We Are His People; He Is Our GodSample

Read Ephesians 6:5-9

God is your good master.

In Ephesians 6, Paul instructs slaves to obey their masters just as they obey Christ because they are Christ's slaves. "Slave" is a negatively charged word, and it may not be appealing to hear Paul compare Christ's followers to slaves. I don't know about you, but calling myself a child of God, the bride of Christ, or a friend of Jesus sounds much more preferable than being a slave of Christ!

When considering what Paul means by stating that Christ's followers are his slaves, it is essential to realize that the oppressive, dehumanizing institution of slavery that we are most familiar with is not the sort of slave relationship that Paul was referencing. This relationship cannot possibly describe the relationship between Christ and his followers because it is incompatible with the other relationship metaphors in the Bible, which clearly show that Jesus relates to his followers in an intimate, loving, caring, and empowering way. In fact, as we read earlier in this Plan, Jesus seemed to reject the word "slave" as a sufficient descriptor of his followers. So what does Paul really mean when he says that Christ's followers are his slaves?

Many scholars have suggested that the type of slave or servant we are to Christ is a bondservant. In the ancient world, bondservants were people who willfully chose to bind themselves to a particular master because of the care or provisions that the master could provide for them. In other words, people chose to serve a particular master because they recognized that it would better their lives by increasing their wealth, comfort, or protection.

Like bondservants, slaves of Christ are not forced into service (everyone has free will and can choose to serve or reject Christ). Every slave of Christ willfully chose to obey, serve, and submit to Christ. This is why Paul says that slaves of Christ are characterized by their sincere hearts, which yearn to serve Christ even in secret. Being a slave to Christ is a chosen and eager servitude.

What makes Christ's followers so eager to serve him? The Bible tells us that human hearts are created for devotion, and all people ultimately choose something to devote their time, money, attention, and hearts to. That could be God, or it could be fitness, family, wealth, educational prowess, workplace success, or any number of other masters. But out of all the possible masters in the world, there is only one who gives abundant life rather than taking away time and resources from your life... and that is Christ! Christians are eager to become slaves of Christ because Jesus is the one master who offers his followers more freedom and abundance the more they bind themselves to him. Making Jesus your master increases your life in every way rather than using you up.

Reflect

• Why do "good" things such as family or work make bad masters?
• Describe how Christ frees his followers (Hint: what things does he free them from?).