Whose Slave Are You?

You may or may not think that is a dumb question. You may even feel offended by it. But the Bible and Romans 6 in particular asks in total seriousness and without apology: "Whose slave are you?" It is a serious matter of eternal consequence.

The New Testament uses the image of slavery in connection with the life each of us lives. It points out that each of us is a slave, end of discussion. The question consistently is; "Who have you chosen to be your Master?" So you are given the wonderful, voluntary choice as to who you will serve. Paul puts it this way in Romans 6:16 "Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? ...".

The choosing of a master is a very serious matter. Among the things to be carefully considered are the short term and especially the long term consequences of the choice. Unfortunately, too many of us make these decisions without enough thought. That can lead to disappointments and worse in relationships between people. It can also lead to tragedies spiritually.

The two different masters in this passage have very different outcomes! From Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."

This could be bad news since we all start out with a natural bent to sin. We then have the good fortune to decide if we want to stay enslaved to sin or chose a different master. Paul continues in Romans 6:17-18 "Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you have obeyed with all your heart the new teaching God has given you. Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness."

So each one of us has to admit to what may be an uncomfortable truth: We are all a slave. No matter what our role or station in life may be; we are a slave. Fortunately we can make a choice of whose slave to be. If someone thinks they're not making a choice, it is like not making a choice when installing software on a computer, you just made a choice for the default setting. No choice here results in being a slave to the old master, sin. Notice how Paul puts it in verse 19 "... Before, you let yourselves be slaves of impurity and lawlessness. Now you must choose to be slaves of righteousness so that you will become holy." Choice is there, and a choice has to be made.

When a choice is made to be a slave to God and righteousness, a wonderful freedom happens too. Verse 22 "But now you are free from the power of sin ..." It is an interesting reality that a choice for submission, slavery if you will, is also a choice for freedom and incredible peace, if you choose for God.

Whose slave do you choose to be?

Remember that with a choice for God "... now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life." (verse 22) Since you are God's slave, He will provide the strength, peace and means to lead that kind of life.

Written by Rev. Daniel B. Baker June 2007



Articles by Rev. Daniel B. Baker :: Webmaster: Joseph I. Baker