Are We Slaves

You know to some that title might be offensive and if you are one of those people please don’t stop reading this. It is simply a question that I personally had to answer and so does every other person who calls themselves a Christian. You see in reality we are all slaves to something and in that sense we can only serve one real master. In my case most of my life I was a slave to pornography it was such a strong addiction I would begin everyday with it and sneak to look at it all day long. It had so much control in my life that it affected my family and marriage. Jesus delivered me from this and in the place of my desire to look at pornography He has put an even stronger desire in my heart to be in His Word. I am no longer a slave to my addiction now I am if in servitude to Jesus Christ. I have chosen a different master to lead me through my life.

As I was studying this morning for the Junior High Class I teach I was reading in Matthew 25:14-30it is Jesus teaching about the talents and there is a verse in that section that is repeated twice that caught my attention it was verses 21, 23:

²¹ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!’ (HCSB)

²¹ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ (NKJV)

Most of your texts will read servant; in our politically charged world I understand why that word has changed. But I think it is important to the understanding of this passage to use the term slave you see there is a difference. As a slave your life is wrapped solely up in the care you receive from your master. Servants in many cases had some rights and could be hired and fired as needed but a slave was considered property and you could do as you pleased with them if you were the master. Not that any of this was right but that is the way the world worked. I live in the south and I have read story after story of families who owned slaves just part of the history of my state but there are numerous stories of families that at the end of the civil war and even before that the slaves of the household would overtime become more trusted than some of the family. As a Christian we are at that point we have been by God’s grace given talents for the glorification of His Kingdom the question is are you using them? So that one day you can hear this same words, “Well done my good and faithful servant,” You see on the day you accepted Jesus you were given a right to enter into the Joy that comes from a relationship with Him. All he requires from us is that we are faithful to His calling on our lives. We all serve something the question really is what are you a slave to? If It is not Jesus and then I can promise you are living an unfulfilled life.

I want to close by adding slavery as we think about it from the American understanding is a horrible thing. The sad part is that it still goes on every day in many parts of our country. Women, men and children are being held in slavery to supply the needs and desires of our sexual culture in America. They are brought here from all over the world and are exploited to meet every kind of sick and deprived idea our sin nature can come up with. I do not take this lightly. I do understand one thing though I alone cannot change it. It will require God intervening in our world to bring an end to this horrible practice please join me in prayer over this issue. May your life be blessed as you walk in the light of His Word.