Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. Ephesians 6:5-8 (New International Version, NIV) emphasis mine

It was not uncommon for people to own slaves in the first century. Yet, in Christ, slaves were free from bondage to sin, just as those who were not slaves. Paul’s statements do not condone slavery or condemn it. He was addressing the relationship between a slave and his master- and those same relationship points can apply in many situations. The things he mentioned are to be applied to us as we serve Christ. So- how should we serve?

With Obedience

God wants us to obey Him, even as we serve others.. According to Merriam-Webster, to obey means to comply with, as commands or requirements, to be ruled by, to yield to, to submit to authority. We are to operate in obedience to God, as well as with other people. The Lord expects us to obey those He has placed in authority over us, such as a pastor, supervisor, spouse, to our parents while we are under their covering, etc. Our obedience comes out of love for God. We serve out of obedience to God and one another.

With Respect

To respect, per Roget’s Thesaurus, is the same as to esteem, revere, appreciate, regard, and honor. When we serve God and each other with respect, we can’t go wrong. Our service will honor those that we serve- and it will honor the Lord.

With Fear

The fear noted in this verse is similar to respect and revere. A right fear is not based in terror, fright, dread, alarm, or dismay. It is fear founded on reverence for the Lord. When we serve out of wrong fear, it results in harm to ourselves and often others.

With Sincerity

Merriam-Webster tells us that sincerity is honesty of mind or intention, freedom from hypocrisy. we are to serve out of honest motives, not in fraudulence or by cheating each other. A trusted servant is an honest one with good intentions. We are not to be fake or phony in our service, but we are to be the real deal. Hypocrisy in early New Testament times referred to the wearing of a mask, like an actor on a stage. We must be open and honest, above-board in our dealings. We must not act as if we are someone we are not or as if our motives are something other than what they really are. God is real, and He wants us to be real with each other.

We are to do things as if we are doing them directly for Christ- because we actually are. We are to act the same no matter who might be watching us. God wants us to serve and do His will from our hearts. Our service should be wholehearted and sincere because we serve the Lord above all others. And He rewards His true, faithful, and good servants.

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21 (New International Version, NIV)