The Motivation

What kind of person does not even speak on his own initiative? That sounds like slavery to me. Look at these 1:1's Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus . . . James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ . . . Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ . . . Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James . . . But this is not exclusive to the apostles. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant . . . Philippians 2:5-7 So, yes, we are meant to be servants of God. But a bond-servant is not exactly a slave. In fact, the difference is very important. Bond-servants were unique to Jewish culture, instituted by God to illustrate the concept of spiritual submission and obedience, but with a valid and potent motivation: If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall go out as a free man without payment . . . But if the slave plainly says, 'I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out as a free man,' then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently. Exodus 21:2, 5-6 First of all: Ouch Second of all: This is not slavery under compulsion; this is service out of love. VERY different, and much more interesting. I am also intrigued by the fact that this slave is leaving blood on the doorpost, much like the Passover lamb. The awl is going through the man's ear, the place where he is to receive orders. The life of a bond-servant is to listen and obey. But why? "I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me." John 14:30-31 "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full." John 15:9-11 Love? Joy? Isn't that what everyone wants? Apparently, the very thing we hate--slavery--is the very secret to what we so desperately want.

2 comments:

Scott Lucas said...

For sake of shortness, let me use an example. If a spouse asks their spouse to do something for them, let's even say that it is a common task that needs to occur. If the spouse doing the chore does it completely angrily and grudgingly, it makes the marriage seem like a sham. People get married based on love, but the clear annoyance of doing things for one and other is sheerly overwhelming. Well if that same chore (which must be done) is done with a motivation of love and a desire to please the other spouse, wouldn't that create a great many good things? of course it would!

The point is that God CLEARLY loves us a great deal more than we can even understand. So for us to dedicate our entire life out a motivation of something as trivial as duty, or obligation, or even not to go to hell is silly. To serve God with all your love is simply a natural response to understanding God's love for you. I have found no other response in my life to the love of god than to return it as best I can. To experience God loving you, speaking to you, blessing you, ordering you even, is never BAD, and it is always for OUR good. That's what God's love for us means, he is always looking out for what truly affects us the most, and that always means trusting that his judgment for us, and our daily life is much better than out ideas and thoughts

Mrs. Frank said...

Love has that weird invisible quality that just makes you want to do anything for that person. You WANT them to tell you what to do, what will make them happy, or, please them. You do weird things for love, things others might interpret as "slavery" or "blind to reality."

I think that's why the Spirit led life can be tricky, just like observing marriages on earth. Looking from the outside in, people might see things as unfair treatment, not knowing the big picture.

But if you observe the behavior and heart of it, love produces stability, strength, and desire to love back. Slavery/abuse produces broken spirits, insecurity, total useless-ness for anything but that "master." And even then, eventually, the slave dies, wears out. Gone.

The bond-slave (or, spouse in a marriage) that is living in love would grow stronger as a human, more useful to the "master" (other spouse), want the world to have this kind of relationship that you have. Thriving.