What does "twice the service of a hired worker" teach about servant value? Setting the Scene Deuteronomy 15 opens with laws of release—canceling debts and freeing Hebrew servants every seventh year. Verse 18 shows God’s heart for both master and servant. Key Verse “Do not regard it as a hardship to set your servant free, because for six years he has given you double the service of a hired hand; so the LORD your God will bless you in all that you do.” (Deuteronomy 15:18) Understanding “Twice the Service” • A hired hand worked seasonally or daily; the servant’s six-year term meant continuous, full-time labor. • “Double” highlights measurable value—hours, skills, loyalty, and availability exceeded casual labor. • Literal language signals God’s economic fairness: six years of round-the-clock service equals at least twice the worth of ordinary wages. What It Reveals About Servant Value • Servants are not disposable assets; God calculates their contribution and requires generous release. • Their labor builds household wealth; therefore the master must not feel loss in granting freedom. • God personally ties blessing to just treatment, declaring the servant’s worth in His sight. • Equal image-bearing status is implied—echoed later in Job 31:13-15 and Colossians 4:1. Broader Scriptural Thread • Leviticus 25:53 stresses fair wages for long-term servants. • Ephesians 6:5-9 balances authority with accountability before the same Master in heaven. • Matthew 20:28 reminds that the Son of Man “came not to be served, but to serve,” elevating service itself. Implications for Believers Today • Value every worker beyond productivity—see people, not positions. • Compensate fairly and release readily when God directs; reluctance exposes misplaced trust in human labor over divine provision. • Recognize Christ’s redemption as the ultimate release, purchased after giving infinitely more than double the service of any earthly worker (Philippians 2:7-8). Living It Out • Audit employer practices—pay, hours, respect—ensuring they mirror God’s valuation. • Celebrate faithful service with generosity: wages, recommendations, time off, or gifts. • Model Christlike servanthood in ministry and marketplace, demonstrating that true greatness flows through willing, wholehearted service. |
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