1 Peter 2:18-19—How to treat your boss

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. 1 Peter 2:18-19

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect…

Servants who are born again are free men in Christ. They may hold a position of subservience to someone else, but they are free in Christ nevertheless.

When Peter addressed servants, he used a Greek word oiketēs which simply means “a servant, a domestic” (see Blue Letter Bible. com 1), and not “slave” which is signified by the Greek word doulos (Blue letter Bible. com, 2). This is an important distinction because many in our generation indict the Bible because “it advocates slavery.” Perhaps I will write about this misguided argument sometime in the future.

In verses 18 and 19, everything that Peter writes about servants can be broadly applied to anyone who works for an employer. And Peter’s admonition is wise advice, indeed.

Servants and all employees are urged to be submissive to their masters—employers—with all respect. Is Peter advocating for all workers to become doormats? Unfortunately, many read it this way—some for the purpose of dismissing the Word altogether, and others to enable and justify abusive practices.

But what is Peter really advocating? He tells employees to subject themselves to their employers in this way: to carry out their job in accordance with the direction and desire of the boss. If the employee sees a better way to accomplish a task, he is to follow his employer’s instructions, nonetheless—without grumbling. With this kind of attitude, the boss may increase the employee’s leeway to do things his own way. Peter also admonishes employees to follow through on their assigned tasks with a mindset of respect toward their employer—not with a snarky, resentful attitude.

… not only to those who are good and gentle…

It’s easy to “whistle while you work” when employed by a good, kind-hearted boss. Unfortunately, some employees view such kindness as an excuse to cut corners and take unfair advantage of a nice boss. Such employees are returning evil for good—and they sabotage God’s laws of prosperity from working for them with this attitude.

…but also to those who are unreasonable…

You are not only to submit respectfully to decent bosses, but also to those who are unreasonable. The KJV uses the word “froward” to describe unreasonable employers. That word simply means “difficult to deal with; contrary” (Oxford dictionary. com).

Ever had a boss like that? It’s no small task to keep your attitude and words in check under those circumstances, but it is scriptural. Time and again, believers have testified that when they earnestly endeavored to respectfully submit to an unreasonable employer, sooner or later they found amazing favor…and some actually received an open door to share Jesus with these cantankerous bosses.

For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.

This concept is true of the workplace; it is also true of life in general for the believer. Often, unreasonable employers and unreasonable people along life’s path have an inkling that they’re a jerk. My theory is that such folks are merely looking for a fight. When—instead of a fight—you respectfully go about your job without complaint or argument, some of the crankiest among them secretly view your forbearing spirit with awe. They wonder what makes you tick; you are kind in the face of abruptness; you are respectful in the face of the most contrary, unreasonable treatment.

At work and in all of life, when you trust God and bear up under unjust treatment or words for the sake of your conscience, you will find favor. Even if the unreasonable one never shows favor to you or repentance, you can be sure of this: God sees and He will reward. And, like Romans 12:20 states, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Your job is to do your job respectfully and according to the will of your boss. And your job is to let God fight your fights and to trust Him with all the froward people along the way.

Dorothy

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. Romans 12:18-19

© 2015, Dorothy Frick