Whatever Work You Do: Do It “as to” the Lord (Thurs. October 5)

The word of the day is “slaves.”  From today’s reading of Ephesians 5:33-6:9, we learn that whatever work we do, we should do it  “as to the Lord.”  In this passage, St. Paul addresses “bondservants,” that is, slaves (vs. 5) as well as their masters (vs. 9).  The Orthodox Study Bible comments, “As with marriage, Paul does not seek to alter the existing social structure…” (OSB fn. on vs. 6:9).  Thus, Paul’s letters presume slavery but do not approve of it.  That is also true of many of the parables in the Gospels, where English versions translate the Greek word for slave (doulos) as “servant” (Strong’s #1401, 72).  Despite taking slavery for granted, Paul favors the status of freedom.  He teaches that given the imminent return of Christ in glory; all should remain in the same social role.  But he makes an exception for those in bondage.  If they have an opportunity to be freed, they should take it (1 Cor. 21-22).

But the OSB comments, “… both marriage and the master-slave relationship are different when Christians are involved” (OSB fn. on vs. 6:9).  According to the Roman attorney Gaius in the 2nd Century AD, masters had the power of life and death over their slaves.  And whatever the slave obtained was the owner’s.  But there were limits to the owner’s authority.  According to the Roman lawyer, masters had no right to use excessive force or brutality.

Neither Slave Nor Free

Yet in reading Galatians, we find that the early Church in the Roman Empire was baptizing both free persons and slaves.  There was no discrimination as St. Paul states, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).  Moreover, the OSB notes, “’Before Christ’” master and slave are equal” (OSB fn. On vs. 6:5-8).  Imagine!  The implications of Paul’s statement meant that both slave and master were united in the same Creed, took part equally in the same fellowship meal, and received the Holy Gifts of Christ’s Body and Blood from the same chalice.

Slaves Should Serve “As To” Christ

With this in mind, we note in our reading that St. Paul instructs slaves to do their work as slaves of Christ.  They should obey their masters with singleness of heart, not with duplicity and guile (vs. 5)  (Strong’s #573, 34).  They should obey their overseers not to serve them but to serve the Lord (vs. 6).

But their masters should “do the same things” with the same attitude (vs. 9).  That is, in their treatment of their slaves, they should serve the Lord and carry out His will with a good heart (vs. 6-7, 9).  Whether they are masters or slaves, those who do good will receive a reward from the Lord in return (vs.8).

The Same Master in Heaven

Both masters and slaves have the same master in heaven.  He is not “respecter of persons” but treats all rich or poor, powerful, or weak, higher class or lower class, master or slave impartially with the same compassion.  And those who are baptized are fellow and equal members of the Body of Christ.  All that they say and do should be done “as to the Lord” to serve Him.

For Reflection

In the Divine Liturgy, the deacon repeats several times, “Commemorating our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God” (The Service Books of the Orthodox Church.  Third Edition.  St. Tikhon’s Seminary Press. 1984).  Other service books say, “let us commit ourselves.”  Whether we use the word “commend” or “commit,” when we pray this petition, we are entrusting and dedicating all that we have and do to the Lord.  This commitment includes our “work” whether paid or unpaid, recognized or unrecognized.  We might ask ourselves to what are we devoting our “work”?  What difference does it make to do it “as to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:33-6:9, commending ourselves to each other, do it as to the Lord, dedicate whatever you do to the Lord