BIG IDEA:
SUBMISSION TO THE BOSS IS :
– THE ONLY WAY TO GLORIFY GOD
– THE ONLY ANSWER TO UNFAIR TREATMENT
– THE ONLY WAY TO FULFILL OUR CALLING TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST
INTRODUCTION:
Theme verse for this section: 2:12 – Commendable Conduct will be further defined as submission in the various realms in which we live – looked at submission to the authority of govt. last Sunday; today: submission to the authority of your boss in the workplace;
2 Prerequisites: can’t take this course today unless you have nailed down these 2 points:
- requires purity first of all – “abstain from fleshly lusts“
(talked about drawing near to the Lord)
- remember: people are watching – especially unbelievers – this is our opportunity to show them that having Jesus as the Lord of our lives makes a difference (3:15)
at the end of this section – we are reminded that the Lord is watching as well — 3:8-12
How we respond to authority in our life is the proof of to what degree we have submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ: Will we respond as the world does?? Or as Christ would – following His example; doing what He wants us to do – which is completely opposite from how our sinful, selfish hearts would respond on their own
The Sovereign God is in control of our workplace (our business) – He will never leave us or forsake us – He is right there with us while we are working all day long
We spend a good chunk of our day at work – so we’d better listen up and get this right
Peter Davids: The church never addressed the institution of slavery in society, for it was outside its province. The societal institution with which slaves interfaced was that of slavery. If they were to “do good” and so commend the gospel, they must submit to this institution and thus “submit to their own masters.” That expectation is found in all Christian lists of this type, usually coupled with the call to do so cheerfully (Eph. 6:5-8; Col. 3:22-25). Peter, however, adds “with all due reverence [to God].” That this reverence or fear is directed to God, not to the masters, is indicated by the facts that (1) the phrase comes before the reference to the masters in the Greek word order, and (2) fear or reverence (Gk. phobos) in 1 Peter is always directed toward God, never toward people, whom Christians are not to fear (1:17; 2:17; 3:2, 6, 14, 16). Thus the motive for the submission and service is not their respect for their masters, but their respect for God, who receives the service as if it were done to him and whose name is honored by their good behavior. Therefore their submission is not bounded by their masters’ actions (i.e., if the master is “good and kind”), but extends “to the unjust” (a term that means “bent,” from which the Eng. “scoliosis,” the disease of a curvature of the spine, comes, and hence “perverse”), for God is served and honored in either case.
In our passage Peter is obviously looking at a different social situation than Paul’s in Ephesians and Colossians. Paul also speaks to Christian masters, to whom Peter has nothing to say, and Paul also appears to assume reasonably good treatment of Christian slaves, a situation that was common where Christianity was seen as simply another form of Judaism, which was often viewed as at least a moral religion and thus a positive force in the slave’s life, so long as the slave did not begin insisting on observing the laws of ceremonial purity. Peter, on the other hand, is writing in a time of persecution in which slaves, who were under almost total control of their masters, would be especially vulnerable. He can make no assumptions that their masters will not take perverse delight in torturing a slave for his faith. Even in such a case the slave is to follow the teaching of Jesus and submit (Matt. 5:43-48).
Daniel Doriani: Even if there is no precise analogy between slaves and free workers today, Peter’s instructions do apply to all who serve harsh or perverse leaders. Evil authorities are not slave masters, but they can give harmful orders and can punish all who violate them. We should think this way: If God can command a harder thing, that slaves respectfully submit to harsh masters, surely we can submit to harsh superiors, since their power is more modest.
Wayne Grudem: Even though there is no exact parallel to such ‘servant’ status in modern society, the application of Peter’s directives to ‘employees’ today is an appropriate one. This is because the relationship of ‘master’ and ‘servant’ (whether doulos or oiketēs) was by far the most common kind of employer–employee relationship in the ancient world, and because it encompassed a broad range of degrees of functional and economic freedom. (Free men who worked for others as day labourers were closer to ‘independent contractors’ today, since they seemed to resist any suggestion that their employers could tell them what to do.) In fact, the word ‘employee’, though inadequate because it does not convey the idea of absence of freedom, does reflect the economic status and skill level of these ancient ‘slaves’ better than does either of the words ‘servant’ or ‘slave’ today.
