Introduction
In my mid-twenties, while serving at my home church as a young pastor leading various ministries, we installed a new senior pastor. I did not immediately "click" with him or his leadership style, and Christina and I began praying about and investigating possible open doors for ministry in other towns. One morning, as I prayed over the situation, I came in my reading to Proverbs 27. I read:
Proverbs 27:18 (ESV) — 18 Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored.
The verse jolted me, and I instantly discerned I was supposed to treat this man as my master. I was to guard and care for him like a farmer tending a fig tree. If I did, the Spirit assured me, I would be honored, just as someone who cares for the crop will eat its fruit. In short, I learned that I needed to work hard for him, and that in return, good stuff would unfold for me. And that's what happened: two years later, he led the charge in appointing me the new lead pastor of our church.
I tell this story because the way we work matters; this is different from saying our work matters. And our work does matter. We are still living under the first commission to fill the earth and subdue it, so when we make widgets, teach language, or decode weather patterns in our workplaces, we are fulfilling part of God's important mission for our lives. Our work matters.
But it is also the way we work that matters. And all of us work. It might be a job, it might be a career, it might be school, it might be at home, but we all work. Even when the work itself feels insignificant, how we accomplish that work is significant, especially to God. And the passage in front of us should fill us with inspiration regarding how we work, but it will also challenge us. As exile Christians, believers who are being pushed to the margins of our society, how we work is of great importance. It's an opportunity for our own transformation, but it is also an opportunity to testify of God's grace in our lives. Our work is one of the best ways for us to emulate Jesus, and this passage will spur us in that direction. Let's read:
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
Servants
The first word of the passage should catch our attention: servants (18). Peter was writing during to first-century believers found in the Roman Empire. Many of them were household servants. Some of our modern English translations call them "slaves." It's a tricky word because when we think of servants in our modern context, we might think of a Downton Abbey-styled English estate with a large proliferation of serving staff. And when we think of slaves, we inevitably think of the horrors of the 19th century in American society.
But the first-century slaves in the Roman Empire were not akin to either. They were like modern employees in that they were managers, overseers, and often trained in various fields. Doctors, nurses, teachers, musicians, and artists were all part of that slave class. Many of them had sold themselves into slavery -- better thought of in those cases as indentured servitude -- for a number of years. And nearly all of them had a hope or expectation of future release or redemption. Additionally, they did not comprise one race of people but came from various cultures throughout the known world.
All that said, it was unlike modern employment in many ways. Masters most certainly owned their servants. And many of them did not volunteer themselves in any way but were captured in war with Rome. Their legal, social, and economic status was clearly lower than those who were free in Roman society. So it was not a good or holy situation. It was not ideal but not as debased and wretched as the trans-Atlantic slave trade of our nation's history.
Because much of the Roman Empire was enslaved -- some estimate up to sixty percent -- and because the gospel appeals to those without hope, much of the early church was enslaved. So, not only were these enslaved Christians beginning to feel outcast for their faith, but they had to deal with the workplace drama that went along with being a believer. What would Peter tell them to do?
1. Do Good Work (18)
Be Subject
The first thing Peter told them was to do good work. He said they should be subject to their masters with all respect (18). My assumption is that if Peter told a group of first-century Christian servants to be subject to their masters, he would tell twenty-first-century Christian employees to be subject to their employers as well.
Proverbs 12:27 tells us that diligence is a person's possession (NKJV). Believers should be excellent employees. God has grabbed ahold of our lives, and now we live in the fear of the Lord. His authority and presence and holiness are meant to inform our every action. Even when no one else is around, we know God is involved in our lives. And we want to please him. So we should work with diligence.
Because Jesus went above and beyond for us, believers should never be those who do the bare minimum. Because Jesus always lived to please his Father, believers should never work well only when the boss is watching. Because Jesus willingly volunteered himself for us, believers should never be hard to approach about new responsibilities. Because Jesus stepped off his rightful throne to serve us, believers should never feel entitled to positions and raises in their workplaces. And because Jesus worked so hard for us, believers should never be lazy.
So Peter told the church to be subject to the workplace authority in their lives.
Leaders: Be Good and Gentle
Before moving forward in the text, there are a couple of things worth noting. First, notice how Peter told those servants to be subject to their masters, not only the good and gentle, but also the unjust (18). What I want to point out is the ideal: good and gentle. Many of us are in positions of authority in the workplace. Without directly communicating to the first-century masters who might've been part of the church, Peter did show them the way they should be. Good and gentle.
If it is a bad witness for a Christian worker to do bad work, it is also a bad witness for a Christian employer to provide a bad work environment. I don't like hearing about Christian employers or business owners who treat their employees poorly or pay them low wages. It is a challenge, I know, and leaders certainly cannot let their Christianity make it easy for people to take advantage of them, but it should be a good experience working for a Christian because they are both good and gentle.
2. Believe in the Power of a Transformed Life (18-19)
Injustice
So, as exile-workers, we must be subject to our workplace leadership. But, secondly, we must also believe in the power of a transformed life.
