Your Boss in Heaven
One of the things I hate is when scripture is taken out of context. People love to say that the Bible endorses slavery with verses like Leviticus 25:44-46 (see Got Questions for more on slavery). I think people are assuming slavery at the times of scripture writing was the same as it was in America. Scripture gives regulation on slavery more so than people think and slavery then was not the same as we know about from America. Paul says, "Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven." That means remember that even though you have property do not treat them less than human. You could still be a slave owner that was loving. That thinking is so far out there that it makes people upset because the loving thing to do would be to free a slave. But slavery then was not slavery as it was in America, but that takes a history lesson. The point is that when you treat your "human property" a certain way, God will still see it and you should remember that. This goes for us that run businesses. This goes for us that lead our homes. This goes for us that are in charge. Treat other like you know that God will see everything.
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Matthew 20:13-14 " But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go...'"
commentary- A land owner hires extra workers late in the day and promises to pay them. When the end of the day came, the men who started work early got their share that they agreed upon. Yet, the ones who only worked an hour due to being hired later also received the same pay as those who worked a full day.
Those that worked longer were upset thinking that they should have more than the other who came late. The landowner made no extra promises, he only followed what he said he would do.
I compare this to the kingdom of Heaven. I have heard numerous arguments from unbelievers who think that it isn't "fair" that one can live a life of sin and still get their sins forgiven when others asked for forgiveness a long time ago. God doesn't operate on what's fair, but He operates on being true to His word. If he says it, it is true. It is not a scale that we use to rank who is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven (see Matthew 18:1-6). God forgives and knows your heart, it is not up to you to try to take on a role (God or in this chapter's case the landowner) that is not assigned to you. Do your part.