OVERVIEW:
- WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SUBMIT TO THE BOSS?
- WHEN SHOULD WE SUBMIT TO THE BOSS?
- WHY SHOULD WE DO IT?
I. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SUBMIT TO THE BOSS? — DESCRIPTION OF THE CONDUCT
Being a Christian should always make a person a better, more productive, more cooperative worker.
Cf. the Puritan work ethic
People won’t listen to the testimony of a shoddy worker or a complainer.
A. THE FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY IS SUBMISSION
How is our context today different or the same from the type of relationship that existed between servants and masters in the first century?
The vast majority of businesses in NT times were family operated and provided goods or services on a very direct basis. (No giant corporations like Caterpillar; no assembly line production jobs; no labor unions)
Therefore, if you didn’t have your own small business or farm you worked very directly for someone else as a servant – and often as part of their extended household.
You either fell into the category of servant or master for the most part
The word used here = house slave; member of the household;
Lit. = “to dwell in the house”
Note: Peter not a social reformation crusade to abolish the commonly practiced institution of slavery
Dealing with far more important issues – eternal issues
our type of employment, occupation, etc. which seem so crucial today and so defining of who we are – are really not so significant in light of eternity
Character issues and personal testimony and our role in the advancement of the kingdom of God are far more important and not conditioned on our occupation – Difficult to grasp in today’s culture
In every sphere of authority the two points of reference are:
- How to properly submit
- How to properly exercise authority
Same principles apply today – even though in our jobs we have far more freedoms than the slaves of Peter’s day
(also apply these principles to being in the military; to playing on a sports team; to relating to your teachers, etc)
Pres. Tense – ongoing action – willingly, voluntarily take this posture of submission = ranking yourself under
Practical Ways we can demonstrate this submissiveness:
1) have a teachable rather than defensive spirit when being corrected or instructed
2) don’t complain about your boss or put him down behind his back – when others are doing it all the time
3) you don’t have to agree with the validity of his instructions in order to faithfully carry them out — cf. in times of battle – you can’t have the soldiers just following the orders they agree with
4) pray that God would prosper your boss – spiritually, financially
5) work diligently and faithfully all the time – not just when the boss is watching
6) show him respect in your tone of voice, body language, etc.
B. THE PROPER ATTITUDE IS APPROPRIATE RESPECT – “in all fear”
could be talking about fear of God (parallel passage in Col. 3:22 supports this)
more natural to think he is talking in the context of respect of the boss here – that is the decision most translators have made
(last week: “fear God” not men – but same word used here…)
cf. Dennis the Menace – cartoon where he is being disciplined and sitting on his rocking chair in the corner: “I’m sitting down on the outside, but I’m still standing up on the inside.”
C. THE HARD PART = PATIENTLY ENDURING SUFFERING – in contexts where you are being treated unfairly;
“bear up under” vs. 19
“endure it with patience” vs. 20
First reaction should not be to run away – easy to do in our society
1 Cor. 10:13 – Endurance is possible with God’s help
2 Tim. 3:10-12
Peter Davids: God is pleased with Christian slaves who bear up under unjust suffering, not because there is no other option or because of their optimistic character, but because they know this pleases God and conforms to the teaching of Jesus.
Wayne Grudem: It is not a stoic, self-motivated tenacity that holds out against all opposition but rather the opposite, the trusting awareness of God’s presence and never-failing care, that is the key to righteous suffering. It is the confidence that God will ultimately right all wrongs that enables a Christian to submit to an unjust master without resentment, rebelliousness, self-pity or despair.
