God bless you in the name of Jesus Christ
In Philippians 1:1 Paul proudly describes himself and Timothy as “servants of Christ Jesus.” The Greek word translated “servants” is more accurately translated “bondslaves.” He is saying that the relationship to Jesus Christ that he and Timothy had was one of total obedience and complete loyalty. That same relationship is available for every believer, but we, like Paul and Timothy, must continually affirm and reaffirm it.
The cannon of the church epistles begins with Romans. The first word in the church epistles is “Paul,” an individual. The second word is doulos, bondslave. The first thing for every individual believer is to make himself a doulos. . . to decide by his freewill choice because of his love for the master to serve him unconditionally. The third element that completes this exquisite truth is found in the next words, “Jesus Christ.” He is the one to whom we dedicate our lives in service. Following his example, we commit ourselves to serve God unreservedly. This is the beginning of the revelation of the mystery, and prescribe the first steps of the child of God in his walk with His Father.
There is much to learn from the doulos analogy. The Old Testament law prescribed how one was to treat slaves. If a Hebrew man fell upon hard times and had to sell himself into slavery, the law limited the length of his bondage. He could only serve 6 years. Then he had to be released and given adequate means for supporting himself after he left. However, this servant could request to remain in the service of his master.
If he loved and trusted his master and wanted to continue to serve him for the rest of his life, he could ask to become a bondslave, a doulos. This concept is really unique to the Hebrew culture for it is a Biblical concept. Once freed, the servant could voluntarily relinquish his freedom to be part of the master’s household. The master of course would consider the request carefully, because if he decided to agree to this request, he would be bound by his freewill commitment to protect and provide for this bondslave for the rest of their lives. Let’s read about it in Deuteronomy 15.
Deuteronomy 15:12-18:
And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.13 And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:14 Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.15 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.16 And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee;17 Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.18 It shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou sendest him away free from thee; for he hath been worth a double hired servant to thee, in serving thee six years: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest.
Although the Hebrew man sold himself into slavery initially because of hard times, his decision to become a bondslave had nothing to do hard times. He would be provided with an abundance so that he could leave without fear of providing for himself. That’s how Israel left Egypt, with all the wealth of Pharaoh. The only reason to remain was love. If he loved his master and his master loved him, they could make this commitment to each other and seal the deal with an aul on the doorpost. (Of course, the symbolism in all of this is astounding. Remember it was the doorpost where the blood of the Passover lamb was to be placed. So, when the ear was bored on the door blood was placed there also.)
So for us, once we have been made free from sin by our master, our love for our kinsman redeemer, moves us to commit our lives in service to him. Becoming a doulos is a commitment of love because one wants nothing more than to serve the master for the rest of his life. Although becoming a doulos of Jesus Christ is the first priority for every believer, we were not always servants of Jesus Christ. At one time we all were slaves to sin.
Romans 6:16-18:
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
We were once a slave to sin. We had no other choice. But, when we changed lordships everything changed. Christ has set us free from sin. But our freedom from sin requires another allegiance. Our allegiance has been transferred from our former master, sin, to a new master, Jesus Christ. So, we are now bondslaves of Christ Jesus. We must constantly affirm and reaffirm our freedom from sin and our fidelity to Christ. Paul stated boldly and proudly that he was a bondslave of Jesus Christ. That would be a great example for us to follow.
How do you see yourself? How do you speak of yourself? Do you see yourself as a bondslave of Jesus Christ? Many people see themselves, not as bondslaves, but as volunteers. What’s the difference? A volunteer gets to choose the agenda. A servant does not. A volunteer gets to define the terms of his or her service. A true bondslave must be obedient to the will of the master. A volunteer does what he wants to do, when he wants to do it. A doulos does what he is asked when he is asked to do so.
Do you see yourself as a volunteer for Christ or a bondslave of Christ? Paul saw himself as a bondslave of Christ. That is where Philippians begins, and that is where we should begin. Paul proudly spoke of himself and Timothy as bondslaves of Jesus Christ. We, too, need to reaffirm our allegiance. We affirm our freedom from sin and our fidelity to Christ. We are proud to be servants of Jesus Christ.