Peter didn't think all masters would be good and gentle. He thought some would be unjust (18). Everyone knew about unjust masters in the Roman Empire, just as everyone knows about them today. But when Peter said the poor treatment of slaves was unjust, he gave unprecedented status to the slave. Many in that era, including no less than Aristotle, thought of slaves as sub-human tools to whom no true injustice could be done. But the apostle corrected that thinking; many masters were unjust.
But the apostolic call, both here and in Paul's writings, was never for revolution. What they proposed was more effective. They confronted unjust social structures by telling Christians to submit to God by submitting themselves to injustice. This is shocking to us because one Christian ideal is the righting of wrongs, replacing injustice with righteousness. But as the early apostles stared into the face of the first-century way of life, they didn't hold out much hope for changing the ways of the world. Peter and Paul weren't very optimistic about reforming the world.
What these men saw instead was a gospel revolution led by spiritual people who were so different from natural people. And when the servants Peter wrote to began living the way Peter told them, their way of living would most certainly have sparked questions. Masters and other servants who didn't know Jesus would've wondered why these Christians behaved like they did.
This is why I say we must believe in the power of transformed life. As people under the influence of the Spirit, our reaction to the injustices done to us should be far different from the shouting, vengeful, and hostile way of the world. I am certainly not saying we shouldn't be working to combat injustice done to others. But the way we struggle against it will be different. And when injustice happens directly to us, our reaction should show the effects of Jesus on our lives. And we should not underestimate the impact and impression this can make on others. Ultimately, it was through the power of transformed lives that the entire Roman system eventually came down. Peter's counsel was more effective than any short-term revolution.
But let's read on in our passage:
20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
3. Know God Is Involved (19-21)
So far, we've learned that we must be subject in our workplaces. We've also seen that we must believe in the power of a transformed life. And, now, the third thing I want you to see in our text is that we must know God is involved.
Mindful of God (19)
Peter shows us God's involvement in three ways. First, he tells us that when unjust suffering comes our way, we should endure those sorrows while being mindful of God (19). To be mindful of God in your workplace, especially one where you are treated unfairly, is to be conscious of God's presence and remaining loyal to him. I think Peter knew that enduring a rough workplace is impossible unless we know God is with us in the pain. But God's presence helps us endure.
In many instances, the workplace is a world of temptation, and it can be difficult for the believer to know how to act. But we must remember God is with us. We must be mindful of God when the jokes are inappropriate. We must be mindful of God when the after-work gatherings get out of hand. We must be mindful of God when a coworker pulls up sinful images on their phone. We must be mindful of God when we're asked to rejoice in something we cannot rejoice in. I remember one coworker (not in church-work) celebrating an extra-marital affair he was having. Awkward. We must be mindful of God.
Gracious Thing in God’s Sight (20)
But it's not just that we are to be mindful of God. Peter tells us God is mindful of us! He said, "when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God" (20).
There will be many times we suffer because of our own sin. Peter isn't talking about that, but it bears repeating. Many believers will act foolishly, obnoxiously, disrespectfully, or lazily and wonder why they get hostility in return.
But Peter thinks it's admirable when someone does good and suffers for it with endurance (20). God sees it. It is a gracious thing to him.
In Genesis, Joseph was sold into slavery by his older brothers. He was eventually purchased by a man named Potiphar. Rather than sulk, he served Potiphar's household well. After some false accusations, he was thrown into an Egyptian prison. But rather than sulk, he served the other prisoners. And, one day, this led to his exaltation as Pharaoh's right-hand man.
Daniel is another Bible character who did good and sometimes received suffering in return. He was constantly threatened, challenged, and doubted. And one time, he was even thrown into a lion's den by his boss (a guy who said, "I wish I could do something, but it's our policy"). When God protected Daniel in all these instances, he never lit up his adversaries or bosses but continued to endure with good works. And to think of how easily we light up someone for poor customer service.
And Peter's thought is that God sees all this. Later, Peter will say, "If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you" (1 Peter 4:14). God's Spirit rests on you when you endure hostility for God.
Our Calling (21)
But not only are we to be mindful of God while God is mindful of us. Peter also said God is involved with our suffering because he has called us into it! He said, "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you" (21).
Could it be? Is it really possible that believers are called to suffer? Yes. This is an astounding statement from Peter. The world, of course, is filled with suffering as a result of sin's entrance into our species. But Peter is not telling us suffering is inevitable because we are world citizens. He is instead saying suffering is our calling because we are citizens of God's kingdom.
This teaching is a far cry from the spirit of many believers who claim the peace of Christ while expecting a tribulation-free life. Many believers would rather reject this teaching from Peter and replace it with Peter's advice to Jesus that he avoid the suffering of the cross (Matthew 16:22). But, to that spirit, we must say what Jesus said to Peter at that time: "get behind me, Satan," for the desire to avoid all suffering is satanic in origin.
So, while we suffer, especially in our workplaces, we are to remember that God is involved. He is present. We are to be mindful of him. He is mindful of us. And he has called us to a bit of suffering.
