Partiality

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Colossians 3:18-25. This passage is very similar to wording in Ephesians chapter 6. We were looking at the Bondservants section of this passage.  It seemed to be a  difficult passage to deal with. I live in the deep south where slavery was a big deal and considered an economic necessity a few generations ago. We know it was wrong, morally and spiritually and many on both sides of the issue would use this passage. It almost appears as if God is condoning slavery  and perhaps that is why it was used by both sides. My thought is that the word helps us in an evil world and to live for God what ever our present circumstance. We read scriptures from old testament even touched some on the slavery during the times of King Solomon. This is why I think the Bible is relevant what ever the age and political climate. God didn't condone slavery any more than he condoned King Solomon's many wives and concubines. It was the culture and the political system at that time. There is also scripture that addresses economic levels, and at the end of this passage we see there is to be no partiality. Bond or free, rich or poor, we are all made in the image of God. We sin when we show partiality. This type of partiality still shows up in our society today. There are still old south people around. A white woman at the rehabilitation center that did not want to get on the platform side by side with a black woman. Or you will hear those that discuss going to a party with rich folks, and you can feel the attitude of we are better than they because we have money and a large home and lands and a bank account.  We are not to show partiality when it comes to economic status or political status or race. It is SIN. Bond or free, slave or master, boss or worker, we are all made in the image of God and deserve to be treated equally and fairly. No partiality, we are all God's image bearers, and partiality is sin. I look at the political racism we have dealt with in recent years with Black lives matter. Partiality of any kind is sin. All lives matter. White, Black, Olive skin, Red, Yellow, rich or poor. We are to do the work we do as if we are working for God, not to serve man or to please man but to please God. Racism, if it is white against black or black against white it is sin. Poor against rich or rich against poor, it is sin. Our political divisions are not better. We are all image bearers of God. We may disagree with acceptable norms in our culture, but the people are made in the image of God. There is no partiality with God.  God bless, LVZ.