Titus 2:9-10: Exhorting Servants
2022-05-07
Titus 2:9
We previously discussed the role of servants serving their masters in 1 Timothy 6:1-2. Here, we receive more details on how a servant, or employee, should serve his or her master, or boss. Many of us work for an employer and are not self-employed. This passage applies to us especially. However, we are always called to be servants to someone, so these principles should help everyone as we seek to serve.
Often, in other passages (such as Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:22-25; 4:1) have exhortations to employers/bosses as well. Passages like this one do not have any exhortation to bosses. Why not? Most likely because most people are servants! We are called to service and not lordship.
There are two elements here in this verse pertaining to employees serving bosses. First, is obedience to them. This is expected on a worldly level. There is an ordinary expectation that employees should do what their bosses tell them to do. This means fulfilling whatever their job description is.
Second, is “to please them well in all things.” This is to make sure the boss is happy with everything. This is not only to do what is required, but to do it well. It may mean that the servant goes beyond what is required to make sure the employer is pleased. Joseph found favor with his superiors when in Egypt, and they used his wisdom to run households and eventually all of Egypt. “And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand” (Genesis 39:3).
The employee does not answer again, or dispute with the boss. The word is translated “gainsaying” (Romans 10:21) or “gainsayers” elsewhere (Titus 1:9). Israel was gainsaying: “But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people” (Romans 10:21). It is self-defined here: they were disobedient. False prophets in Crete were called “gainsayers”: “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers” (Titus 1:9). These were disputing against sound doctrine. To answer again is to dispute and attempt to get out of what you are supposed to do. It is to undermine authority and have one’s own way.
There is a place to disagree if you think you have a better suggestion on how to do something to help the boss or company. You need to know your boss before doing this. Suggesting alternate ways to accomplish tasks is a way to please the boss in all things.
Titus 2:10
The servant should not purloin. This is stealing or embezzling. The servant is often a steward of their company’s goods. There is IT equipment, finances, and other important assets in our hands. We need to treat these things like we would treat our own things, but also know that they do not belong to us! Being placed in our position means that we were trusted by our superiors to take care of their assets.
Contrasting with embezzling, we show ourselves faithful. Even if we have a mean boss or poor employer, we can and should still demonstrate faithfulness in all that we do. Consider David, who could have killed Saul on two occasions, proved himself faithful to a faithless, evil king. Likewise, we prove ourselves faithful in how we handle what has been entrusted to us.
These things are good in themselves, but there is a purpose clause: “that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” To be faithful in all things points to Whom we are faithful. And we are only faithful to Him because He first was faithful to us. “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). This becomes an opportunity for testimony to “God our Saviour in all things.”
This verse is the second time God the Father is seen as the Savior. In the next section, we will see more about this, as well as how this correlates to Jesus being our Savior.