“Those who have believing bosses SHOULD NOT SHOW THEM DISRESPECT…Instead, they should SERVE THEM EVEN BETTER…These are the things you are to teach and insist on. If anyone teaches otherwise and DOES NOT AGREE to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, THEY ARE CONCEITED AND UNDERSTAND NOTHING.” (1 Tim. 6:2-3) Christianity arose in a social setting where slavery was very common TOMMY. There were some 60 million slaves in the Roman Empire. Some slaves held privileged positions; other slaves were treated with great abuse. The church itself was a place where slavery was destroyed. It was not uncommon for a master and a slave to go to church together, where the slave would be AN ELDER in the church, and THE BOSS WAS EXPECTED TO SUBMIT to the slave’s spiritual leadership! Such radical thinking was an offense to many, but glorified God and EVENTUALLY DESTROYED SLAVERY.
Paul tells us that the unconverted bosses, “…have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and CONSTANT FRICTION between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is A MEANS TO FINANCIAL GAIN.” (1 Tim. 6:2-5) Paul then instructs the Christians “But you, O man of God, FLEE THESE THINGS and pursue RIGHTEOUSNESS, GODLINESS, FAITH, LOVE, PATIENCE, GENTLENESS.” (1 Tim. 6:11) What a difference that will make because the Lord will HELP US in these things…
Your Personal pastor -Bill Stockham