On the Clock (Titus 2:9-10) – While we are on the clock vocationally, we are also on the clock missionally. Even if your job isn’t in the ministry, you are in the ministry.
- The concept of slavery in biblical times is extremely different from slavery in modern times.
- Old Testament teaching regarding the positive treatment of slaves was countercultural at the time.
- During the time of the New Testament, people were not bondservants due to ethnicity, literacy, or nationality.
- From every type of socioeconomic class, people would volunteer to be a bondservant due to economic reasons.
- While varying in degrees of comfort, many people enjoyed a beneficial situation due to slavery.
- In the early church, bondservants were seen as equal to the financially free members.
- The concept of slavery in biblical times is extremely different from vocations in modern times.
- While bondservants were not treated as severely then as in recent historical contexts, they were still possessions of their masters.
- While your work situation may not be ideal, it is disrespectful to equate it with what others have experienced through slavery.
- God called bondservants to suffer well in order to be missional even in their slavery.
- By observing the extreme obedience expected of Christian bondservants, we should have no trouble displaying extreme obedience as Christian employees.
Expected Obedience for Bondservants
- Submissive to their own masters in everything – To be free in Christ does not give a free pass for rebellion against God-given human authorities.
- Well-pleasing – A Christian should attempt to be the most pleasing worker in order to gain a platform with the boss.
- Not argumentative – Arguing with your authority minimizes your opportunity to speak up when it counts.
- Not pilfering, but showing all good faith – A Christian should live with moral integrity so that he or she can be trusted with spiritual opportunities.
- So that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior – The content of the message is validated by the character of the messenger.
Application
- Another’s conversion must be deemed more important than my comfort.
- What will I endure temporarily so that another doesn’t have to endure eternally?
- While we are on the clock vocationally, we are also on the clock missionally.
- Even if your job isn’t in the ministry, you are in the ministry.
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
