Chapter 5 — Duties of Masters to Servants
Masters also have a responsibility to their servants.
Get those who fear God if possibly they can,: 'He that works deceit,' says David, 'shall not dwell within my house; he who tells lies, shall not continue in my presence' (Psa 101:7).
But if only unbelievers can be got to do your labour, then, 1. Know that it is your duty so to behave yourself to your servant, that your service may not only be for your good, but for the good of your servant, both in body and soul. So deal with him, as to admonition, as with your children; give him the same bread of God you give to them; and who knows, if you with spiritual care bring up your servant, he may become your spiritual son in the end (Prov 29:21). 2. Be careful not to turn your servants into slaves, by overworking them through your greediness. To make men serve with rigour is more like Israel's enemies than Christian masters (Exo 1:14). [10] 3. Be careful not to behave towards your servant like Nabal, who was 'such a man of Belial, that his servants could not speak to him.' (1 Sam 25:14-17). And the apostle forbids you to threaten them, because you also have a Master in heaven (Eph 6:9). For your servants cannot be guilty of so many sins against you, as you are guilty of against Christ. So do with, and to your servants, as you would have your master do with you. 4. Be careful that you neither swindle him when entering your employment, nor at his going out. Servants, when entering employment, may be abused in two ways. (1) By their masters lying to them, saying, their work is light and easy, when it is indeed, if not too burdensome, yet far beyond what at first was said of it. This is deceitful of them. (2) The other way is, when masters press their servants to accept wages that are too little for such work and labour. Both these the apostle opposes, where he says, 'Masters give to your servants what is just,' just labour, and just wages, 'knowing that you also have a master in heaven' (Col 4:1). As servants may be swindled when entering employment, so also they may be at their going out: which is done by masters that either change their wages, like heathen Laban, (Gen 31:7). or by keeping it back, like those against whom God will be a swift witness (Mal 3:5). 5. Be careful not to profiteer; because you are gracious, and can provide the means of grace. Servants that are truly godly care not how cheap they serve their masters, provided they may get into godly families, or where they may share the word. But if a master or mistress should use this to take advantage of their servants, this is abominable, this is making a gain of godliness, and merchandise of the things of God, and of the soul of your brother (1 Tim 6:5).
I have heard some poor servants say, That in some carnal families they have had more liberty to God's things, and more fairness of dealing, than among professors. But this stinks. And as Jacob said concerning the cruelty of his two sons, so may I say of such masters, they make religion stink before the inhabitants of the land (Gen 34:30).
In a word, learn from the Lord Jesus to behave well with your servants, that your servants also may learn something of the kindness of Christ by your attitude to them. Servants are goers as well as comers; be careful that you give them no cause to criticise the gospel when they are gone, for what they saw you doing when they were with you. Masters carry it rightly toward their servants, when they labour both in word and life to convince them that the things of God are all that is necessary. What servants are commanded to do, concerning respect, singleness of heart, and doing what they do as to the Lord, and not to men, the master is commanded to do the same to them. (Eph 6:6-9).