DEC 13

Colossians 4:1
Memorise Matthew 7:2
“…just and equal…”

Paul ends this section on exhorting particular groups with instructions to masters in Colossians 4:1 “Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.” The focus now shifts from those under authority, to those who have the power over others. All Christians who have authority over others must compensate them justly and treat them equally. They do so because they know they are accountable to God in heaven who is their ultimate Master, who will see and judge unjust compensation and unequal treatment. This just Master will see the injustice felt by workers when this supposedly Christian master treats everyone badly, or glosses over the mistakes made by those he favours and comes down hard on mistakes made by those he does not. This just Master will also see the injustice done to the Christian worker who is compensated less than the norm by his Christian master who takes advantage of his brethren’s meekness and longsuffering. This is the same just Master who saw the injustice meted to Joseph for a crime he did not commit and later providentially promoted longsuffering Joseph to a higher position than he had before he suffered the injustice. This just Master is our gracious God who cares for us, and knows of all our woes.

Have you ever felt that your teacher is unfair? Or have you felt your teacher treating you unjustly eg. singling you out for the worst duties? How should you react to all this? The Christian student should not murmur or complain, but instead rest in the knowledge that God allows this to happen to him, so he should instead rejoice in trials and take heart like Joseph knowing that our just God will eventually right all wrongs. At the same time, if we have a Christian teacher over us, we should not desire or expect the teacher to treat us preferentially over others, or worse, demand it; for how can we cause our teacher to sin against the just God?

Thought: How often have you despaired over injustice you have received?
Prayer: May I always leave vengeance to God instead of leaving it in my heart.