Saturday, 27 May 2017
But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality. Colossians 3:25
This final verse of Chapter 3 (and the opening verse of Chapter 4) is close in thought to Ephesians 6:9 –
“And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.”
Paul has spent the last three verses of instruction on what bondservants were to do and how they were to act while under the authority of their masters. He now sums up the thought with something that will point in both directions – from the bondservant’s perspective and from the master’s – by saying, “But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done.”
This is certainly speaking of a master who would abuse his servant as much as it is talking about a servant not being faithful to his master. He is thinking on the same lines in these verses as he was with the congregation at Ephesus, and the longer thought to them can be inferred in this more brief one. This is the reason why the bondservant is to serve his master heartily. Even if the master is unfair to him, he will be repaid for his faithfulness, and the master will be repaid for his abuses. As Paul says, “…there is no partiality.”
Slave-masters are accountable to the Lord just as much as slaves are accountable to their masters. Therefore, it is implied that slave-masters are actually accountable to their slaves in a certain way, just as slaves are likewise accountable to the Lord. If the master was unfair to a slave, the Lord would see it and call him to account. There is no partiality in the Lord, and all will be rewarded based on their conduct before Him.
Life application: If you are a boss, the concepts which are true in this verse certainly apply to you. You have charge over subordinates, and you are to treat them kindly and fairly. In this, you will be a responsible Christian and a faithful servant to your heavenly Master.
Lord God, your word tells us that we are to act responsibly towards those who are placed under us. Whether boss or business owner, we are to be considerate of those who we lead. Help us, if we are in such a position, to be kind and gentle-hearted towards them, and yet firm in our responsibilities towards those who are above us. Help us to have peace in our work environments, knowing that we are ultimately accountable to Christ our Lord who will judge our actions fairly and impartially. Amen.