II. WHEN SHOULD WE SUBMIT TO THE BOSS?
A. THE CHARACTER AND CONDUCT OF THE BOSS DOES NOT CHANGE OUR FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
Whether they are Christian or non-Christian our response should be the same;
Whether they are considerate and looking out for our welfare, or like the Egyptian taskmasters: piling on more and more work in the harshest possible way – our response should be the same;
(doesn’t mean you can’t cry out to God for deliverance as the Jews in Egypt did; doesn’t mean that God won’t deliver; but He might choose to leave you under the pressure)
1) to the good and gentle (gracious, yielding)
equitable, fair, moderate, forbearing, not insisting on the letter of the law; reasonable
opposite of a brawler in qualifs of an elder
used in James 3:17 in conjunction with “easy to be intreated”
Christ exemplified this – 2 Cor. 10:1
2) to the harsh, unjust
crooked, unscrupulous, dishonest
opposite of a straight shooter
Phil. 2:15 we live in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation
good title for a book: How to Work for a Jerk!
Because ultimately we work for the Lord Jesus Christ who is a perfect master – He is in control of our workplace – we are really working for Him!
Col 3:22-24
B. THERE ARE SITUATIONS WHEN WE CANNOT SUBMIT
(cf. last week – talked about this some with respect to Civil Disobedience)
The example of Daniel and his friends probably the best illustration
III. WHY SHOULD WE SUBMIT?
Peter spends the bulk of his time on this point – Apparently we need a lot of motivation and understanding to respond correctly when our selfish, proud heart is hollering at us to retaliate and not take any abuse
Erland Waltner: The larger motivation for nonretaliatory loving response to unjust treatment, however, is couched in terms of the Christian calling to follow the pattern of Jesus: For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. This in turn is followed by portraying the nonretaliating Jesus suffering death on the cross, in the light of Isaiah 53:4-6, 9.
A. SUBMISSION TO THE BOSS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GLORIFY GOD IN THE SITUATION
1) “for this (finds) favor“ vs. 19 (xaris) with God (v.20) – Almost sense of reward here
This is pleasing to God
Luke 6:32-35 teaching of Christ – How are you deserving of any commendation or reward??
(requires God’s grace to act in this way; ends up finding grace with God – God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble)
Illustration:
The story is told of an elderly missionary couple who were returning home on a ship after many years of sacrificial service in Africa. On the same ship was Theodore Roosevelt, who had just completed a highly successful big game hunt. As the ship docked in New York harbor, thousands of well-wishers and dozens of reporters lined the pier to welcome Roosevelt home. But not a single person was there to welcome the missionaries. As the couple rode to a hotel in a taxi, the man complained to his wife, “It just doesn’t seem right. We give forty years of our lives to Jesus Christ to win souls in Africa, and nobody knows or cares when we return. Yet the president goes over there for a few weeks to kill some animals and the whole world takes notice.” But as they prayed together that night before retiring, the Lord seemed to say to them, “Do you know why you haven’t received your reward yet, My children? It is because you are not home yet.”
Don’t forget: we are aliens and strangers
2) “for the sake of conscience toward God“ vs. 19
a consciousness of the presence and will of God so that we know what is the right thing to do in a difficult situation – gives us the anchor of conviction so that we are not swayed by our emotions or by what would make us comfortable and satisfy the flesh
No eye-service or lip-service here – truly serving God and our boss from the heart – whether the boss is looking over our shoulder or not
B. SUBMISSION TO THE BOSS IS THE ONLY WAY TO ANSWER UNFAIR TREATMENT
you won’t find this in the labor union : Manual for Survival in the workplace
(Not saying that we can’t stand up for our legal rights; can’t follow appropriate channels to address wrongs, etc.)
we cannot have the attitude of retaliation; we cannot get bitter; we cannot show disrespect…
Important check: make sure we are suffering for what is right – rather than because we are a lazy worker
If we are doing what is wrong, we should expect the consequences
Hard message to get across to our children: Don’t expect this life to be fair! That is not the issue;
expect to get treated unfairly
God is righteous and fair – We can count on Him
“Shall not the Righteous Judge do what is right?” — yes in light of eternity; in the ultimate sense; Don’t expect to see that type of fair play and righteous judgment executed today
C. SUBMISSION TO THE BOSS IS THE ONLY WAY TO FULFILL OUR CALLING TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST
(somewhat circular: what is the benefit of following the example of Christ? This is the way to answer persecution and to glorify God in the situation)
Jesus let His integrity do the talking
Nothing people could legitimately find fault with
cf. Book “In His Steps”