owner was under obligation to deal righteously and fairly with him.—Eph. 6:9; Col. 4:1.

The acceptance of Christianity by those in servitude placed upon them the responsibility of being better slaves, “not talking back, not committing theft, but exhibiting good fidelity.” (Titus 2:9, 10) Even if their masters were to treat them unjustly, this did not give them license to render inferior service. By suffering for righteousness’ sake, they imitated the example of Jesus Christ. (1 Pet. 2:18-25) “You slaves,” wrote the apostle Paul, “be obedient in everything to those who are your masters in a fleshly sense, not with acts of eye service, as men pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, with fear of Jehovah. Whatever you are doing, work at it whole-souled as to Jehovah, and not to men.” (Col. 3:22, 23; Eph. 6:5-8) Such fine conduct toward their masters prevented bringing reproach upon the name of God, as no one could blame Christianity for producing lazy, good-for-nothing slaves.—1 Tim. 6:1.

Of course, a slave’s “obedience in everything” could not include disobeying God’s law, as that would have meant fearing men rather than God. Wrongdoing by slaves, even when committed at the direction of a superior, would not have ‘adorned the teaching of their Savior, God,’ but would have misrepresented and disgraced this teaching. (Titus 2:10) Thus, their Christian conscience would govern.

In the Christian congregation all persons, regardless of their social status, enjoyed the same standing. All were anointed by the same spirit and thus shared in the same hope as members of one body. (1 Cor. 12:12, 13; Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11) While more limited in what he could do in spreading the good news, the Christian slave was not to worry about this. If granted the opportunity to gain freedom, however, he would take advantage of it and thereby enlarge his sphere of Christian activity.—1 Cor. 7:21-23.

ENSLAVEMENT TO SIN

At the time the first man Adam disobeyed God’s law he surrendered perfect control of himself and yielded to the selfish desire to continue sharing association with his sinful wife and pleasing her. Adam’s surrendering himself to his sinful desire made this desire and its end product, sin, his master. (Compare Romans 6:16; James 1:14, 15.) He thus sold himself under sin. As all his offspring were yet in his loins, Adam also sold them under sin. That is why the apostle Paul wrote: “I am fleshly, sold under sin.” (Rom. 7:14) For this reason there was no way for any of Adam’s descendants to make themselves righteous, not even by trying to keep the Mosaic law. As the apostle Paul put it: “The commandment which was to life, this I found to be to death.” (Rom. 7:10) The inability of humans to keep the Law perfectly showed that they were slaves to sin and deserving of death, not life.

Only by availing themselves of the deliverance made possible through Jesus Christ could individuals be emancipated or gain freedom from this enslavement. (Compare John 8:31-34; Romans 7:21-25; Galatians 4:1-7; Hebrews 2:14-16.) Having been bought with the precious blood of Jesus, Christians are slaves or servants of Jehovah God and of his Son, obligated to keep their commands.—1 Cor. 7:22, 23; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19; Rev. 19:1, 2, 5; see DEATH; FREEDMAN, FREEMAN; FREEDOM; RANSOM; SIN, I.

SLEDGE

See FARMING IMPLEMENTS.

SLEEP

A period of rest marked by the cessation of conscious activity is vital for the maintenance of human life and health. Being fully aware of the importance of rest, Jesus Christ was concerned about his disciples’ having time to rest up a bit. (Mark 6:31) Jesus’ example shows that, even in human perfection, rest and sleep are necessary.—Compare Mark 4:38; see PERFECTION.

Hard work (Eccl. 5:12), a clear conscience (compare Psalm 32:3-5) and freedom from undue anxiety as well as trust in Jehovah (Ps. 3:5; 4:8; Prov. 3:24-26) contribute much toward making an individual’s sleep pleasurable and refreshing. Content with life’s necessities (compare 1 Timothy 6:8), the servant of God does not have to spend long hours in arduous toil to the point of sacrificing necessary sleep and still deriving no real benefit from his work.—Compare Psalm 127:1, 2.

Of course, there are times when God’s servants experience sleepless nights. If not due to sickness or other adverse or trialsome circumstances, their sleeplessness may stem from concern for fellow believers and the advancement of true worship. (2 Cor. 6:3-5; 11:23, 27; compare Psalm 132:3-5, where the reference is, not to actual sleep, but to rest, cessation from activity.) However, they do not need to worry needlessly about material possessions and lose sleep as a result. (Eccl. 5:12; compare Matthew 6:25-34.) On the other hand, wrongdoing serves to make wicked persons content. “They do not sleep unless they do badness, and their sleep has been snatched away unless they cause someone to stumble.”—Prov. 4:16.

While sleep is important, a person should not become a lover of sleep. (Prov. 20:13) “Laziness causes a deep sleep to fall,” making an individual inactive when he should be accomplishing something. (Prov. 19:15) For one to prefer to sleep or to be inactive when he should be working is to choose a course that eventually leads to poverty.—Prov. 6:9-11; 10:5; 24:33, 34.

Unlike men, Jehovah God does not become drowsy and require sleep. His servants, therefore, can rest assured that he can at all times supply needed help. (Ps. 121:3, 4) Only when, for his own good reasons, he delays or refrains from taking action, as in the case of those professing to be his people but proving to be unfaithful, is Jehovah likened to one who is asleep.—Ps. 44:23; 78:65.

SPIRITUAL WAKEFULNESS

When encouraging Christians at Rome not to be asleep or inactive and insensible to their responsibilities, the apostle Paul wrote: “It is already the hour for you to awake from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than at the time when we became believers. The night is well along; the day has drawn near. Let us therefore put off the works belonging to darkness and let us put on the weapons of the light. As in the daytime let us walk decently, not in revelries and drunken bouts, not in illicit intercourse and loose conduct, not in strife and jealousy.” (Rom. 13:11-13; compare Ephesians 5:6-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8; Revelation 16:15.) Those who engage in wrong practices or advance false teachings are asleep as to righteousness and need to wake up if they are to gain God’s approval.

DEATH IS LIKE SLEEP

There is evidence that people sleep in cycles. Each cycle is made up of a deep sleep followed by a lighter sleep. During periods of deep sleep it is very difficult to awaken a person. He is completely unaware of his surroundings and the things that may be occurring about him. There is no conscious activity. Similarly, the dead are “conscious of nothing at all.” (Eccl. 9:5, 10; Ps. 146:4) Therefore death, whether that of a man or of an animal, is like sleep. (Ps. 13:3; John 11:11-14; Acts 7:60; 1 Cor. 7:39; 15:51; 1 Thess. 4:13) The psalmist wrote: “From your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the charioteer and the horse have fallen fast asleep.” (Ps. 76:6; compare Isaiah 43:17.) Were it not for God’s purpose to awaken persons from the sleep of death, they would never wake up.—Compare Job 14:10-15; Jeremiah 51:39, 57; see RESURRECTION.

However, “death” and “sleep” may also be contrasted. Concerning, a dead girl, Christ Jesus said: “The little girl did not die, but she is sleeping.” (Matt. 9:24; Mark 5:39; Luke 8:52) As he was going to resurrect her from death, Jesus may have meant that