Accountable
Colossians 4:1 NKJV
Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
Paul had just given instructions to those who were bond servants. Remember that the letters written to the churches were not in chapter and verse. The subject was how servants were to treat their masters according to the flesh. "According to the flesh" meant that these servants had masters who were on the earth. Paul was reminding the servants to obey their earthly masters, not just when they were being watched, but out of sincerity of heart, fearing God. So even though these individuals were slaves of men, they were working for a higher purpose. What they did, they were to do with all their heart as to the Lord, not to men. And the Lord would reward them for "you serve the Lord Christ."
This had to be such good news for a servant. With virtually no means of advancing on the earth, these servants could serve a higher purpose and serve the Lord Himself. And the Lord would reward them. Higher calling, greater reward. I am not certain when the reward would come, just that the Holy Spirit was clear when stating, "you will receive the reward of the inheritance."
But the accountability did not stop with bondservants. Paul also addressed the masters of servants. Masters were instructed to give their bondservants what was just and fair. The wording here makes allowances for all bondservants. There is a strong chance that the earthly masters would have servants who were not believers. However, masters were to treat all their bondservants the right way because, as masters, they also had a Master in heaven. So those in authority with servants accountable to them were still under authority to their Master, Jesus, in heaven. Masters were to fulfill their roles as unto the Lord. This means believing servants and believing masters were all serving The Master in heaven.
Application
Just because we, thankfully, no longer have slavery in our country, there is still an application for all of us. As employees, we are to do our jobs as unto the Lord, serving Him. And as employers, we are to treat our employees justly and fairly because we have a Lord, a boss, a master in heaven. We may not like the idea of having a Master but remember it was Jesus who bought us with His blood and we belong to God. There is accountability in the Body of Christ. None of us is on our own. We belong to the Lord, and we have the privilege of serving Him.
Prayer
Lord, I am grateful that You bought me with a price and I belong to You. I acknowledge You as my Master. I am accountable to You.