Slavery?

                 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. (Romans 14:8)

So, we’re supposed to give up our lives for God. And women are supposed to willingly enslave themselves for their families as “trad wives.” And men are supposed to work long hours with no recognition to meet their family’s needs. And children? Not only are they required, they are expected to follow along meekly in their family traditions. We’re all supposed to be slaves.

Different groups have different standards for slaves. One former presidential candidate told a Black radio host that if the radio host had any difficulty figuring out for whom to vote, “You ain’t Black.” Others have stated that Blacks who don’t behave according to their stereotypes aren’t Black. No matter what group you’re part of, there are expectations of some measure of enslavement.  You can’t go to work only when you feel like it. While they’ve loosened up requirements for voting, you can’t vote after the election has been validated and expect your vote to count. You can’t take up murder for a hobby and expect everyone else to be OK with it.

One of the neighbor kids likes to play basketball. That is, he loves to spin, shoot, and score. The technique needs some work, but he’s better at it than I am. At some point, someone is going to inform him that he needs to become an expert at dribbling. How many professional basketball players would prefer to be permitted to reject enslavement to dribbling? Should we allow ourselves to be enslaved to not killing people who irritate us?

Now, let’s flip the situation. If you are on a team, and you want the team to win, do you have a positive perspective about things that will help the team win? If dribbling well will let you score points, or spending time in a hot kitchen will provide your family with good-tasting, nutritious food that will keep them healthy, are you willing to do it? You’re still doing the things that you (or others) call drudgery and slavery, but with a different perspective.

It's the perspective that matters, and perspective is hard to maintain. We need to provide ourselves with reminders. This is also why it’s so irritating when someone starts waving a finger at caregivers and remonstrating with them for not being the wonderful dose of “sweetness and light” that they should. Let me interject that “caregivers” includes police, ambulance personnel, firefighters, the military, teachers, nurses, doctors, nursing home attendants, teachers, parents, grandparents, flight attendants, store clerks, waiters,  and everyone else who serves, but let’s focus on those closest to us. If you aren’t happy with the job they’re doing, instead of grousing, find a way to help. For every criticism, find two opportunities to praise or thank them for their work. Let them know that it and they matter to you – and not by buying them a tool of the trade.

And the same thing is true when it comes to our living and dying for the Lord. He lived and died for us. We are following His example or joining His team. We need to keep that in mind when it’s not easy or fun.