An Admonition to Servants

Titus 2:9-10

 

⁹ Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;

¹⁰ Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

 

When we talk about servants, we basically talk about people who work for someone else.  In Paul’s day, there really was no word for employee.  They were called servants, whether it be for a business or a household, a restaurant or the temple. The particular word used here is doulos, which signifies one who is owned by another, not just working for them.  Ironically enough, this same word is used of those who are servants of Christ many times in the New Testament. I believe this admonition to servants should be one we all take to heart and do our best to live by.  The master spoken of here would be the employer, or the one who is in charge of giving us tasks to do.  And the direction Paul gives is truly required of all of us if we are to be effective witnesses for Jesus Christ.

 

In today’s society, and especially among the younger generation, these things are a lost art.  I talk to employers all the time and here the same story in every line of business.  They hire people who just decide not to show up, or they want to work hours that fit their schedule and not the employers, or they simply want to sit or stand around and not do any more than they absolutely have to.  Employers are so frustrated with the same types of people coming in day after day, wanting to fill out their unemployment card and not take a job, or take it and not show up.  They don’t even call and say they are not coming – and the employer is left hanging.  This is a sad state of affairs and needs to be corrected.  But while we wait for that to happen, those of us who ae Christians need to listen to what Paul has to say here to the servants, because we are servants of the most high God, and of Jesus Christ His Son.  We have an obligation to carry out our duties to the full!  So let’s take a closer look at the points Paul is trying to impress upon us here.

 

Be obedient.  This is simple.  Do what is asked of us.  Do that task the way we are asked to do it.  If we have a better idea or way to do it, discuss it with our employer and make sure they are ok with our method.  Don’t take shortcuts that jeopardize the integrity of the work, but do it to the best of our ability in the way that we are directed.  Be obedient to all instructions and get the work done in a timely manner.  Most tasks have some type of a schedule which we are asked to work within.  Make sure you get the job done by being obedient to the necessities of the business owner, or the manager who gives us each task.

 

Please our master (or employer).  In almost every profession, there are shortcuts we can take to get the job done quicker or more efficiently, and we are encouraged to do that.  Just make sure the end result is pleasing to the person assigning the task. Don’t go out on a limb and do the wrong thing because you might have a better way, or you don’t really know what the best way is so you fake it.  Ask for instructions when you are not sure of how to proceed.    There is nothing a boss hates more than someone who does not ask for directions and then messes up the task.  A simple question would have made things go so much better.  Our job is to please our employer, not to please ourselves.

 

Not answering again.  Don’t talk back to your employer.  Give him your attention and keep your mouth shut.  And don’t bemoan your employer to others.  Hold them in the highest regard.  After all, they are providing you with a paycheck for your work.  This should be enough to help you keep your mouth shut when you might have a dispute with them.  Take your disputes directly to the source, and not to other employees.  It seems we want to have people take our side when we have a beef about something, but that is not the Christian way to do it.  I learned a long time ago that if I have a problem with someone, I should go directly to them and not involve other people in that problem.  Keep your thoughts to yourself unless you are talking to the person you need to talk to for a resolution. And never talk back to your employer!

 

Not purloining.  I was not sure of the meaning of this word so I looked it up.  It basically means not to steal, or appropriate for oneself something that is not mine.  Not a pencil or a post-it note, or paper clip, or money from the till, or someone else’s tips, or food from the salad bar when working, or any other thing that belongs to the employer.  It really is another way of saying thou shalt not steal!  This is something that happens all the time in the workplace, and we as Christians should be setting the example.  Don’t take anything that is not yours!  This goes hand in hand with the next point

 

Shewing all good fidelity.  Faithfulness is the idea here.  Be faithful to that employer.  Do what is asked of you, but just as importantly, be on time and be at work.  Don’t always be showing up 5 minutes late, or taking longer breaks then your supposed to.  Get the work done that’s assigned to you and do extra if you can.  Go the extra mile whenever possible.  Give of yourself 100%.  In another place Paul says whatever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord.  We are not just working for our employer, but we are working for the one who saved us and set us free.  We should never be slackers.

 

This brings us to the reason behind why we do these things.  Our work is a part of our witness to this world!  When we do these things, we are a positive influence on those around us and show them the right way to do these things, If we do not do these things, it gives a black-eye to our Christian testimony.  In case you haven’t noticed, Christians are held to a higher standard by others.  We are expected to do better at all things, to live cleaner lives, to walk with more integrity, and to be an example of good works.  For some reason, the world looks to Christians for an example of how things should be done right, and when we do the wrong thing, it seems to echo through the minds of those who thought we were Christian!  They wonder how e can call ourselves Christian when we complain, or don’t do the job right, or steal from our employer, or not work with fidelity.  It is imperative that we shine our light brightly in the workplace, because the employers are needing help in every area these days.  Let us make sure we are not a hindrance to them.