Compiled By: Lisa K Gonzales
Source: The Life Application Study Bible
18 “You who are slaves must accept the authority of your master. Do whatever they tell you – not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are harsh. 19 For GOD is pleased with you when, for the sake of your conscience, you patiently endure unfair treatment. 20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing right and are patient beneath the blows, GOD is pleased with you”. ~1 Peter 2:18-20
Many Christians were household slaves. It would be easy for them to submit to masters who were gentle and kind. But Peter encouraged loyalty and perseverance even in the face of unjust treatment. In the same way, we should submit to our employers, whether they are considerate or harsh. By doing so, we may win them to Christ by our good example. Paul gave similar advice in his letters to the Ephesians and Colossians, as did Jesus in Matthew and Luke.
5 “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. 6 Work hard, but not just to please your masters when they are watching. As slaves of Christ, do the will of GOD with all your heart. 7 Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 8 Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free. 9 And in the same way, you masters must treat your slaves right. Do not threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and HE has no favorites”. – Ephesians 6:5-9 – Because many slaves and owners had become Christians, the earthly church had to deal straightforwardly with the question of master/slave relations. Paul’s statement neither condemns nor condones slavery. Instead, it tells masters and slaves how to live together in Christian households. Paul’s instructions encourage responsibility and integrity on the job. Christian employees should do their jobs as if Jesus Christ were their supervisor. And Christian employers should treat their employees fairly and with respect. Remember, although Christians may be at different levels in earthly society, we are all equal before GOD. HE does not play favorites; no one is more important than anyone else.
“You slaves must obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Obey them willingly because of your reverent fear of the Lord”. – Colossians 3:22 – Again, Paul stresses how slaves are to do their jobs with integrity as if their masters were watching them. Slaves are told to work hard as though their owner were Christ Himself; but owners should be just and fair. Christ transcends all divisions between people. Jesus taught that we should love those who are not kind to us as well as those who are; by doing so we may win them to Christ by our good example. – “If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much”. – Matthew 5:46 – If we love only our enemies and treat them well, you will truly show that Jesus is Lord of your life. This is possible only for those who give themselves fully to GOD, because only HE can deliver people from natural selfishness. We must trust the Holy Spirit to help us show love to those for whom we may not feel love. – 32 “Do you think you deserve credit merely for loving those who love you? Even the sinners do that! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, is that so wonderful? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, what good is that? Even sinners will lend to their own kind for a full return. 35 Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And do not be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for HE is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate”. – Luke 6:32-36 – Love means action. One way to put love to work is to take the initiative in meeting specific needs. This is easy to do with people who love us, people whom we trust; but love means doing this even to those who dislike us or hurt us. The money we give others should be a gift, not a high-interest loan that will put a burden on them. We should give as though we are giving to GOD.
Submission is voluntarily cooperating with someone, first out of love and respect for GOD and then out of love and respect for that person. Submitting to nonbelievers is difficult, but it is a vital part of leading them to Jesus Christ. We are not called to submit to nonbelievers to the point that we compromise our relationship with GOD, but we must look for every opportunity to humbly serve in the power of GOD’s Spirit.
Father, submission is very complex and hard for our human minds to understand when we are being mistreated. Help us Father GOD, to be the example YOU want us to be in the face of adversity. Help us to persevere and show love not only to those we love and trust, but also to those who may not like us and treat us badly. Help us LORD, to humbly serve in the power of YOUR Holy Spirit. It is hard for us as humans to love and submit when we are treated harshly, but through YOUR power Father GOD, we will be able to humbly serve and love just as Christ did.
Photo: Blacksmith Shop (Cades Cove, Tennessee)
Photographer: Lisa K Gonzales
Click on the photo to enlarge
