Thoughts From 1 Timothy - Day 17

 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves. 1Tim. 6:1-3

        I try to put myself in the servant mindset of the first century and here are the issues or emotions that I think I would have.

   1. Inferiority - Being a servant would be very humbling. Often it was saying, "I'm broke; I'm bankrupt and need help." I would have to place myself under someone saying that they are empirically better than me. As a doctor that would be tough for me because society elevates our value. As a Christian, though, where is our inherent value found? Is it not in our adoption into children of the King? In the kingdom of God, we have as much value as the slave owner and can't be gaslit into thinking we are lesser but in order to maintain dignity we must remember that this world is the "matrix", and reality exists in the Kingdom of God.

      If you have a menial job and you feel inferior and it's affecting your self- worth, your eyes are fixed on the wrong kingdom.

   2. Lack of freedom - As a servant you cannot come and go as you please. Your decisions are not autonomous but made for you. Your only answer is "Yes sir." We live in a country, USA, that was founded on rebellion against authority and it's ingrained in all of us. This would be hard for me. I often spiritualize my decision not to be absorbed by a medical conglomerate but to remain independent, as, "I can't have anyone telling me that I can't pray with patients or share Jesus with them. I must be independent!" Actually though, how much of it deep down is that I don't want people telling me what to do; I want to be free.

        Christians are actually slaves to Christ. We have voluntarily given up our rights and freedom. In exchange He has given us immense freedom to love because He loved us first. If you find yourself in a job where you feel like you have no freedom, just remember that your real boss says that the only freedom that really matters if freedom to love.

    3. Dependent - This point intermingles with 1 and 2 but as a servant you become dependent on someone else for your next meal, your clothes, your shelter - basically all your needs. Any self-sufficiency is gone. We take pride in making it on our own and not needing help from anyone. "I'm too proud to beg!", we say. Actually in the Kingdom of God mindset we realize that we are dependent on God for our next breath and heartbeat. Our salvation depends entirely on His grace and mercy for it. If there is any spiritual mindset of self-sufficiency, then we aren't saved.

     If you feel totally helpless and dependent on your paycheck for your very next meal, just remember that your Father is taking care of you and He has "never forsaken the righteous or their seed begging for bread". "My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory."

     Bottom line - if life has you feeling inferior, enslaved, totally dependent, you are focusing on the wrong world , the wrong kingdom, and the wrong boss.