Working at the Family Business

“Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit their good service are believers and beloved” (1Tim 6:2).

Family business. It is the best of times, it is the worst of times. On the bright side, you’re working with people you love and trust. You have the same values. You see the world through the same lens. Then there’s the dark side. Family problems become business problems. Reunions become staff meetings and vice versa. And one relative can leverage another in order to slack off. Dysfunctional families can lead to a dysfunctional family businesses.

While there’s a growing amount of research out there, did you know that Paul wrote about the tricky employer/employee relationship in family business almost 2,000 years ago? In a note to his protege Timothy, the apostle deals with it in the context of the Greco-Roman economy of master and bondservant. “Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit their good service are believers and beloved” (v2).

Paul’s point is that every follower of Jesus is now members of God’s family. The Father adopts all believers into His family. This changes things at work if our Savior rescues both you and your supervisor. The Lord transforms your workplace into a family business. Just remember, you and your boss may be brothers but that’s no excuse to not bring your best. 

The original context of the original passage is all about the dramatic change in relationship between first century masters and slaves. Around the Mediterranean Rim at the time, slavery was the norm. Some historians estimate 30-40% of Italians served as slaves around the time of Christ. On one hand, it was very different from our view of this awful institution. Greco-Roman slavery was not race based like it was in the American South. Many times it was a way to pay off outstanding debt. But on the other hand, it was still terrible and often brutal. Think you’re having a bad day at the old salt mine? Well, at least it’s not a REAL salt mine!

There was something racing through the Roman Empire that was changing the institution of slavery. The Gospel of Jesus. The tsunami of grace that began in Galilee transformed both masters and bondservants as they hear about Christ’s invitation into God’s kingdom. Your employment status or place on the org chart didn’t a difference. Everybody needs Jesus. The ground is level at the foot of the cross.

As a result, first century churches were filled with both believing masters and slaves. It’s curious that apostles like Paul didn’t call for an end to forced servitude. Maybe it’s because they knew that once God changed their hearts, it would change everything. The Gospel would eventually bring down slavery from the inside out. It’s tragic that it took so long for that to happen. It’s even more tragic that human trafficking is still a problem 2,000 years later. Another gut-wrenching example that we live in a broken world and we’re the ones who broke it. As it was before, there’s only one solution. And His name is Jesus.

Paul gives his boy Tim specific instructions for “those who have believing masters” (v2). He’s talking about the slaves and owners who follow Jesus and attend the church in Ephesus. The apostle uses one of the most important words found in the New Testament here. It’s the Greek word pistos. The term describes one who trusts. In this case, the object of trust is the resurrection Rabbi from Nazareth. 

Dr. Luke uses this very word when writing about Tim when he first meets the apostle formerly known as Saul. Timothy is “the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer (Gr. pistos)” (Acts 16:1). Just a few verses back up the page in this same letter, Paul tells the young pastor that a “believing woman (Gr. pistos) has relatives who are widows”, she is responsible for their care (1Tim 5:16). When the risen Jesus mysteriously and physically appears to a very cynical Thomas, Christ encourages him, “Do not disbelieve but believe (Gr. pistos)” (Jn 20:27).

These slaves don’t trust in their job performance to save them. These masters know their not entering God’s kingdom by winning “Boss of the Year.” Their only chance is by trusting in who Jesus is and what He has done for them. Same for you and me. Christ lived the perfectly sinless and totally obedient life that I failed to live. He died the brutal death for my sin in my place that I should have died. He rose to the spectacular new life that I don’t deserve. I place my trust in His performance on my behalf. It’s a breathtaking trade of our total failure for His absolute perfection (2Cor 5:21). Martin Luther liked to call it “The Great Exchange.” Our belief is only as strong as its object. There’s no stronger object of our faith than Jesus. 

Once an employee believes in Christ, he or she “must not be disrespectful” to the boss. Paul uses a verb here (Gr. kataphroneo) which means to treat scornfully or look down on. It literally means to “down (kata-) think” on somebody. It’s putting them down in your mind. We disrespect when we disdain, disparage, and despise someone. It’s tearing down someone else so we’ll rise in the rankings. There’s no upside when we down think.

In His most famous sermon, Jesus told us not to fool ourselves into thinking God and money can share the top spot of our affection. Eventually, “he will be devoted to the one and despise (Gr. kataphroneo) the other” (Mt 6:24; Lk 16:13). Our Savior also told His crew not to keep kids away from Him. “See that you do not despise (Gr. kataphroneo) one of these little ones” (Mt 18:10). Earlier in this note to Tim, Paul told the rookie pastor, “Let no one despise (Gr. kataphroneo) you for your youth” (1Tim 4:12). There’s no upside when we down think.

I’m sure you would never disparage your boss. Not you. I know you would never grumble or complain what they’ve asked you to do. You would never gossip or snipe. You’re not the one who would second guess your supervisor’s decision, are you? We’re talking about somebody else, right? You’re not the kind of slacker who would take advantage of the fact that your manager loves Jesus so you can cut corners on the job. Yeah, I didn’t think so either. You and your boss may be brothers but that’s no excuse to not bring your best.

If the previous verse about giving your own manager “all honor” (1Tim 6:1) didn’t get your attention, Paul goes on to talk about how working for a fellow believer changes things even more. It becomes a family business “on the ground that they are brothers” (v2). Just a couple of years before, the apostle wrote to his buddy Philemon about a runaway slave named Onesimus. It seems the Big O ran into the apostle in Rome and is coming home a changed man. Paul tells Phil that his fugitive employee is “no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord” (Phm 16).

If God’s grace can change the slave/owner relationship back in the first century, think what it can do for you and me. Remember, Jesus changes everything. That includes work. For those who are blessed to have a believing boss, “they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved” (v2). When you find yourself in that sweet situation, it’s time to cut it loose. It’s time to crank it up. You’re working with your brother. You’re working for your brother. At this point, it really doesn’t matter the industry or the craft. You’re working in the family business. Don’t forget. You and your boss may be brothers but that’s no excuse to not bring your best.