Today’s passage: Ephesians 6:5-9
Helpful thoughts:
- There are examples of abusive and non-abusive (Even voluntary) slavery throughout Scripture and history. The slavery in the United States was certainly abusive.
- The Bible never affirms abusive slavery. It did however give instructions to those who were currently in the midst of it.
- If a slave master were to have been graciously saved and then read this passage, he was instructed to stop any and all abuse and to respect and treat his slaves as human beings who were just as valuable as him. And, when the Gospel was shared with them, they could become his brothers or sisters in Christ and joint-heirs in the kingdom! (See Philemon)
- Verse 8 confirms that the instructions in this passage can be applied by all who work under a boss (Bondservant or free).
- There is no partiality with God. No socioeconomic class is superior or inferior to any other.
Questions to consider:
- All bosses and employees, how are you doing in the workplace? How is your work and leadership/servitude honoring God and potentially even pointing people to Jesus?
- How has the sin of the slavery in our nation’s history impacted the life of the church? What would have to happen in the hearts of a congregation (Regardless of their initial majority ethnicity), along with the hearts of new members, to allow for their membership to be as multi-ethnic as Heaven is going to be?
- Ephesians 5:21 commanded mutual submission for all who are in Christ. How does this final passage regarding bondservants/employees and masters/employers display mutual submission? How do employers serve their employees? How does that service exemplify Christ?