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Titus 2:9 NLT

'Slaves must always obey their masters and do their best to please them. They must not talk back.'

The word ‘slave’ conjures up images of people being ruthlessly exploited for the profit of their owner. However, in Greek and Roman society, slaves might be highly skilled individuals. They served as accountants and physicians. Unskilled slaves, or those reduced to slaves as punishment, led the brutal, short lives we associate with slavery. Indeed, in Rome slaves were regularly adopted as sons by the family they served and enjoyed the benefits that went with their new legal status.

We are slaves of Christ, while we are also adopted sons and heirs. Our status as ‘beloved’ is never in doubt. Yet, our responsibility to develop and deploy our skills in honouring our master and Father is paramount. In a society in which we invite people to work on zero hours contracts, recruit low-wage workers from different parts of the world and basically design the whole of our economy around the sole value of profit, we run the risk of turning a legitimate workforce into no more than wage slaves.

The principle God instructs us to adopt is one in which we assume that whatever we do we are serving him and reflecting kingdom values. As a worker, I am to prove diligent, reliable, trustworthy and compliant. The employer is equally required to honour God first and treat the workforce with respect, deal honestly, reward appropriately and maintain healthy communication and care. We share a common humanity as well as a common God.

The current state of the workplace reveals more about the dangers of the love of money dethroning God. Scripture teaches we cannot love both (Matthew 6:24). There is no problem with working to improve the quality of life for all. Yet, if only a few boats rise on an incoming tide of wealth creation, we run the risk of returning to the worst aspects of slavery.

QUESTION: How do you view work?

PRAYER: Lord, help me today to work in a way that honours and pleases you.