In my daily study, today I am in Titus 2. It talks about the what and how of teaching different groups of people.
One group that stands out to me is slaves.
Titus 2:9-12:
"Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything,
to try to please them,
not to talk back to them, and
not to steal from them, but
to show that they can be fully trusted,
so that in every way
they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and
to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age"
I believe that the majority of those who might read this scripture are not considered to be slaves, but how many times do we hear someone, in frustration, say, "My boss is a slave-driver"!!
Sometimes we love our work, but hate the people we work with, as they get in our way, bother us, tell us ridiculous things to accomplish, and generally frustrate us, and impede our progress.
If we feel like a task master is over us, do we start displaying the opposite behavior? Inside our heads are we, by our lives, teaching:
Slaves/workers to not be subject to their bosses
Go out of their way to not please them
Make sure they talk back to them
Convince them to steal
And above all, be untrustworthy,
Because then you will have those who don't believe in God curse Him.
Do you teach them to say yes to worldly passions and ungodliness,
Encourage them to be out of control, lowly and despicable?
That is the kind of employee training that causes an organization or family to implode! As ridiculous as that all sounds, are we considering what kind of an example are we setting, no matter how increasingly difficult the behavior of the boss or parent or leader?
Most of the time when a leader or boss makes us feel used, under appreciated, is stingy or unrealistic, we subtly try to get our way or get back in some way.
One time at work I was particularly frustrated about something, and honestly, I cannot recall what it could have been that was so awful at the time. One of the things that I tend to covet are large paper clips. I love them! I want them! My desire for them became overwhelming, and we had such a large supply at work.
On especially bad days, I would take a large paperclip, slip it into my pocket, take it home, and in the morning put it back. I was usually the first to arrive and last to leave, so this was all in complete secrecy. The pleasure I got from sneaking around with the paper clips was over the top. The reasoned that by bringing them back I was okay, and not doing something wrong.
We have all heard that sin is sin is sin. Anything opposite of the teaching of the Word of God is sin. I might think, I'm not so bad, I'm a good person. But every day, I stole a paperclip, and brought it back without remorse!
One day, I was reading 1 Corinthians 6:10:
"nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
There I was. Listed with drunks and people who swindle people and slander people. Could what I was doing be so bad? Would I really wonder about my salvation? I believe that I can go to Jesus, and ask Him to forgive my sin, and I will be restored to a right relationship with God. Clearly most people believe that we shouldn't steal from others. But what about my great paperclip heist? Was that stealing? Yes. Was I unrepentant? Yes. Is it as bad as murdering someone? Yes.
So often we think God grades on the curve. Well, I don't do that, so I'm better than them. Nope. Doesn't work. No way. Sorry. No can do. We think that we aren't sinners and that we are good. Well... nope.
I began to work on my heart, bringing my desire to steal paperclips to the Lord and ask Him to show me how serious this was. Just as serious as stealing money. And I was convinced.
The next time your 'slave driver' is unreasonable, consider going to God and confessing the desire to get back or to do something that will hurt them in some way. EVEN if it is taking home pens from work, or paperclips, or just having a crumby attitude. The scripture says that if I behave as instructed, the teaching of our Lord and Savior will be attractive.
I remember our pastor once saying something like this: "No one has ever said to me that 'you are such an awful person, I can't wait to meet your God!'" Our behavior does point to our God, if we confess Him before others.
In the end, after confessing to my care group, they bought me my own box of large paperclips, and even one that was 3 inches long! With the silliness of that, I put away my desire to steal them. Galatians 5:24: "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Past tense. My worldly passions have been killed. I want to leave them dead.
I suggest leaving the paperclips at work. Life is much better that way and God is well pleased!
One group that stands out to me is slaves.
Titus 2:9-12:
"Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything,
to try to please them,
not to talk back to them, and
not to steal from them, but
to show that they can be fully trusted,
so that in every way
they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and
to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age"
I believe that the majority of those who might read this scripture are not considered to be slaves, but how many times do we hear someone, in frustration, say, "My boss is a slave-driver"!!
Sometimes we love our work, but hate the people we work with, as they get in our way, bother us, tell us ridiculous things to accomplish, and generally frustrate us, and impede our progress.
If we feel like a task master is over us, do we start displaying the opposite behavior? Inside our heads are we, by our lives, teaching:
Slaves/workers to not be subject to their bosses
Go out of their way to not please them
Make sure they talk back to them
Convince them to steal
And above all, be untrustworthy,
Because then you will have those who don't believe in God curse Him.
Do you teach them to say yes to worldly passions and ungodliness,
Encourage them to be out of control, lowly and despicable?
That is the kind of employee training that causes an organization or family to implode! As ridiculous as that all sounds, are we considering what kind of an example are we setting, no matter how increasingly difficult the behavior of the boss or parent or leader?
Most of the time when a leader or boss makes us feel used, under appreciated, is stingy or unrealistic, we subtly try to get our way or get back in some way.
One time at work I was particularly frustrated about something, and honestly, I cannot recall what it could have been that was so awful at the time. One of the things that I tend to covet are large paper clips. I love them! I want them! My desire for them became overwhelming, and we had such a large supply at work.
On especially bad days, I would take a large paperclip, slip it into my pocket, take it home, and in the morning put it back. I was usually the first to arrive and last to leave, so this was all in complete secrecy. The pleasure I got from sneaking around with the paper clips was over the top. The reasoned that by bringing them back I was okay, and not doing something wrong.
We have all heard that sin is sin is sin. Anything opposite of the teaching of the Word of God is sin. I might think, I'm not so bad, I'm a good person. But every day, I stole a paperclip, and brought it back without remorse!
One day, I was reading 1 Corinthians 6:10:
"nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
There I was. Listed with drunks and people who swindle people and slander people. Could what I was doing be so bad? Would I really wonder about my salvation? I believe that I can go to Jesus, and ask Him to forgive my sin, and I will be restored to a right relationship with God. Clearly most people believe that we shouldn't steal from others. But what about my great paperclip heist? Was that stealing? Yes. Was I unrepentant? Yes. Is it as bad as murdering someone? Yes.
So often we think God grades on the curve. Well, I don't do that, so I'm better than them. Nope. Doesn't work. No way. Sorry. No can do. We think that we aren't sinners and that we are good. Well... nope.
I began to work on my heart, bringing my desire to steal paperclips to the Lord and ask Him to show me how serious this was. Just as serious as stealing money. And I was convinced.
The next time your 'slave driver' is unreasonable, consider going to God and confessing the desire to get back or to do something that will hurt them in some way. EVEN if it is taking home pens from work, or paperclips, or just having a crumby attitude. The scripture says that if I behave as instructed, the teaching of our Lord and Savior will be attractive.
I remember our pastor once saying something like this: "No one has ever said to me that 'you are such an awful person, I can't wait to meet your God!'" Our behavior does point to our God, if we confess Him before others.
In the end, after confessing to my care group, they bought me my own box of large paperclips, and even one that was 3 inches long! With the silliness of that, I put away my desire to steal them. Galatians 5:24: "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Past tense. My worldly passions have been killed. I want to leave them dead.
I suggest leaving the paperclips at work. Life is much better that way and God is well pleased!