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COLOSSIANS - Christ in you, the hope of glory!
Studies in the Letter of Paul to the Colossians
Part 4 - The New Life and Daily Living (Colossians 3:18 - 4:1)
22. The Relationship of Servants to their Owners and of Employees to Employers (Colossians 3:22 - 4:1)
Colossians 3:22-25
22 Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.
The right to possess slaves or servants in the Roman Empire held true in full measure. Those taken captive in many wars were sold as slaves. They could, however, be bought free in the event someone paid the full purchase price for them or when the owner was willing to give him a letter of manumission. In the Islamic Sharia such a right to possess slaves exists until today, even though it is now only being practiced in remote regions, such as Western Sudan. Mohammed himself was only willing to set captives from his own tribal clan free after he had received the full market value from one of their family members.
During the time of the Romans normal families possessed six to twelve female or male slaves, who had the responsibility to perform daily work in the house, stall and garden in a satisfactory manner. Now and then rich families had as many as 40 slaves, that also had to be fed and clothed. Seldom was a slave treated as a human being, but rather, was sold and bought like other possessions. Some received a scanty albeit sufficient provision, so that their work performance would not be diminished. Still others suffered under brutal and reckless male and female masters, who handled them with scorn and contempt. Slaves who chose to flee were to be crucified as foreign criminals. Following the put down of one slave rebellion in Rome, by the Roman legions, tens of thousands of the revolutionaries were crucified in order to forever break the last will of newly purchased slaves.
In his letters to the churches in the realm of Roman culture, Paul at no time called for a rebellion among the slaves. Neither did he demand “universal human rights” for them, or call for a revolution against the emperor and his culture. He went the opposite way – commanding slaves who were part of local church assemblies to serve their masters and ladies in love and faithfulness. At the beginning of church history in Greek and Roman regions, there were large numbers of slaves that had become believers in Jesus, who also belonged to local church assemblies. They were longing for His promised return in glory in order to enter into eternal life with His perfect peace.
Paul recommended that these poor saints, who had been deprived of all their rights, look upon their difficult masters as if they were Jesus. They should serve them in the same way they honoured and worshiped the Son of God. Humanly speaking, such an unreasonable demand cannot be mastered. It becomes possible only in the day-and-night power and consolation of the Holy Spirit. They were to serve their blood-suckers without hypocrisy and with preciseness and faithfulness, just as if it had been God Himself who had led them into this inescapable situation of trial and testing. Their service to the unjust and unrighteous should take place in fear of the almighty God, who will make demand for their rights in His own time.
With this instruction, Paul repeated the motto of his working principle: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Col. 3:17, 23). This principle is imaginable for free, healthy people, but for whipped slaves or for exploited young girls it becomes barely thinkable. Faith, however, breaks through steel and stone and is able to lay hold of omnipotence. Paul described every form of work as service to God, in the event the labourer belonged to those possessing a share of the fullness of deity (Col. 2:9-10). For him they were not of the world, but in the world, as strangers in a realm that suffered under the power of Satan (1 John 5:19). Their testing was upheld through the realization of the meekness and humility of Christ, even in the midst of impossible circumstances. Such a triumphal procession is only possible, however, by following Jesus, who Himself suffered under the arrogance, the pride, the unrighteousness and the impurity of man. In all of this, however, He continued to serve His malefactors with love.
Slaves and servants having their spiritual security in Jesus Christ should not only patiently bear and quietly endure the unrighteousness they encounter, but also overcome evil through their exemplary service, which silently judges their oppressive masters. Their blessed labour will be appraised as work done unto Jesus, who at the Last Judgment will say to them: “Inasmuch as you did it to one of these most difficult men and women, you did it to Me! Enter in to the joy of the Lord” (Matt. 25:27, 34, 40).
In this sense, Paul speaks of a heavenly reward, which one day will be handed out to faithful servants. This reward will not be what saves them from their sin, as if they could, through their hard work, redeem themselves. Rather, it is the opposite – since the Lord Jesus already redeemed them through His shed blood, and because the Holy Spirit sank the love of God into their hearts, they are to give proof of their new existence through good works. For that they are to be rewarded. It is exactly to these poor, no-possession servants that a great inheritance has been promised. It is no earthly, transitory inheritance, but an eternal, heavenly possession. For that, they have already received the down payment – the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:18-19). He is the deposit given toward our future glory. At the beginning of his letter, Paul had written of the mystery that is also today being fulfilled, in both Jews and non-Jews: Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). The Lord Himself is their reward, for He is in them, and they in Him.
