A note from the Pastor’s desk:

“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;”

Colossians 3:22

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

For many of us, opening the third chapter of Colossians feels like a collision between our modern moral compass and the ancient world. We read terms like “servant” and “master” and immediately—and rightly—recoil at an institution we now recognize as inherently dehumanizing and immoral. However, to understand the Apostle’s intent, we must step into the first-century Roman Empire, where slavery was not a debated theory but an inescapable cultural norm that permeated every level of society. Paul was not writing a political manifesto to topple the empire’s economy; he was writing to a fledgling church that existed within it. His goal was to address the reality on the ground, teaching believers how to live out the radical Lordship of Christ within a broken social structure that they did not yet have the power to change.

Modern theologians have coined the term “inhabited gospel.” This term suggests that the believer’s life is the “scripture” that the world reads. A key tenet of the “inhabited gospel” concept is the lack of separation between the sacred and the secular work. In this verse, the Apostle shifts the focus of servants from meeting their masters’ requirements to pleasing God in their devotion. The Apostle could not free them from slavery; however, he could give them moral authority for their actions. 

The Bible student’s interpretation of this verse must be grounded in the reality of 1st-century culture. The Apostle was not condoning the institution of slavery. That was the reality of the day. However, he was granting moral agency to those in places of servitude. His instruction was to obey their masters, which society required, but to recognize that those masters were only in control of earthly matters. The greater weight upon the enslaved, that is, the same weight on all children of God, is to obey God. The Apostle’s direct instruction is to the servant, but his indirect reminder is to the slaveholder. The reminder is that God is observing their behavior. It is an indirect reminder to those in authority to behave in a manner that God would find acceptable.

Believers, especially in American society, should carefully avoid the trap of equating industriousness with Godliness. However, there is an appropriate application of this verse to our work lives. The Apostle uses the term “eyeservice” in this verse to mean only working when being observed. In an era of remote work, flexible hours, and digital monitoring, it is easier than ever to prioritize the appearance of productivity over its reality—performing only when the “green light” is on or the boss is watching the shared document. However, Paul calls us to a higher standard of “singleness of heart.” By viewing our vocational tasks not merely as a means to a paycheck or a climb up the corporate ladder, but as a direct offering to God.

The Apostle’s message, ultimately, to wives, children, and servants was that, despite the culture of the day, each had their own moral agency. Each could craft their actions with a focus on pleasing God. The same holds for all disciples when we remember that the commandment of the New Testament is to love God and love our neighbor.