Secular or Sacred?

Slaves

Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ.  Ephesians 6:5 (HCSB)

In our country, we value freedom! We fight for it and we even help others obtain it. When the Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the church in Ephesus, he was writing to people who predominantly were slaves. In fact, slaves probably outnumbered the free. Slavery was very common in the ancient world. You may be thinking at this point that Paul really does not have anything to say to me because we no longer have slavery in this country. However, the relationship between slave and master is a similar relationship between employee and employer.

John MacArthur, in Macarthur New Testament Commentary – Ephesians, writes “In our day the struggle between employers and employees has reached monumental levels. Conflicts rage constantly between workers and management, with each side accusing the other of selfishness and unreasonableness. Employees want smaller workloads, fewer hours, more vacation, and more pay and benefits. Employers want more productivity, more profits, and greater control of management policies and practices. Both sides want lower taxes for themselves while expecting greater government protection and sometimes even subsidy.

It is not hard to see that the heart of the problem on both sides is greed. The sin of greed is the primary fuel that feeds the inflationary spiral that has become a common part of modern life in most parts of the world. When everyone wants more, prices must rise to pay for higher wages and profits. And as prices rise and money therefore buys less, people want still higher pay or profits to make up the difference. When the government becomes heavily involved in various subsidies and supports, then taxes, the national debt, or both must be raised. If the government prints more money without backing, the value of all its money is decreased, and again people want more income to make up the difference.

Added to all of that is the principle that, as possessions increase so does greed, because greed is by nature insatiable. It is likely that modern Western society is the greediest in history. Everyone wants more for less, and the ascending spirals of inflation, debt, and taxation are unabated.”

Sin is a cruel master because it is never satisfied. Sin does not come to visit, it comes to take over! It is into this dark world that Christ chose to shine His light of truth.  The truth is as long as we are a slave to sin, we will never be free! May we learn the lesson that Paul teaches in Philippians 4:12 when he says, “I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.”

Today’s Prayer

Dear Lord,

I am a sinner in great need of Your mercy. At times, I have coveted what others have. I have allowed the philosophy of the world to keep me on a merry-go-round of greed. Please give me Your peace and contentment. In Jesus Name, Amen.