I should have been sincere, and even though I was not necessarily always comfortable, I should have realized that I was really serving the Lord and not my boss. I am slightly ashamed of my attitude towards this job this summer.
Hopefully, in the next job I have, or the next work I do for someone where my comfort and happiness is not necessarily most important, hopefully I will be able to work with a sincere heart, have a smile on my face, and realize I am working for the Lord.
LORD, help me tomorrow at work to have a sincere heart. Help me to realize that I am really working for you and not for my earthly boss. I am doing a service for them as I would for you, and I should find joy in it and not be so bitter and angry that it doesn't go how I think it should. Amen.
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