Their service in the cellar or on the threshing-floor, in the stall or in the office, in the kitchen or in the marketplace – everything they must do is valued as service unto Jesus! Paul issued them a fantastic work certificate, in that he witnessed to them: “You serve the Lord Christ!” Paul called himself a slave of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:1), having had also to suffer under a long chain of misery (2 Cor. 11:23-33). He himself, as a Roman citizen and charged with the cunning accusations of his enemies, was most likely beheaded. Paul did not boast in his sufferings out of pride, however, but because Jesus bore and suffered under them with him (Rom. 5:3-5).
Paul wrote the believing slaves in Colosse that their service not only honoured Jesus, but also constituted a judgment upon the masters and their wives, who were recklessly practicing unrighteousness against them. Masters and lords who, in spite of the intercession offered up for them by their slaves, remain unwilling to open themselves to the Spirit of Jesus and who refuse to hear the silent testimony of those serving them, in the end condemn themselves. The great and the famous are, before God, not only guilty but generally insignificant, while the small and insignificant, through their penitence and faith in the Lamb of God, are counted righteous and made holy. In eternity other criterion will prevail than here on earth. We will one day be amazed when we see who really stands near to God.
Whoever contemplates the ”service to God” of the slaves in Colosse in relation to the labor battles, strikes and stress in modern industrial nations in our day, will soon recognize “another spirit”, one that will not serve, but rather, demands its supposed rights. The harsh indifference of the rich, stockholders and directors has not changed much since the time of the Romans. There seldom exists a free-willed and true socialism. One should not begin to speak of social injustice as long as each year billions of euros or dollars are given out for vacation travel.
The person who, without respect or regard to person, serves faithfully and works hard and accurately at his place of employment is a witness to his Lord, even without many words. Whoever prays for his boss and his work colleagues will possibly reap scorn and derision. Nevertheless, the one who lives in Christ will be praying that all he does and thinks in daily life will be Spirit led.
Colossians 4:1
1 Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
The church in Colosse was composed of slaves and free, of employees and employers. It was difficult to tell both groups the truth in love.
Paul called the ones who were free “masters”, who had been both gifted and blessed of God. They suffered from no lack. Business dealings in the area of the Mediterranean Sea were progressing satisfactorily under the rule of the Romans. For that reason Paul first impressed upon the propertied classes that they were to treat their subordinates fairly and righteously. They were to give those under them all they needed for body and life. This summons did not just include food and drink, but also clothing, shelter, medical attention and protection in times of crisis. Perhaps the slaves were also to be given times of rest, so that they could take part in church services and meetings in the local assembly.
Furthermore, the apostle to the nations inculcated it into the employers that they were not to plan with their own self-reliance and independence in mind. They were not to simply rule and enjoy their fortune and wealth, for they also were responsible for every word they spoke and for every cent they spent. All the unrighteousness they and their wives poured out on their slaves would fall back on them at the last judgment. In a practical sense that meant they were to, at the very least, treat their slaves humanely, and not barbarously.
In the event, however, that both the subordinated and their masters were Christians, they were to mutually appreciate, honour and love one another as brothers in the Lord. This constituted the silent revolution of Paul. No one was to violently try and alter the relationships. Much more, they were to try and lead the others to Jesus, for only then would both employers and employees become active members in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ. True faith in Jesus changes every culture and regulation of life from within. How this practically worked out for Paul in his pastoral ministry, we can read about in his letter to Philemon, which came about as a result of his run-away slave, Onesimus, who later came to faith.
Prayer: Father in heaven, we thank You for every one of Your followers, whom You have, in accordance with his gifting, given a place of work. Forgive us when we complain about peculiar, hard and unrighteous employers and bosses. Help us to be faithful even in little things and to work hard in humility, so that we may continually serve and keep focused on Your Son. Amen.
Question 49: How can all of our service and speech become divine service for Jesus?
Watch and Pray, lest
you enter into
Temptation!
The spirit is indeed willing,
but the flesh is weak.
(Matt. 26:41)