…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 bondservant or is free.
Ephesians 6:7-8
These words were written to slaves. And though that world appears harsh to modern thinking, it was the situation in the First Century Roman Empire Christian culture. Paul addressed both slaves and their masters with transforming and authoritative truth. Slaves did not serve out of mere slavery once they became Christians. Instead, like all Christians whether slave or free, they were to do all things in Christlike service to other people. All Christians were called to be bondservants of Christ. All were called to do the will of God from the heart.
Christians live, not by a worldly set of perspectives, but by the kingdom rule of Jesus. All must surrender to Jesus as Master. All believers are called to serve God and others with the goal of pleasing the Lord, and not just for human recognition. We look for Christ’s approval alone.
And there is a promise attached to this kind of attitude. The good we do serving Christ will be given back to us multiplied by grace from the Lord. Jesus doesn’t demand just slavish devotion. He rewards His servants well. Thus, in Christ, all are equally loved, blessed, and brought together. We humble ourselves in service to Christ as we serve others, and we are promised to be rewarded in that service by our Lord Himself. May that transformed slavery mindset be our own rewarding service as Christians bring the gospel, expand the kingdom, and display the image of Jesus Christ in a society still very much needing His transforming authority!
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