Justly & Fairly

Applying the Bible · Apr 23, 2026 · 5m

Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. (Colossians 4:1)

Paul’s instruction to masters carries weight beyond the ancient context of slavery. It speaks to anyone in authority over others—employers, leaders, parents, pastors, mentors, etc. The command is not only for justice but also for fairness. We often blur the two as if they mean the same, but they do not. Justice is about what is right; fairness is about equity. In God’s kingdom, justice is not always “fair” by human standards—after all, Jesus, the spotless One, bore the…