Whose Slave Are You?

Whose slave are you?

Before you protest and say you're nobody's slave, understand that we're all slaves to one thing or another. Do you know that "you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey?" (Romans 6:16, NLT) In other words, we are slaves to whatever controls us (2 Peter 2:19).

Thus, when we cannot stop working to smell the roses, we are the slaves to our jobs. When we are glued in front of our TV set, the TV sets have become our masters. When we cannot break free from alcoholism, it has us firmly in its grasp. And when we are unable to stop telling lies, shoplifting, cheating on our spouses, or living in other ways that are against God's laws, we're the "slaves of sin and corruption." (2 Peter 2:19)

Worst of all, when we choose not to live under God's guidance in the Bible, we are prisoners of Satan in the "power of darkness," and don't even know it! (Colossians 1:13; Acts 26:18)

Yes, we can be slaves "to sin, which leads to death, or [we] can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living." (Romans 6:16) There is no middle ground. We cannot choose to be a non-slave. It is either a slave to sin, or a slave to righteousness. It's either a slave of the power of darkness, or slave of Yahweh God and His Son Jesus Christ. We cannot choose to be neutral in this battle ground; those who do not choose to be the slaves of God are automatically slaves of the evil powers of Satan. Hence, to be transferred to God's sphere, we must consciously make the decision to do so, by accepting Yahweh God Almighty and Jesus Christ into our hearts and living according to God's will.

"Slavery" and "slaves" have a very negative connotation because of the cruel and ruthless slavery that humans have brought upon one another throughout the Millenniums. Christian slavery is not only very different from oppression but a great privilege.

Why a privilege? Because when we are the slaves to righteousness, we are serving the best Masters--Yahweh and Jesus--anyone could ever ask for. God is love and the only One who is purely good, while Jesus is the light and Savior of the world who brings salvation to anyone who trusts in him, regardless of their age, gender, nationality, background, and social status. (1 John 4:8; Matthew 17:19; John 4:42)

Jesus said, "If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others. And if you want to be first, you must be the slave of the rest. The Son of Man did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue many people." (Matthew 20:26-28, CEV)

"Whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else." (Mark 10:44, NLT)

Christian slavery is serving people with absolute selfless love, regardless what positions we are in: doctors, teachers, employers, government officials, and even true earthly slaves of oppression. When we serve one another with devotion, love, and loyalty, we are actually serving our heavenly Master, Jesus Christ. When we serve others selflessly, we are following in the footsteps of Jesus, the ultimate slave who forfeited his own life in order to bring life to those he loves, even when they were his enemies.

How do we become faithful slaves of God, and in turn, of fellow humans? Well, we must take these three steps:

1) Make God's will our will. Our Master's will should become our own will, so we can carry out our Master's desires perfectly. For example, God wills for all to hear the Gospel, so we'll need to make that will ours by spreading the Gospel.

2) Obey God's commandments without questioning. Since God is omniscient (all-knowing) and purely good, His commandments are righteous, purposeful, and uphold the truths. Hence, we must not doubt Him or question His commandments found in the Bible. However, if someone, who claims to have received a revelation from God, tells you to do something, always be sure to compare that command with Biblical principles. If that command conflicts with the Bible, then it is not from God. God does not contradict Himself.

3) Fulfill the two greatest commandments: "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. The second is like this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31, WEB)

The third step is the key step. If love is not what motivates us to serve God and one another, then we will be very disgruntled slaves. In the very least, we would have the wrong motive for serving God and people, and that wrong motive would ultimately make us fail.

Paul best said it: "If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing. If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:1-3, WEB)

To sum it up: The best way to show others love is to serve them. The best way to serve them is with love.

Starting in 2012, let us serve others love...with love! Let us make our New Year's resolution to be the slaves to righteousness, of Yahweh God and His Son Jesus, our Messiah, and of fellow humanity, right now and to all eternity. Let us gladly serve all with love selflessly, for this is the will of God, the purpose for which we exist.

Make 2012 the year of service. Cheers!