Free Slaves

Before we had faith in Jesus, the Bible says that we were “slaves to sin” (Romans 6:20). In other words, we were under the control of sin and unable to serve God. We were trapped and dominated by our brokenness and selfishness. This doesn’t mean that we never did anything good, but we were captured and enslaved by Satan and therefore separated from God. Sometimes this slavery showed in our addiction to trying to do things that others thought were right. At other times, it showed in our addiction to pleasing ourselves. But it was all slavery. We couldn’t choose to do what God wanted. Then we were set free by Jesus. Our sins (past, present and future) were taken by Jesus. We were free, free at last. We were no longer dominated by the pressure of our society or our own brokenness and guilt. We could hear God’s voice and choose to live His way. We were no longer slaves, but friends of God (John 15:15).

All this is marvellously true, so the following story that Jesus told may surprise you. It sounds like we could still be slaves. (The Greek word translated “servant” in this parable is “doulos,” the word commonly used for “slave.”)

Explore: Luke 17:7-10 (NIV)

7 “Suppose one of you has a servant (slave) ploughing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

Journal

1. What is God saying to me? Which verse is most significant?

2. What would I like to discuss/explore further?

3. What do I need to do?

4. Do you see yourself as a slave of Jesus? Why or why not?

Reflect

While the Romans could be very cruel to their slaves, especially those captured in battle, there was a much more benign form of slavery practised in the Roman world. Slaves were often educated and had important roles in the household. Sometimes they were even adopted into the family. It was probably this more benevolent form of slavery that Jesus envisioned in this story. The slave or servant was more like a full-time employee of the family with significant obligations. But still, they were expected to do their job well. They had their duties to fulfil. They couldn’t expect constant praise for just doing their job.

Those of us who live in the West can be pretty soft spiritually. When we make sacrifices for Jesus, we expect that there will be significant benefits for us. If these don’t materialise, it’s easy to feel hardly done by. A meeting of six mature Christian leaders in America concluded that they had never preached or heard a sermon on this story of Jesus. It doesn’t fit our picture of serving God. But an African pastor said that this was his favourite parable. Many Christians in the third world remain faithful to God in the middle of poverty, persecution and pain, with little hope of relief. They don’t see themselves as special. They are just faithful slaves/servants of Jesus. They appreciate the truth of Jesus’ teaching here.

So on the one hand, we are completely free. Our brokenness needs to no longer be a source of shame or fear because Jesus has covered our sin. We don’t want to return to our addictions to pleasing ourselves and other people or being controlled by Satan. As Paul says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1 NIV).

On the other hand, we are now slaves or servants of Jesus. He has paid for us. Paul says, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV). “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life” (Romans 6:22 NIV).

Jesus is the most benevolent master imaginable, but He is the boss. He owns us. We don’t use our freedom to “indulge the flesh” (Galatians 5:13), but to obey Jesus unwaveringly. This is our calling, our job, our purpose, our joy. Of course, God deeply appreciates our sacrifices. One day, He will say, “Well done good and faithful servant/slave” (Matthew 25:23), but until then, our passion is not blessing for all our effort, but commitment to serving and pleasing our master. We have been set free to be faithful slaves/servants of Jesus.

Pray

Lord, I would love my life to be smooth and easy and full of blessings. Maybe that will be your plan for me. But I deeply appreciate the price You paid to set me free from my sin and shame, and I want You to know that I freely give myself to You as Your servant, whatever that will mean for me. Sign me up to be faithful to Your call, wherever that will lead me. I know that You have plans to use me, and I am ready to serve without conditions or expectations.

Respond

Make a list of any disappointments you have experienced recently. Tell God about these disappointments. Take your time to feel them in God’s presence. Then renew your commitment to follow Jesus despite these and future disappointments.

Written by John Sweetman