Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bond servant or is free.

As I started to learn more about the Bible, I struggled with some of it — particularly this passage. I don’t know about you, but the terms “bond servant” and “slaves” leave a very sour taste in my mouth. This passage really bothered me because I couldn’t fathom that God would support slavery.

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The good news is, he doesn’t. In this passage, we see Paul speaking into the culture of the time. Slavery was a reality for them, particularly in the Roman Empire.

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But how do Paul’s words apply to our current culture? Praise God we live in a time where slavery is condemned, but you still most likely have people you are in authority over or under. You have people you work with and for and perhaps you have people who work for you. Or, if you are a student, then you have parents and teachers who are in authority over you. And if you’re not in authority over anyone yet, that time is coming — hang in there, students!

What does rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man mean? Another translation of verse 7 reads, “Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people” (NLT). Does that make it a little clearer? We are to work as though Jesus is right there. We are working for and with him. I’m willing to bet that every single one of us would work differently and act toward authority and from authority differently if Jesus were standing right there watching us. Or better yet, if Jesus was the one assigning us our jobs, would we complain as we often do? Would we say, “That’s not my job!”? Would we point fingers and blame others for our shoddy work? Would we even have shoddy work?

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What about if Jesus were on your staff, and you were his supervisor? What would it look like to give him an assignment, task, or role? Again, I’m pretty sure that if we were asking Jesus to clean toilets, we would do it with respect and honor, not with a condescending air about us. We would probably even offer to lend a hand, even if it’s “not our job.”

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Even though we live in a different context, we can still apply this verse to our current situations. You may have a boss who is a “tyrant.” You may be in authority over others and that has made you feel superior. But Paul reminds us that no matter your situation or current circumstance — you are to work as though you are working for the Lord.

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How would that change your perspective on your boss or subordinates? How would it change the quality of your work and the attitude with which you do it? How might our world look differently if every Christian approached their work this way? I bet it would change our workplaces…and it can start with you.

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Father God, I know I have fallen into the trap of, “It’s not my job,” and “I have better things to do,” but show me how to have an attitude of servanthood, an attitude of Christ. Thank you that you show so much mercy and grace for the times I slip. Thank you that you love me no matter my attitude, but Lord Jesus, help me to be more like you. Help me to be a servant leader and a servant follower. In your precious and holy name ~ AMEN!