1 Timothy 6:1-2 -- Serve them even better

To catch up on our adventure through 1 Timothy, click here and read from the bottom post up.

1 Timothy 6:1-2 (NIV):

"All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered. [2] Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them."

Sometimes it's hard for us to understand he passages on slaves and masters in the Bible. We want the passages to renounce slavery altogether, to be pro-abolition, but they do not express that viewpoint.

Taking the Bible as a whole, it's really hard to justify slavery. God values every single human life. And He calls us to value every life as well.

But Paul is very practical here. In the midst of a culture where slavery is not even questioned, Paul doesn't set up philosophical debates on the subject. But he gives very practical advice to slaves. In fact, the Bible is full of practical information for slaves and masters (1 Corinthians 7:20-24; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:22-4:1; Philemon; 1 Peter 2:13-25).

For us today in 21st century America, to apply these passages to our lives we need to replace "slave" with "employee" and "master" with "employer."

Employees should consider their bosses worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered.

As a Christian employee, your boss and others around you are watching you. Everything you do reflects not just on you, but on God and the Church as well.

That is, if people know you are a Christian, then their view of God and church and Christianity is largely based on how you conduct yourself.

Those who have bosses who are believers are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better.

I think Paul indirectly addresses here a fundamental flaw of human nature. I have seen too many Christians take advantage of other Christians. I guess we figure in our mind that the other person has to love us and forgive us, so we tend to take advantage of them, usually subconciously.

But Paul says to work even harder for the Christian boss. Remember--they shall know we are Christians by our love. Think of how you can love the other person and show them greater honor and respect.