photo credit: Michelllaurence
Titus 2:9-10 (CEB)
Tell slaves to submit to their own masters and please them in everything they do. They shouldn’t talk back or steal. Instead they should show that they are completely reliable in everything so that they might make the teaching about God our savior attractive in every way.
Titus chapter two is Paul’s advocation for teaching sound doctrine, especially in contrast with false teachers. Paul starts this chapter addressing community households and he begins in a hierarchal fashion starting first with old men, then old women, then young men, then slaves….
We don’t like the word “slaves” anymore do we? But perhaps a more “common English” word to use here would be “employees.” I think anyone who is hired to work for another person should take this advice: don’t be argumentative, don’t steal, and be reliable – all so that it brings glory to Christ.
Notice, this passage does not have anything to say about how the employee is being treated, or if they even work for an ethical company. I think sometimes we write off how we act, if we feel we are being mistreated. Or we steal from the company (whether it be pencils or time) and we simply say, “well, they won’t care.”
There are no conditions in this passage, simply a mandate: act in a manner that brings glory to Christ. Does God really care how you do your job at the Burger Barn or the Clothes Outlet? Yes, he does. What you say, how you act, it all reflects back on your values and ultimately, your Lord.
Compared to other countries with advanced economies, workers in the United States have a long work year, and we are also working for less due to our recent recession. All of this means there is an increasing opportunity for Christians in the workforce to be completely reliable in everything.
Maybe you don’t have to take it as far as “How would Jesus make this hamburger” you don’t need to pray or lay hands on the clearance rack at work – but take stock in the image you project at work. Is it Christ’s image? Do people even know that you’re a Christian?
May you reflect his beauty.
