Serving and leading under the pre-eminent Christ

If you were a slave sitting in a church in Paul’s day, what would you expect to hear from the Apostle as he addressed Christian slaves and masters? The injustice of slavery, perhaps? Maybe a call for the freedom of slaves?

But in his letter to the Colossian church, his words are directed to something deeper than the slaves’ social condition.

He addresses their standing in Christ and how a heavenly mindset translates into the life of one who, because of his lack of rights and freedom, is confronted with unique temptations.

Paul’s goal is not to overthrow the social structures that hold them captive. It is to see these Christians transformed in their difficult circumstances through their relationship with Christ. He wants to see them mature in Christ.

“Set your sights on heaven” is his continual message, as he points to the pre-eminence of Christ. “Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above.”

With this focus comes the call to radically transform all earthly relationships with a heavenly perspective.

As the slave serves his earthly master—often without compensation or praise—his temptation could be to do the bare minimum, working hard only when the master’s eye is on him. We all face the temptation of working to please men. And for the bondservant, his miserable life could seem to justify this eye-service.

But Paul calls Christian bondservants to better things. He reveals their true master—the one who is seated in heavenly places. He is the one who created them, who sustains them and the one who carried their sins in his body on the cross.

Paul is appealing to them to work with all their might. When they receive instructions from their earthly master, they should look beyond him and see their creator and saviour—the one they are ultimately obeying.

As an additional incentive, Paul reminds them of the reward that is waiting for them—an imperishable inheritance. Even if their earthly masters abused them, they had a king who loved them. Even if their earthly work was bitter and cruel, they were now adopted by the one who promised them rest. Even if they received nothing but hardship in this life, the God who had adopted them had laid aside for them an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for them.

But does this only apply to bondservants? There is certainly something for every Christian to learn here. Should this not be the norm for every Christian whose eyes are set on heaven, longing for the appearance of their Saviour? Working as unto him should be a way of life for someone overwhelmed by the reality of their position in Christ. This is as true for the mother hanging out her children’s clothes to dry as it is for a pastor preparing a sermon.

A Christian’s submission and hard work are not blind resignation. They are Christ-shaped acts of worship. The earthly mind asks, “What do I have to do?” The heavenly mind asks, “How can I serve Christ in what I have to do?”

At the same time, Paul warns, the slave cannot be excused from wrongdoing because he is oppressed, and the master cannot be excused from wrongdoing because he is powerful. There is no partiality with Christ. As the Christian rich man will have to give an account for his stewardship, so the lowly Christian slave will answer to Christ for how he serves his earthly master in all things.

Paul’s instructions to bondservants are in the context of the relationship between slave and master. Masters possessed immense power over their slaves. Some treated them well, but many abused that power. Slaves were vulnerable, legally subordinate, and often had little protection against exploitation or cruelty.

Paul intervenes with a heavenly call. The call to the Christian master is to “put to death therefore what is earthly in you.” This means not taking advantage of the vulnerable people in your care and under your influence. The resulting command is clear: do what is just and fair. The Christian master cannot ask merely, “What can I get from this person?” He must ask, “What is a right and fitting way to treat another human being created in the image of God?”

But it’s not just masters who have great power over people, is it? Everyone has the opportunity to take advantage of someone under their influence—from parents to bosses.

Paul’s answer is that no matter your position in society, you are, and will always be, under the Lord Christ. You are a servant of the pre-eminent Christ, and as a result, you serve him. Know your place, Christian—you have a heavenly Master.

But in contrast to many earthly masters, the Christian’s heavenly Master is loving, just and fair. And as you live out your authority under his sovereignty, you are being transformed into his beautiful image.

Both the servant and the master in Christ bow together before the pre-eminent Christ.

As they do, the menial tasks of servanthood and the acts of leadership become articles of worship that magnify the pre-eminent Jesus Christ.