“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.”
-Ephesians 6:5

I often wonder about what some of the first century slaves were like. I imagine a Carthaginian or Persian general that was caught in battle and now he’s a slave. Most of these slaves, if they weren’t born slaves, were captured in battle or some kind of overthrow of regional governments. So, you have these people that were born with a sense of pride and a deep sense of dignity and even power, and now they’re scrubbing bathrooms, they’re being spit on, and they’re underfed.

I think about some of these people becoming Christians. And the Apostle Paul writes to them and he gives them a tremendous gift. He says that if you can get away from slavery, do it. Paul hates slavery. God hates slavery. It’s stealing. But Paul says that, even though you’re a slave, whatever you do, do it for the Lord. I know you’re a slave, I know you’re not choosing to do it, but don’t do your work for your masters; do it for your Father in heaven.

What a tremendous gift he gave those people. And what a tremendous gift he gives us as we apply the same principle to our work, as we bless others and get our jobs done as we work for the Lord.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for the tremendous gift of working all and only for you. May my attitude and effort be a blessing to you. Amen.

Reflection: How have you incorporated God’s “tremendous gift” into your own work life?