Titus 2:9-10

‘Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing to them in all things; not gainsaying, not purloining, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.’

He is to exhort bondservants to be in proper subjection to their masters. The stronger ‘be in subjection’ as compared with the milder ‘obey’ (Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22) may suggest that there was a tendency in Crete for Christian bondservants to exercise their new freedom in Christ by becoming arrogant. Rather they are to seek to be well-pleasing to their masters in all things, not speaking against them or going against them or purloining what is theirs, but rather showing true fidelity towards them. They are to behave towards them as they would towards Christ, serving them in singleness of heart, and being content with their own position (although accepting freedom if it is offered - Ephesians 6:5-7; Colossians 3:22-24; 1 Corinthians 7:20-23). In other words they are to be model servants for Christ’s sake. This is, of course a general instruction, and would not apply to any attempt by their masters to prevent them from being Christians. By this behaviour Christ will be honoured, and the spread of the Gospel will not be hindered. In this way they are to ‘adorn the teaching of God our Saviour’ in everything that they do, thereby bringing honour to God. For what is important is not this world and its status, but the next. The word ‘adorn’ means to present in such a way as to reveal its full beauty. Men should see their good behaviour and glorify their Father Who is in Heaven (Matthew 5:16).

We may equally apply this idea to modern employment, although that is not to say that we should not react against unfairness and mismanagement in a proper way, for that would not be seen as rocking the foundation of our society and making us enemies of the people, or, in this modern world, as dishonouring to Christ, as long as it is done in the right spirit.