SERMON: “Encouraging Slaves” (Titus 2:9–10)
“Encouraging
Slaves” (Titus 2:9–10)
Series: “Titus: Godly People, Godly Church,”
#11 Text: Titus
2:9–10
By: Shaun Marksbury Date: July 14, 2024
Venue: Living Water Baptist Church Occasion:
PM Service
I.
Introduction
Now, it has nothing to do with the British-American
slave-trade, which the Bible condemns.
That’s important to keep in mind in our cultural conversations. To attack your faith, some will use the fact
that the Bible seemingly condoned the race-based, dehumanizing slavery we’ve
seen in American history. Nothing can be
further from the truth.
It’s true that the Bible acknowledges the existence of
slavery and even allows it, but we have to keep in mind that the absence of
legal slavery is a modern invention. The
Bible gives clear instructions on how slavery was to be done among God’s Old
Testament people, with God specifically declaring man-stealing or the
kidnapping of individuals for the purpose of slavery a sin punishable by death
(Exodus 21:16).
While we’ve
officially done away with slavery as an institution, many young people liken a
need to work to survive to a form of slavery.
We may chuckle at that, but there is some justification for that
feeling; a person with a mortgage knows well the proverb “the borrower becomes
the lender’s slave” (Prov. 22:7). The
inherent greed in the system today is a common complaint, where both employees
and employers vie for more wealth. However,
there are undeniable blessings to living in our current system.
This is socially equivalent to telling employees to give
their bosses an honest day’s labor.
That’s where this hits home for younger men and women. The work you do in the world has an impact on
the body of Christ. Just as a man’s
speech can bring reproach to the body of Christ, his work ethic may potentially
cause others to blaspheme God.
So, for our context, we are going to think in those terms:
Scripture is giving admonition to employees here. We’ll note four admonitions for workers in
this text, both explicit and implicit. Workers
should practice subjection, service, integrity, and worship. Let’s consider the first of these.
II.
Workers Should Practice Subjection (v. 9a)
Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything,
The first word in this translation is actually not
here. Usually, the NASB and the KJV will
italicize words in the text that it has added.
The term “urge” comes from v. 6, since the grammar of this sentence
seems to look backward to a verb. We
could read vv. 6–9, “Likewise urge the young men to be sensible… bondslaves to be subject.” Titus is to give an exhortation or
encouragement to the bondslaves in the congregation.
Again, bondslave isn’t the best translation. The term is “slaves,” which is what the LSB
has here. We shouldn’t shy away from
that term, for it’s the same term to also describe an aspect of our Christian
relationship with Christ. (We’ll
consider the interplay of “slave” and “friend” in our study of John 15.)
Yet, even if this
isn’t a negative moral judgment, it’s not necessarily a positive one,
either. Indeed, we should take care to
give those in authority over us proper respect — even those who don’t deserve
it (cf. 1 Pet. 2:18). Otherwise, we
might allow bitterness to consume us, prompting insubordinate and other
unchristian attitudes. If, however, we
realize that those over us act like they don’t know the Lord because they
don’t, then we respond with trepidation, wanting to be a faithful witness and
servant of the Lord to them.
The point isn’t whether this is a good master or a bad
one. Slaves are urged here to be subject
or “submissive” (ESV), “obedient” (N/KJV).
Now, this is the same word for obedience is the word used of women—your
submission is not a statement of self-worth.
In Luke 2:51, we find the same word used of the boy Jesus — He was
submissive to Mary and Joseph while being God incarnate! Your submission to earthly masters is
Christlikeness in you.
Good masters are easier to obey, though their may be a part
of our sinful nature that refuses to see the good. Of course, unjust bosses are a constant
temptation in themselves to sin. Even
so, in Ephesians 6:6, Paul states that we must not only obey, but do the will
of God “from the heart.” As you learn to
endure the barbs and lashes of the world and overcome in the Spirit, you
practice true Christlikeness to the Glory of God in Heaven. That is worship in the workplace, which we’ll
talk about in a few minutes.
Scripture calls those who are slaves to be in submission to
those over them “according to the flesh” (Col 3:22; 1 Tim. 6:1; Eph. 6:5). This applies to all believers, for elsewhere
we read, “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing
authorities. For there is no authority
except from God, and those which exist are established by God” (Rom. 13:1). We should see that where we are is part of
the ordinance of God’s providential establishment of our lives.
This brings us to the last two words here: in everything. As an aside, there’s a question as to whether
this is best connected with the next phrase.
In the KJV, it is, that slaves should be pleasing in everything. While that is possible, this seems like the
NASB translation is best, as this “alternative probably gives better balance
with the identical phrase at the end of 2:10.”[2] So,
subjection is to everything, not just what is desirable.
Christian obedience is to be perpetual and done “with fear
and trembling” (Eph. 6:5). We are not to
dread the wrath of earthly masters (v. 6 there says don’t be men-pleasers), and
morally wrong commands and tyranny are different situations altogether. We see an example in Paul, who described his
ministry in this way (1 Cor. 2:3) but said he wasn’t trying to please people
(Gal. 1:10). Instead, we should be
beware to make morally correct choices in the workplace, for the glory of God.
This kind of mindset brings us to the next point.
III.
