Titus 2:9-10

There were a lot of slaves in the Roman Empire.  Many were drawn to freedom in Christ and the fellowship of the Body where there was neither slave nor free.  But their new position required they have a proper perspective to what they were, or weren’t, in society.  Thus …

1)    The spiritual wardrobe for SLAVES, v9-10.  Slaves were to be …

·        Obedient to their masters.  As in 2:5 obedient means submission.  This military term indicates those in submission are to further the goals and plans of their commander or leader.  In called for a voluntary attitude of cooperating, assuming responsibility and carrying a burden.  Paul does not champion the liberation of slaves (though he called on believing masters to be fair and kind, unlike the normal masters in the Empire).  1 Cor. 7:17-24 has Paul’s view on this subject: if you can gain freedom, fine; but if not, it is not necessary to your following Christ and enjoying His life!  Thus it makes sense that Paul begins by saying believing slaves need to joyfully place themselves under their master.  But in addition, slaves are to be …

·        Pleasing in all things.  This makes submission a very positive quality that takes the initiative in having a good relationship with the master.  It is common for employees today to have an adversarial relationship with the boss, or at least to have it encouraged around the water fountain or the union hall.  Scripture calls on those in submission to have the bosses’ interest at heart.  Then Paul notes a couple of specifics in this …

·        Not answering back.  They are not to be contradictors (1:9) but to seek to understand the master’s desires and to fulfill them.

·        Not pilfering.  In other words he is not an embezzler.  Big or small.  I had a job in an office when I was in college.  I had access to all the office supplies I needed for school, right on the shelves of that office.  Then one day the Lord convicted me of this pilfering.  I wrote a note of apology and attached $20.  I think it was appreciated although the bookkeeper apparently had no idea which category in which to put the money. 

·        Showing all good fidelity.  In the end, and over all, they were to be honest.  The goal was that their masters could trust them, count on them to do their best.  Certainly an illustration of this is found in Joseph in the way he served Potiphar as well as the keeper of the prison; in each case he was found trustworthy by ungodly masters (Gen. 39:1-6,21-23).

What was the point of this?  It was not simply to make things easier on slaves; even good service didn’t always make that happen.  The goal was that the slave, being saved, needed to use his place in life to present the gospel to others.  This kind of life would adorn the doctrine of God our Savior (i.e. the gospel).  For all of us the concern in life is not are we honored by those around us, successful in the eyes of the world, liberated women or slaves?  Our concern is to glorify and be a testimony to God our Savior!  We do this with a God-honoring dress code.