Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"And you masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him."
Text: Ephesians 6:9
A STRONG WORD TO CHRISTIAN MASTERS
It would only be right and appropriate if Paul also addressed Christian masters, if he took time to address and admonish Christian slaves. Paul gave as firm a word to Christian masters.
1. “And you masters, do the same things to them”
What did Paul mean by these words? These words are best understood in the light of the kind of service slaves gave to their masters.
a) Obedience (Ephesians 6:5)
b) Fear and trembling (Ephesians 6:5)
c) Sincerity of heart (Ephesians 6:5)
d) Not with eye-service (Ephesians 6:6)
e) Not as men-pleasers (Ephesians 6:6)
f) As bondservants of Christ (Ephesians 6:6)
g) Doing the will of God from the heart (Ephesians 6:6)
h) With goodwill doing service (Ephesians 6:7)
i) Awareness of the principle of sowing and reaping (Ephesians 6:8)
2. Masters are to reciprocate appropriately
Of course, their roles are quite different. They will not be “obeying” their slaves. They will not be in “fear and trembling”. But they are to consider the following:-
a) Sincerity of heart
b) Doing the will of God
c) With goodwill
d) Awareness of the principle of sowing and reaping
If Christian masters were to have a high regard for Paul’s word of admonition, all slaves would be deeply grateful.