Passage
Slave are to have been submitting to their own masters in
all things – to be pleasing –while not speaking in opposition, while not misappropriating
funds, but while making known all good faith in order that in all things they
should make beautiful the instruction of God our savior.
Thoughts for Today
First Thought:
Again we see the same construction of arguments, this time
with respect to the sub-culture of slaves.
They are to submit to their masters in all things. Now, of course, Paul would only be speaking
about things which would be pleasing to God.
Paul would not want a slave to submit to a master that wanted him to
kill someone. But Paul is saying that so
long as the master is issuing orders that can be carried out without violating
one’s faith, the slave should be obedient.
Remember that this word “slave” is the word that Paul most often uses to
describe himself with respect to his relationship with God. For Paul, much of life is spent beating upon
our stubborn self-centered will so that we can submit to God. In that same way, Paul advises physical
slaves to resist the urge to follow their own will and instead humbly submit to
the earthly masters. For Paul, this isn’t
about slavery; it is about humble submission.
Once more we find a place in the New Testament that speaks to this idea
of submission.
As I’ve asked before, why is submission such an important concept
in the New Testament? How good are you
at submitting to physical or spiritual authorities?
Second Thought:
Slaves are also not to be concerned with mismanaging money
or speaking in opposition to their masters.
It might seem strange to hear about a slave mismanaging money. After all, they were slaves; what money could
they have had, right? The ancient system
of slavery was far fairer than our modern renditions. Household slaves were often charged with
raising the family’s children and providing for them. Many went to market to buy goods for the
family. Many had access to credit
extended to their master. Therefore,
what Paul is telling the slave is not to abuse what has been entrusted to
them. Even as a slave, they had certain
elements of life entrusted to them. The
same is true about us and God. As God’s
slaves, we are still entrusted with certain elements of God’s kingdom.
Do you ever mismanage what God has entrusted to you? Do you ever speak out against God’s ways or
His plan even though He has provided so graciously to you? Why do we do these things?
Third Thought:
As we have seen with
the other groups, we come upon Paul’s rationale for this advice to this
sub-group. Paul says that in managing
their slavery well, slaves make the instruction of God beautiful. I don’t believe that I have ever seen
anything more beautiful than a person humbly submitted to God. Obedience is a beautiful thing! Obedience brings patience, grace, love,
self-sacrifice, and many other things. Think
of Christ on the cross when you think of the beauty of submission.
Can you think of anything more beautiful in life than a
person humbly submitted before God? Why
is submission so beautiful? Why does
most of the world miss this beauty?
Passage for Tomorrow: Titus 2:11-12
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