The Awl

"But if the servant plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him forever." (Exodus 21:5-6)

During my years as a journeyman mason, it became apparent that the laborers who supported us fell into two distinct categories.

First, there were those who were there merely for the pay. Because their hearts weren't in the work, they had to be told constantly what was needed. Consequently, production often ground to a standstill while these laborers fetched materials that should have already been at hand. One might have seen them as akin to a slave—driven by instruction rather than intent.

But then there were those exceptional laborers who ensured every necessity was always within reach. Their mortar pans were consistently full of "mud," tempered to the exact consistency and plasticity the mason preferred. There was always a ready supply of brick, concrete block, wall ties, and the nails required to fasten them. These individuals functioned as attentive servants—perfectly in tune and in harmony with the mason. They worked as if they were a single being; for them, the reward was found in the mastery of the craft and the satisfaction of anticipating a need before it was spoken. These laborers kept morale high and production profitable.

The clock-watchers were a liability, while the attentive laborers were considered priceless. The first group watched the clock, ready to leave the moment the day ended. The second group was caught up in the "waltz" between the mason and themselves—the rhythmic cooperation required to create a finished work.

Like the laborers on a job site, our motives determine our impact. Christians often fall into these same two categories. There are those content with their status as "saved," merely occupying seats on a train to heaven, waiting for it to pull out of the station. Then there are those who desire to help others be delivered from affliction, guiding them to that same train and helping them find a seat. While the first group might view the others as odd for giving up so much precious time, the second group experiences such joy in their service that they could not imagine living any other way.

This is the fundamental difference between slavery and service. To the slave, work is begrudging obedience; to the servant, it is intuitive service driven by the satisfaction of helping others. This analogy clarifies why a servant, when given the opportunity to be released, might choose to stay permanently. Finding joy in a mutually beneficial relationship, he becomes a "bondservant" for life.

In the Old Testament, the ‘piercing of the ear’ (Exodus 21:6) was the physical confirmation of this spiritual reality. It symbolized an ear permanently "opened" to the master’s voice—a sign of devotion rather than shame. This imagery points us directly toward the New Covenant. In Philippians 2:6-8, Paul wrote regarding Jesus: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” The apostles considered themselves bondservants to Jesus, continuing His work. As Paul identifies himself in Romans 1:1, he was a “bondservant of Jesus Christ.”

Father, thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, who took on the nature of a servant for our sake. Grant us an "opened ear" to hear Your voice and an intuitive heart to sense the needs of those around us. Help us move beyond merely occupying a seat and instead join in the "waltz" of Kingdom work. Transform us into Your bondservants—bound not by chains of law, but by cords of love. May our lives reflect the humility of Christ, that we might be found perfectly in tune with Your desires in all we do. Amen

mgb