To be frank, part of Christian maturity is to, like Jesus, choose suffering at times. The great commission to make disciples of all nations is no joke, but it is difficult, and sometimes we have to choose hard paths to get the mission accomplished. So, perhaps, as we suffer unjustly in our workplaces, we are being trained for the mission Jesus has for us. Maybe he is strengthening us through suffering so that we will more easily choose suffering when needed for his kingdom.
4. Follow Christ's Example (21-24)
Peter's Usage of Isaiah 53
When Peter said Jesus is our example, so that we might follow in his steps, he used a word the Greeks used to describe a student-artist copying a masterpiece (21). Like using trace paper to copy the original, so Christians are meant to follow Jesus' life, his steps.
But what example does Peter have in mind, especially when it comes to our workplaces? To answer, he quotes portions of Isaiah 53, a prophecy explicitly and obviously about Jesus. Let's read:
22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
What of Jesus are we to follow? How is he our example, especially in workplace suffering?
Without Retaliation
The first thing Peter highlight is that Jesus responded without retaliation of any kind. He did not sin in response to the religious or Roman authorities. And he did not lash out with deceitful or reviling words. Peter seems to have wanted to highlight the words (or lack of words) from Jesus. I can only imagine that, as a guy who often said whatever he was thinking, Peter was especially impressed that Jesus didn't say anything in the garden, during his trials, or on the cross that was sinful. He didn't return insults. He didn't threaten. He didn't warn. Instead, he pleaded with God for the forgiveness of his oppressors, saying, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).
In the Old Testament, there came a time when King David was betrayed by his own son. In David's younger years, before he was king, he had fled to the wilderness because King Saul wanted to kill him. Years later, after he'd become king, his own son betrayed him. Again he was driven to the wilderness. On his way there, a man named Shimei came out and cursed David, suggesting he deserved all this because of how he'd treated Saul in the past. It was the very definition of a false accusation. One of David's warrior-nephews asked if he could eliminate the accuser. But David responded:
2 Samuel 16:11–12 (ESV) — 11 "Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 12 It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today.”
Like Christ, David would not revile or threaten in return. And Jesus is our example today.
With Sacrifice for Others
But Peter tells us Jesus also responded with sacrifice for others. He said, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree (another way of saying "the cross"), that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed" (24).
So not only did Jesus respond to hostility without any hostility, but he responded with the sacrifice of himself for our sins. Peter says bluntly that Jesus bore our sins when he died on the cross. He says it took Jesus' wounds to heal us of our wounds, the ones caused by sin.
And, like Christ, sometimes we are called to suffer as a sacrifice to bring life to others.
His Help
When I was young, Michael Jordan was the dominant force in basketball. It was a thrill to watch someone so great play the game. And he was marketed like crazy. I remember one commercial, Gatorade's "Be Like Mike" campaign. It flashed back and forth from Michael Jordan playing basketball to regular people trying to imitate him. And the idea was that, since Michael Jordan drank Gatorade, we should also drink Gatorade and Be Like Mike. I don't think anyone mistook the commercial as saying that we could actually be like Michael Jordan on the basketball court. All we could really do is drink "Citrus Cooler" flavored Gatorade like Mike did.
But you and I can actually be like Jesus. His Spirit resides within us. He wants to help us live as he did. He wants to strengthen us to refrain from retaliation and instead sacrifice for others, especially in our workplaces.
The Just Judge
There is another help to all this, by the way. Peter mentioned that Jesus himself used this help: "He continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly" (23). This means Jesus repeatedly, amid all the accusations and slander and mistreatment, prayerfully committed his life to his Father. And he knew the Father would handle it. He knew the Father would justly judge all the sins committed against him.
This is a good strategy to follow because our best self-defense is never as good as God's defense. So, when mistreated, entrust yourself to God.
So what happens if I do good work, respectfully, for an unjust master? What happens if I respond like Jesus? Won't they take advantage of me? Won't I be abused?
Peter isn't concerned with answering those questions, and the people he wrote to didn't have the freedoms we have in our society. We can look for a new job, but, in the meantime, we must entrust ourselves to God as they did.
Let's read our final verse today:
25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
5. Aim for Lost To Be Found (25)
Today we have learned that exile work should be good work. We've seen we must believe in the power of a transformed life and that God is involved with us in the workplace. We've also been exhorted to follow Christ's example. But in this last little verse, we are encouraged to, in our workplaces, aim for the lost to be found.
Why do I say this? Well, Peter draws our attention to how we were lost and straying sheep, but that now we have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls (25). We used to be lost, but Jesus came and found us. The Good Shepherd left the ninety-nine to find the one (Luke 15).
But, today, we are surrounded by other lost sheep. The Shepherd is looking for them. And he might use us to search them out. So it stands to reason that we would work in a way that aims for the lost to be found.
Remember, brothers and sisters, we are exiles. We belong to another kingdom. Let's work as if King Jesus were directing our lives today.