THE BIBLE AND FAMILY RULES {PART 3}

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies); ND/HD (Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.

Call: +2348037346939 E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com

THE BIBLE AND FAMILY RULES {PART 3}

                                        Servant- Master Relationship

Presenter: Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu {Sunday Director}

Devotional Text Eph 6:5-9

INTROGUCTION:

                        Biblical rules that guide servant-master relationship are better summarised in the Scripture, “servant obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey CHRIST,” {Eph. 6:5}... “And masters treat your servants in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that their MASTER and yours is in heaven, and there is no favouritism with HIM,” {Vs. 9}. Here, basic responsibilities for both parties in the relationship are spelt out, citing our LORD and BLESSED SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST as the unseen MASTER who must be obeyed, if order must be achieved in the family.

GENERAL REMARKS

(i)              Servants are enjoined to serve their masters with sincerity of heart and respect, {Eph. 6:5}

(ii)            Servants, equally should serve their masters wholeheartedly, as if they are serving the LORD JESUS CHRIST, {Vs. 7}

(iii)           Masters, also should treat their servants in the same way their servants are expected to serve them, {Vs. 9}

(iv)           Masters, as well should not threaten their servants, but handle their affairs in love, taking cognisance of the truth that JESUS CHRIST our BLESSED SAIOUR is the MASTER of masters, who rewards everyone according to their deeds, {Vs. 9}

FAMILY RULES FOR SERVANTS

By way of definition, a servant is someone who performs duties for others, especially one employed in a family to carry out domestic duties or as a personal attendant. Normally, there are regulations guiding the duties of servants, and GOD’S WORD offers the uttermost guideline for such duties. To this end, servants are enjoined to “be obedient to them that are their masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of the heart, as unto CHRIST; not with eye service, as men pleasers, but as the servants of CHRIST, doing the WILL of GOD from the heart, {Eph. 6:5-6}. The Scripture in focus shows that, servants should serve their masters obediently, and that the said masters are human beings, since they are referred to, as masters according to the flesh. They should equally serve them, “with fear and trembling,” which implies that, they should accord them a very high degree of respect, as well as serve with sincerity of purpose, that is, without guile, hypocrisy or dissimulation, which is pictured as, serving with the singleness of the heart, as unto CHRIST, indicating that their services to their masters must bring glory to CHRIST, warning them also against eye service and men-pleasing tendencies, but as servants of CHRIST, doing the WILL of GOD {Vs. 5-6}. By this, therefore, this lesson states that;

(i)        Servants should serve their masters with, the uttermost sense of obedience and respect, and with sincerity of purpose, {Vs. 5}

(ii)      They should also know that their services to their masters should always be to the glory of CHRIST, {Vs. 5}

(iii)     Servants should, as well, know that doing the will of GOD in service, is doing the right things, as approved

 by the WORD of GOD, {Vs. 6}

FAMILY RULES FOR MASTERS

    According to the Holy Scripture, masters should not threaten their servants, since they know that HE who is both their MASTER and theirs, is in Heaven, and there is no favouritism with HIM, {Eph. 6:9}. Here, one deduces the simple truth that both masters and servants are servants of the LORD, and so, implies that a master who desires fair treatment from the LORD must learn to treat his servants fairly. Thus, the New international Version {NIV} of the Colossian account of the instruction enjoins masters to provide their servants with what is right and fair, for the fact that CHRIST JESUS our BLESSED SAVIOUR, who is the MASTER of masters is in heaven {Col. 4:1}, and sees every action of masters which, accordingly, HE will reward, whether they be good or bad. In line with the foregoing, it becomes biblically obvious that;

(i)              Masters should not threaten their servants, {Eph. 6:9}

(ii)            They should rather provide them with what is right and fair, {Col. 4:1}

(iii)           They should, equally, bear in mind that JESUS CHRIST, the MASTER of masters, is watching, {Vs. 1}

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND FAMILY SUPERVISION

No doubt, our LORD and BLESSED SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, is the unseen MASTER and SUPERVISOR of every family on earth, who frowns at injustices, when they are allowed in any household, especially, when they are meted out on servants. But, at times, injustices come from servants to their masters, indicating why the instruction simultaneously considers servants and masters, in the order that says, “servants be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto CHRIST”... “And, masters treat your servants in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that their MASTER and yours, is in heaven, and there is no favouritism with HIM” {Eph. 6:5-9}, an indication of an ongoing supervision of the family by CHRIST JESUS. The above assertion biblically shows that;         

(i)                    Servants should adhere to the tenets of the family rules as they affect them, {Titus 2:9}

(ii)                  Masters should also keep their own part of the instruction, {Eph. 6:9; Col. 4:1}

(iii)                 Peace, love and harmony can only be achieved in a household, where family rules are kept, {Eph. 6:5-9}

In conclusion, it is important to note that family rules that border on servants and their masters are crucial and sensitive, since servants and maters are often not linked biologically, which makes mutual trust humanly difficult. But, the GRACE of GOD provides sufficient strength that enables one abide by the stipulations of family rules. BEWARE OF WICKEDNESS!