‘Exhort servants’ – our King James Version is quite tasteful here and tactful. The original says, ‘Exhort slaves.
If slaves who had no rights and were treated so badly, and were not paid, but rather owned; if they nevertheless had to live with an eye to pleasing their masters, how much more do I as an employee, surrounded by protections, need to do a good job for my employer! This is a matter of testimony for the converted slave, the Christian employer. The master knows this is not easy, and if he sees that the slave is able to serve sincerely, even though he is deprived of all earthly reason for doing so, he will start to reflect on what drives this slave. The slave has found Christ. His treasure is not in this world. He has seen that the master, whether he is fair or unfair, can take nothing of real value from the slave. The slave’s life is hid with Christ in God, beyond the reach of harm. The modern-day employer has a comfortable life in comparison, and must learn not to be troubled by unfairness.