THE SERVANT’S OBEDIENCE TO HIS MASTER
Ephesians 6: 5: Servants, be obedient to them that are your
masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your
heart, as unto Christ; 6: Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the
servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7: With good will
doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8: Knowing that whatsoever good
thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be
bond or free.
In scripture, there were
voluntary servants who dedicated themselves to others such as Joshua to Moses
and Elisha to Elijah. Under the law some servants sold themselves to their debtor
or were servants to make restitution for theft. (Ex 21:7; Le 25:39-47; 2 Ki
4:1; De 15:12-18) A willing-bond-servant had served his time and was free to go
but loved his master so he continued to serve him. (Ex 21:2, 6; 25:40) A slave was
a servant forced to serve—Joseph is the first slave in scripture. (Gen
37:27-28) This kind of service is oppression and abhorred by God. (De 24:14 Ps
103:6 Isa 10:1-3 Am 4:1 Mal 3:5 Jas 5:4) Today, most of us are hired servants
working for our employer for a wage. In
this text, God gives the believer, who was a forced servant, instructions how
he was to serve his master. It does not suggest we should practice slavery in
our culture where slavery is illegal any more than Paul meant that women should
show their subjection to the man by wearing a head covering in our culture
where head coverings are not the way women show their subjection to their
husbands. But in both cases, it is the
principle which applies. No matter a believer’s position, we are Christ’s free
men and are to serve in subjection as unto Christ.
We learn all truth by looking to Christ
Jesus. In Philippians 2, we see Christ Jesus “took upon him the form of a servant.” (Philippians 2: 5-8) God the Son, equal with God the Father,
willingly took the form of a servant because his elect fell into slavery in sin.
(Romans 6: 17, 20) Only our Kinsmen
Redeemer could provide righteousness for us and pay eternal death for our sins. (Hebrews 2: 14-15) Due to sin’s
corruption, we think being served is the great thing. But in Christ we behold
that serving for those we love is the greatest thing. (Luke 22: 26-27; Matthew
20: 26-28; Luke 9 48)
How did Christ serve? He served the Father
obediently. Therefore, he says, “Servants, be obedient to them that are masters
according to the flesh.” (Eph 6: 5) Christ served with fear and trembling as
unto God his Master. Therefore, he says, “Servants,
be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and
trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ.” (Eph 6: 5) Christ served not as pleasing men but as the
servant of God, doing the will of God from the heart. Therefore he teaches
servants to serve “Not with eyeservice,
as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the
heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.” He
served believing God would honor the pure motive of his heart. Therefore, he
teaches servants to serve “Knowing that
whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord,
whether he be bond or free.” He teaches us that even in the lowest place of
service we glorify God by being the best servant our master has and God honors
those who honor him. (Read 1 Peter 2:18-24)
May God make us great by making us willing to be least to serve one another
rather than being served!