24 Aug September 17 Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CHRISTIANS –  MASTERS

Colossians 4:1 “Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.”

In today’s devotional verse, “Masters” are fellow Christians.  St. Paul is exhorting them to treat their slaves as equals rather than as being superior to them.  In English, the Greek word means equity and fairness.  They are always to keep in mind that within the church “there is neither Jew, nor Greek, male or female, slave or free.”  All Christians, no matter what their life status, are “one (equal) in Christ Jesus.”  (Galatians 3:28-29)

The Holy Spirit guided St. Paul more than once to address “masters” in their treatment of their slaves.  In Ephesians 6:9 St. Paul wrote, “ . . . masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.”  Peter reiterated this point, “ . . . how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right.”  (Acts 10:34-35)

Deterding in His Commentary applies this verse to Christian employers today.  “The Christian employer or supervisor is to show the same consideration toward his employees or subordinates as Colossians 4:1 directed Masters of their slaves.  Ian McNaughton comments, “Christian employers need to remember God’s priority order as revealed here in Colossians, and take it to heart when considering employer—employee relations and demands. . .A good example of this would be the issue of Sunday work. Employers should not ask employees to work on Sundays when God wants them to treat it as a day of rest.” (A contemporary company owned by a Christian does just this – Chic-Fil-A)

In his commentary on Colossians, Matthew Henry says a Christian master “. . . requires no more of them (slaves/employees) than they are able to perform; and does not lay unreasonable burdens upon them, and beyond their strength. He provides for them what is fit, supplies proper food, and allows them such liberties as may fit them the better for cheerful service . . .even if they be employed in the meanest and lowest offices.”

Prayer:  Lord, lead us to spend our lives in loving service for You and others, for You have so dearly loved us. Amen.  (Lutheran Study Bible)

Where charity and love prevail There God is ever found;

Brought here together by Christ’s love By love are we thus bound.

With grateful joy and holy fear His charity we learn;

Let us with heart and mind and soul Now love Him in return.

Forgive we now each other’s faults As we our faults confess,

And let us love each other well In Christian holiness.

Let strife among us be unknown; Let all contention cease;

Be God’s the glory that we seek; Be ours His holy peace.

Let us recall that in our midst Dwells Christ, His only Son;

As members of His body joined We are in Him made one.

For love excludes no race or clan That names the Savior’s name;

His family embraces all Whose Father is the same.

(LSB 845)