Submission Possible

“Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative” (Titus 2:9).

Christians really annoy me at times. It seems like every time I turn around one of the folks on Jesus’ team is doing something that makes me scratch my head. One thing that really ticks me off is when someone who claims to follow Christ is a bad employee. You know the kind. Despite the fish on the car, the Bible on the desk, and the cross around their neck, they are late and lazy. Well, the Apostle Paul instructed Titus to make sure that every one of us who works for the Man isn’t just a good employee, but a great one. We do what we’re told. We do it with a smile. We do it without talking about. Without Christ, it’s next to impossible. As followers of Jesus, this is submission possible.

Before we dig into the specifics of this verse, let’s remember the big picture of what’s going on here. Jesus’ message of God’s grace has turned the island of Crete upside down. As a result, Paul gives Titus a three-point plan. One, put elders in place to fill the leadership void in every church (Titus 1:5). Two, shut down and shut up a team of false teachers that are stirring up trouble among these new believers (Titus 1:10-11). Three, establish a self-sustaining system to teach folks what it means to follow Jesus (Titus 2:1-10). 

The structure for this system of discipleship is pretty simple really. Older dudes teaching younger dudes (Titus 2:2, 6). Older ladies teaching younger ladies (Titus 2:3-5). And just to make sure he’s not leaving anybody out, Paul tells the Big T what to instruct slaves. These “bondservants” were the lifeblood of the Mediterranean rim. Let’s be clear and historically accurate about slavery in the Greco-Roman world. According to Tim Keller, it was not at all like the race-based slavery of the African slave trade and the American South before the Civil War. Slavery in Paul’s day was not race-based and seldom lifelong. It was often a way to pay off a debt and lasted about ten years. The best way to understand it is a form of indentured servitude. You didn’t file bankruptcy back in the day. You paid your debt by going to work.

There were different kinds of slavery in the first century. Without a doubt, some situations were very harsh and brutal. A bondservant was often not much more than a piece of property. But most actually earned a living wage. According to Andrew T. Lincoln, many slaves actually held white collar jobs, like professors, teachers, administrators, civil servants. Some scholars actually believe that Paul’s buddy Dr. Luke was a bondservant at one point. Estimates of the level of slavery of the time are all over the place. One historian believes that 30-40% of Italians were slaves in the first century. Another estimates that slaves made up 10-15% of the entire Roman Empire. 

Before you think Paul’s instructions to bondservants is his stamp of approval of this awful institution, let’s pump our brakes. Instead of commanding the end of slavery, Jesus is going to use men like the man from Tarsus to take it down from the inside out. F.F. Bruce writes, “What (Paul’s letters) do is bring us into an atmosphere in which the institution of slavery could only wilt and die.” Here’s the deal, slavery would come to a natural and logical end because of the Gospel. Scripture inspired like William Wilberforce to get to work.

So with all that history out of the way, shouldn’t we simply skip over these verses? Not so fast, my friend. Let’s step back and read these instructions to employees. Most of us work for a living. Read Paul’s words as what it looks like to work well as a follower of Jesus. First of all, every member of the workforce should “be submissive” (v9). This is the Greek verb hupotasso. It literally means to put something under something. It’s the idea of placing under authority, or bringing under firm control. The term actually has a military background. Troops were placed under the command of a general. The grammar of this particular verse paints a picture of someone who willingly obeys another and takes a subordinate place. In other words, employees should do what they are told without having to be threatened with probation, suspension, or being fired. Remember, Paul is talking about slaves in the original passage. How much more are Jesus following employees expected to respectfully obey their employers! We’re talking submission possible.

Every working man or woman is to be obedient “to their own masters” (v9). Understand your company’s org chart. Know the chain of command. Know who you’re working for, first and foremost. My specific point of obedience is to my own boss, not everybody else. My submission isn’t limited. It’s “in everything” (v9). As long as we’re not asked to defy God and sin, we’re to do whatever we’re told. Be a good follower. When our boss asks us to jump, we ask just need to know how high. And don’t miss the point that being a good employee is NOT dependent on having a good boss. It doesn’t matter if your supervisor is fair or unfair, kind or cruel. 

Paul tells Titus that bondservants should be “well-pleasing” (v9). When we’re at work, let’s put a smile on somebody’s face. Our boss should look forward to when we walk through the door. Don’t let them dread working with us. We also shouldn’t talk back, or in the apostle’s words “not argumentative” (v9). Don’t whine. Don’t complain. Don’t grumble. This doesn’t mean you can’t discuss an assignment with your boss from time to time and offer our thoughts on ways to get things done. But please don’t constantly question why you’re being asked to do what you do. 

Submission is a huge part of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. We should willingly serve each other (Eph 5:21). In his letter to the folks in Ephesus (a major center of the first century slave trade), Paul wrote, “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ” (Eph 6:5). If we think that submission might be for others but not for us, we need to remember that Jesus Himself willingly and voluntarily did what His Dad wanted. He’s the supernatural poster boy for willing submission (Phil 2:5-8). Remember, He’s God but still obeyed. The King of Kings became the Servant of Servants. And don’t forget His readiness to do His Father’s will even when it meant a bloody death on a Roman cross (Lk 22:42). 

Because of Jesus’ obedience, we can obey. Submission possible.