The Freedom Of A Slave

The Freedom Of A Slave“But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master, and my wife, and children and do not want to go out free,’ then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.” Exodus 21:5-6 Imagine yourself in the shoes (or should I say sandals?) of a Hebrew slave in Old Testament times. He is sold into bondage in payment of a debt (that’s the bad news). But Hebrew law commutes his term of bondage to six years, or until the “Year of Jubilee,” whichever comes first (that’s the good news). At that time he is given his freedom without obligation and without restriction. However, if during the six years of service his master had provided him with a wife who had then given him children, the slave was faced with a difficult dilemma. While the law provided for his freedom, it did not provide freedom for his wife and children, unless they had accompanied him into bondage. Only he could go free, without encumbrances. Consequently he must make a choice between personal freedom, which would mean leaving behind his wife and children, or lifelong service, which would mean remaining with his master, wife and family. If he chose the latter, he would forgo his earned right and privilege to be a free man. Which would you choose? How would you make that choice? What criteria would you use? What would your choice be: personal freedom or a servant for life? Tucked into this obscure portion of Old Testament law is the essence of a typical struggle in our Christian lives. It captures the dynamic of our day-to-day struggle between serving ourselves and serving our Lord, and so provides both the focus and the foundation for making contemporary choices, especially in our families. No one would consciously choose to be a slave! However, in one sense we do not have a choice. Paul tells us that we are all slaves and do not have a choice in the matter. We are either slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness. That which we serve is that to which we are enslaved (Rom. 6:15-22). So the choice is not if we will be slaves, but to whom. That choice is critical since the end product of our choice is clear: “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life” (Rom. 6:23). Choices in our lives often seem confusing and complicated. This was not so in the case of the Hebrew slave. His choice involved a clear decision, either for “personal freedom” or “relational commitment.” He had to choose on the premise of either “personal rights” or “right priorities.” In other words, he had to make up his mind, “Am I more important or is my family?” Family GuidelinesHis choice provides some poignant guidelines for making choices, especially in the context of family life. First, the basis for making his choice is established: “I love my master and my wife and children.” Love is the reason for choosing, not power or privilege. It is not a career decision based on what’s best for me to ensure job security or gain a promotion. It is not an upwardly mobile decision to secure or retain a prestigious position. It is not even a rationalization for being a better provider. It is simply love. The priorities upon which the choice was made are also significant: Master (Lord), wife (marriage), and children (family) – in that order. That sequence is repeated over and over in the New Testament. On numerous occasions Jesus Christ stressed the priority of putting the Master first. He said, “Seek first His (God’s) kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mt. 6:33). Christ also spoke to the “how and why” of making the choice to put the Master first: “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me” (Jn. 14:21). Obedience is the behavior that testifies to the love that motivates the behavior. The Hebrew slave out of love for his master, forsook his personal freedom, choosing rather to become a servant for life. He said, “I do not want to go free.” So it is with us when we choose Christ as Lord. Once the Hebrew slave made his choice he became “a marked man.” His ear was pierced in a public ceremony so that the whole community would know his decision. The hole in his ear lobe would continually tell people that he was a “servant for life.” What mark do we bear that lets the world around us know that Christ is our Lord and Master? Too often we cover up the mark so no one really knows who it is we serve. Family Relations Family relations also reflect the way choices are made. In my work with families, troubled children are often the reason why parents come for therapy. Fathers often describe the child’s problem as that of disobedience. However, when therapy scratches the surface of the father’s anger and disappointment in a disobedient child, I often find a man who is trying to he his own master, rather than being obedient himself to his Master. Behind a mother’s frustration and pain over an out-of-control child is often a woman who lacks respect for her husband. Yet that same father expects consistent obedience from his child, and that same mother expects the child to respect her authority. So what lessons can we learn from the Hebrew slave who forfeited freedom for lifelong service? When he said, “I love my master,” he opted for obedience rather than self will. When he said, “I love my wife,” he chose commitment rather than self-interest. And when he said, “I love my children,” he selected responsibility rather than self-indulgence. When we choose “new life” and acknowledge Christ as Lord, we too give up our personal freedom. We give up our self-will which instructs us to “do our own thing.” We give up self-interest which operates on the principle of “I have my rights" and the belief that “I deserve it.” We give up self-indulgence which tells us “If it feels good, do it.” And what do we get in return? We get new life and true liberty (Jas. 1:25). We are granted the means to live life effectively and cope with all that life brings our way. We are encompassed by God’s love, and in that atmosphere we will thrive. Relative to the family, the Hebrew slave’s choice is an excellent example of how healthy dynamics emerge from choices made on the basis of love and right priorities. In choosing to be a servant for life, he committed himself to a life of obedience to his master. That obedience is the seed out of which the tree of commitment grows, which in turn provides the fruit of responsibility. Thus the family is secure because the master's love permeates the family structure. Obedience to the Lord gives purpose and direction to the family; commitment gives stability and strength to the marriage; and responsibility ensures the healthy growth of each family member. So the choice is yours. What will it be: personal freedom or a servant for life? By James Trotzer