Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. And 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. (Ephesians 6:5-9 NIV)
Okay, we have this troubling question: If slavery is wrong—and I think we can all agree that it is—then why didn’t the New Testament writers take more of a stand against it?
First this: Every troubling question you take to God. I’ll give you the answer that works for me, but I don’t pretend it will work for you. To get the answer that works for you, you need to get it from God.
Much of the Old Testament was addressed to national leaders, to people in power. By contrast, the New Testament was directed to people with little or no political power. The New Testament is a guide for marginalized peoples.
And in this passage, the author brings up the question: How do you deal with a bad situation you don’t have the power to change?
Here’s his answer (in Dwightspeak). Imagine you are on the beach in Hawaii. You hold in your hand a tiny drop of liquid. When you drop that drop of liquid into the Pacific Ocean, the entire ocean will change color.
Take a moment and imagine that.
This is the difference between your earthly life and eternal life. That drop of liquid in your hand is your earthly life. It’s very, very small compared to the vast Pacific Ocean. But it has the power to color your eternity. So take this very small life, this drop of liquid in your hand, and make the best of it because pretty soon you’ll be swimming in the ocean of your making.
Dwight
PS. We talk about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. But what does that mean? How do you cultivate a meaningful relationship with God? The Inner Wealth resources for Saturday, 6/1/2019 will cover beginning a relationship with God, elements of a healthy relationship, sacred pathways, and how to hear the voice of God.