Workers Should Practice Service (v. 9b)
to be
well-pleasing, not argumentative,
We endeavor to be pleasing to God in our work, and we must
also be pleasing to earthly masters. Scripture
calls us to be “well-pleasing.” As
Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord
rather than for men.” Yet, a sound
Christian employee applies Ecclesiastes 9:10, which says, “Whatever your hand
finds to do, do it with all your might.” This is a fine line to walk, for Paul
elsewhere warns servants to avoid being people-pleasers and to serve the
Heavenly Master.
Therefore, sound workers of the faith are not
oppositional. As the HCSB has here, they are “not talking
back.” They’re not contrarians or
argumentative. No matter how much you
might think that manager needs to be set straight, there is a respectful spirit
of submission within your heart. That is
because you want to see the gospel lifted high by your life.
As such, you want your work to communicate something about
you. That brings us to the next point:
IV.
Workers Should Practice Integrity (v. 10a)
not pilfering, but
showing all good faith
It should go without saying that Christian employees must
not pilfer, misappropriate funds, embezzle, or otherwise steal. This applies to all levels of employment,
from the cashier to the CEO. This is what
Ananias and Sapphira did when they “held back” some of the money from the sale
of their land and then lied about it in Acts 5:3. Calvin notes that the comedies were full of
servants stealing from masters, and that the terms “servant” and “thief” became
convertible terms.
Our actions always affect others. There are people who think that their theft
doesn’t hurt anybody. Yet, one of the
difficult kinds of bosses to work for is the embittered owner who’s been burned
one too many times by unscrupulous employees. One of the causes of price increases in stores
is product loss, though people claim it is only corporate greed. When theft becomes too much for a business to
make a profit, a neighborhood can lose out on goods, services, and employment
opportunities. And it is mainly due to
personal greed, and not the greed of the 1%ers.
Of course, many Christians understand this, but they don’t
think about other kinds of theft. Time-theft
may also fall into this category. If
you’re being paid to work, you shouldn’t spend an hour goofing around. Christian employees should be wise stewards
of their time, proving themselves trustworthy.
That will ultimately prove more convincing a witness that can then turn
into an evangelistic opportunity off-the-clock.
A Christian employee is “proving all good faith.” The KJV has “shewing all good fidelity” and
the NIV has “show that they can be fully trusted.” This is what is meant by preforming one’s
duties in good faith. In contrast to
thieving employees, Christians should demonstrate and prove a fidelity and
trustworthiness. An excellent work ethic
is how we demonstrate faith to the world around us and provide evidence that it
is good.
As we’ve been considering each of these points, we’ve been
coming back to how our work reflects upon the Lord. That brings us to the last point.
V.
Workers Should Practice Worship (v. 10b)
so that they will
adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.
If we note the “so that” in the text, we see that this is
the purpose for the kind of work we’re called to perform. We should seek to adorn the gospel. The Greek word translated “adorn” is the word
from which we get our English word “cosmetics.”
We’re making the truth beautiful with our work.
Your work ethic should not only demonstrate the truth and
goodness of the faith, but it should make Christianity attractive to the lost
world. In an ugly workplace, a young man
or woman should make sound teaching in Christ shine — the gospel goes forth in
a powerful way to a lost and dying world.
And it should be seen in everything, from the time you get there until
the time you leave. That’s real power evangelism,
not those silly theatrics you see on supposedly Christian broadcast
networks. Exalting the Word of God
through your work ethic attracts others to Christ because you, by the grace of
God, have so adorned the doctrine of God.
Paul closes this section by repeating “in everything.” It’s translated “in every respect” here, but
it’s the same expression as in v. 9.
This repetition is important for driving the point home — this is all
for the Lord.
Before we close, some might wonder why there are no
instructions for masters, but the Apostle Paul gives those elsewhere. In Ephesians 6:9, he writes, “And masters, do
the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their
Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.” Perhaps the issue with slaves was more
pronounced in Crete, but if they are to behave honorably, then obviously,
masters are to do the same. Today, the
apostle might say the same of employees, that we are to give the proper account
to our employers, because many people in our nation seem to care less about
proper respect to managers and companies.
Again, yes, superiors are to behave properly, but we must see that
Christian obedience isn’t incumbent upon perfect behavior from those in
authority.
VI.
Conclusion
Biblical teaching should have transformed the slavery that
existed in the ancient world, as well as the American brand. It hammers a stake in the heart of the great
Atlantic slave trade, and since there’s no partiality, there can be no
race-based slavery. Slaves and masters
are equals in Christ.
Even so, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t still have a
work environment where there are subordinates and those who are in charge. There’s nothing wrong with the existence of
wealth or profit, but both the employer and the employee should submit to
Christ’s overarching authority in their commerce. Where one or the other is an unbeliever, the
Christian should take extra care to fulfill the will of the Lord, and there
should certainly exist symmetry for all to see when both are converts.
All should be done for the glory of God. Of course, this is the ideal, but we often
fail in our relationships. Thankfully,
God forgives us in Christ for our many transgressions against a proper work
ethic. Where we find ourselves weak, we
can find strength in the Holy Spirit to help us fulfill His will. Rely on His grace to work and to will, not
the sweat of your own brow!
[1] William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and
F. Wilbur Gingrich, A Greek-English
lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature, 2000,
220.
[2] J. Harold Greenlee, An Exegetical Summary of Titus and Philemon, 2nd ed., (Dallas, TX:
SIL International, 2008), 60.