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1 Timothy 6:2
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2 And [de] they that have [echo] believing [pistos] masters, [despotes] let them [kataphroneo] not [me] despise [kataphroneo] them, because [hoti] they are [eisi] brethren; [adelphos] but [alla] rather [mallon] do them service, [douleuo] because [hoti] they are [eisi] faithful [pistos] and [kai] beloved, [agapetos] partakers [antilambanomai] of the benefit. [euergesia] These things [tauta] teach [didasko] and [kai] exhort. [parakaleo] KJV-Interlinear
2 And let those who have believers as their masters not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but let them serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles. NASB
Christianity is a relationship. It is a relationship with God (the Father), through Christ. It is the only theology wherein a relationship with God or access to God is mandated through an intermediary.
All other religions, all other belief systems, view life as man by mans efforts, as the basis for acquiring or earning anything better for man. And the foundation for that belief system is arrogance. For man has no authority or sovereignty or power to wield his own will in this universe.
Only God has that capability.
And as such, being a relationship with God, we (believers in Christ) are all brethren or family, in one family, which is the family of God.
Being in that family we lose all distinctions that the world has with regard to male or female, Jew or gentile, rich or poor, and so forth. But these distinctions exist only the spiritual realm with respect to each individuals access to God. We still have to deal with them in this life in this world, for now.
We are all subject to spiritual growth, and in that regard, some will be more advanced in their spiritual life than others, but that deals only with your eternal reward, not your spiritual salvation status. Once saved always saved.
And as far as the world is concerned, we still have to live and function in this world, despite its many inequities.
God created the laws of divine establishment, in order for humanity to have a mechanism for sustaining itself through history.
We all have to live in this world and we have to follow the rules that God set up for the function of the world. To disregard those rules, leads to trouble in the world and trouble for each one of us.
One of those rules is the concept of authority and chain of command by which it functions.
This sets up rules for employers, for employees, for coaches and athletes, for teachers and students, for rules of the road and traffic control, for parents and children, for married couples, and for just about everything that you can think of in life that channels and guides the functions of life from day to day.
One of the more difficult barriers in life occurs when relations work for each other. Then you have the mental or physiological barrier which restricts the respect for authority in someone you are related to.
And that leads us to our verse.
The work ethic was emphasized in the prior verse, and now the relationship ethic is emphasized in this verse.
God is the ultimate authority, and as such God has placed every person in their place, for a reason. That reason may not be apparent to you, but suffice to say, God is smarter than you or I, and His decision should be enough for us all.
There will be times when your supervisor or superior is less qualified than you, or when a mature believer will be working for immature believers. That is not a mistake, and is not to be questioned by you, no matter what your relative role is in life.
You bite your tongue and suck it up as they say, and do your work with respect, as unto the Lord.
Your job is to do your job, and not to question the who’s and why’s of life. God will deal with all of the difficult decisions.
Believers are to serve their employers obediently, Eph 6:5; Col 3:22. They must dutifully, submissively respond to their employer's lawful instructions.
Believers are to serve their employers completely, Eph 6:5; Col 3:22. They are to carry out whatever tasks are assigned them, unless so doing would violate God's law, Acts 5:29.
Believers are to serve their employers respectfully, Eph 6:5. They must honor those God has placed in authority over them.
Believers are to serve their employers eagerly, in "sincerity" of heart, Eph 6:5; Col 3:22. They should serve voluntarily, not grudgingly.
Believers are to serve their employers exceptionally, "as to Christ", Eph 6:5; cf. Col 3:23. They must do their jobs to the best of their ability without subversion or undermining the task.
Believers are to serve their employers diligently, Eph 6:6; cf. Col 3:22. They must not put on a show for the boss by working hard only when he is watching.
Believers are to serve their employers humbly, not "as men-pleasers", Eph 6:6; cf. Col 3:23. They are not to show off to ingratiate themselves with others.
Believers are to serve their employers spiritually, "doing the will of God from the heart", Eph 6:6. All work is sacred and performed ultimately for the glory of God.
Believers are to serve their employers eschatologically, "knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. . . . For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality," Col 3:24-25. Believers' eternal rewards will be affected by their job performance.
It is not the churches role to define or undermine the foundations or order of society, but to teach Bible doctrine such that believers can learn their role and responsibility to society through doctrine.
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