Topical Bible: Servants: Duties of, to Masters: To Sympathise With Them

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, the relationship between servants and masters is addressed with a focus on mutual respect and understanding. Servants are called to fulfill their duties with sincerity and integrity, reflecting a Christ-like attitude in their service. One of the key aspects of this relationship is the call for servants to sympathize with their masters, recognizing their humanity and the challenges they face.

Biblical Foundation

The Apostle Paul, in his epistles, provides guidance on the conduct of servants towards their masters. In Ephesians 6:5-8 , Paul instructs, "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free."

This passage emphasizes the importance of serving with a sincere heart, as if serving Christ Himself. The call to serve "with good will" suggests an attitude of empathy and understanding towards the master's position and responsibilities.

Sympathy as a Christian Virtue

Sympathy, in the biblical sense, involves more than mere emotional understanding; it is an active engagement in the well-being of others. In 1 Peter 3:8 , believers are encouraged to "be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble." This exhortation extends to all relationships, including that of servants and masters.

By sympathizing with their masters, servants acknowledge the burdens and pressures that come with leadership and authority. This understanding fosters a harmonious working environment and reflects the servant's commitment to living out Christian virtues.

Practical Implications

Sympathizing with masters involves recognizing their humanity and the complexities of their roles. Servants are encouraged to:

1. Pray for Their Masters: Interceding for their masters' wisdom, strength, and well-being is a practical way to express sympathy and support.

2. Communicate Openly: Engaging in honest and respectful dialogue can help bridge gaps and foster mutual understanding.

3. Offer Support: Being attentive to the needs and challenges of their masters, and offering assistance where possible, demonstrates a servant's commitment to their master's success.

4. Exercise Patience and Forgiveness: Understanding that masters, like all individuals, are fallible and may make mistakes, servants are called to exercise patience and forgiveness, reflecting the grace they have received in Christ.

Conclusion

The duty of servants to sympathize with their masters is deeply rooted in the Christian call to love and serve others as Christ loved and served. By embodying this principle, servants not only fulfill their earthly duties but also bear witness to the transformative power of the Gospel in all areas of life.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Samuel 12:18
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he would not listen to our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Evangelical Revival.
... How was it that he infused into them nothing whatever of that spirit which was in ...
he would have been the first to own as God's faithful servants"with William ...
/.../chapter ix the evangelical revival.htm

Going Home --A Christmas Sermon
... It does not free me from my duties as a son; it ... If any of you are masters you will
pardon me for the ... I most respectfully beg you to pay your servants the same ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/going homea christmas sermon.htm

The Religious Revolution
... assiduous in the performance of his duties, attentive to ... Scholasticism as expounded
by its greatest masters, St. ... were inclined at first to sympathise with his ...
/.../chapter ii the religious revolution.htm

part ii
... works are artificial, whilst his real duties are the ... to finish, then should not we,
God's servants, labour for ... and therefore cannot "serve two masters: God and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm

part i
... I have many books of very varied contents; I have read and re-read them, but still
I am not yet satisfied. ... Who gives them their wonderful forms? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part i.htm