“The Lord Will Reward Whatever Good You Do, Whether Slave Or Free!”

“The Lord Will Reward Whatever Good You Do, Whether Slave Or Free!”
Obedience to, and giving honour to parents is a divine commandment that comes with a promise: “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on earth.” There is no qualms about this filial obligation of children towards their biological parents, but as Africans in typical communal living whoever is the age of a parent to you is your parent. Hence the wise saying that “a child is yours only when it is still in the womb.”
Life is lived in reciprocity. That is why fathers are enjoined not to exasperate the children, but to “instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” If that is the case we the adults should retrospectively seek to locate where we went wrong and see how we can redress the situation. We have gone beyond the stage of asking, “where did we go wrong?”
The relationship between children and parents apply to slaves and masters. Slaves are expected to obey their “earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.” We matpy say that this command condones slavery which is a violation of humanrights. At the best Christians should not have slaves, but because of the hardness of the human heart, there is need for this divinely-given practical ways of dealing with such realities.
Slavery is not condoned, but if you are one such person obey your master not because you want to win his favour, but because you are a slave of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men…the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does…”
If you are a master, “treat your slaves (servants) 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 favouritism with him” (Eph.6:1-9).
My friend, do you have servants or house helps? When a guest visits your home how long can s/he take to know who are your biological children and those who are not yours?
Slaves or servants just as children deserve the best from us. It is a divine command to be obeyed! After all, we are all slaves of our heavely Master who shows no favouritism! Besides, in life one fluctuates between being a servant and a master, one time or the other!
Prayer: Holy Spirit help me to be an obedient servant in my servant capacity and a loving master in my master capacity. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!