ByIn the world of work, many people complain about how bad their bosses are. Some want to enjoy freedom at the workplace, doing whatever they like with company resources without fulfilling the tasks the company hired them to do. And this has made several workplaces lack hardworking and loyal employees who rarely don’t need supervision to do what they are supposed to do. Apostle Peter nails this behaviour hard with three scriptures: 1 Peter 2:18-20. Delve into today’s study scripture article, which speaks of why you should submit to your boss no matter what.
Verse 18
“Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.”
1 Peter 2:18 NKJV
In the days when Peter wrote his epistle, there were slaves in houses who were believers. Some had good masters who cared about their welfare. Others were harsh, not considering the faith of those who worked in their homes. Today, this is just like workers in companies and various ministries who are believers. We are told that as servants, we must be submissive to our bosses (or masters) with all fear.
Translated word “fear” in the scripture means “terror” or “fright.” So God is saying that in the workplace, whether your boss is good and gentle or bad, be submissive to him. But knowing how hard it is to work with a bad boss, Peter gave more justifiable reasons in verses 19 and 20 for us to remember when submitting to such people.
There’s no profit doing something wrong for you to get punished. God doesn’t defend evil things. He hates sin. You were created in Christ to walk in good works. So even if you suffer for doing good, know that God’s stamp of approval is on it, despite the challenges.
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Verse 19
“For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.”
1 Peter 2:19 NKJV
The Apostle says it is commendable to submit to your boss, especially when he’s bad. Why? Because if you do it while maintaining your godly conscience, the grief you’ll endure will not be in vain.
Therefore, as a child of God, do not think you’ll always get a good boss wherever you go. In fact, you’ll meet bad people on your way of life, unfaithful subordinates in the ministry, self-centred older people who will advise you for their private benefit, and even, a suppressive roommate who may try to order your life around as if God isn’t the director of your life.
When these things start happening in your life, remember 1 Peter 2:19. You’ll have justifiable spiritual reasons not to go through those sufferings. But don’t be arrogant. Pray a lot and cast your cares upon God. Your mind will get refreshed with His peace as you spend time in His presence.
Verse 20
“For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.”
1 Peter 2:20 NKJV
If you’re not submissive to your boss at work, you’ll always be in trouble. You can probably get laid off if you continue in that act. I’ve been both a boss and a subordinate for quite a while now. As the president of our ministry, I know how traumatised a boss can feel when a team member refuses to do what’s expected of him. So because of that, I don’t joke about how things are supposed to get done when someone above me in organisational authority in any other place I work tells me to do something for him. I don’t want to end up in trouble. And secondly, I also want to maintain peace of mind to concentrate on what God has called me to do.
There’s no profit doing something wrong for you to get punished. God doesn’t defend evil things. He hates sin. You were created in Christ to walk in good works (see Ephesians 2:10). So even if you suffer for doing good, know that God’s stamp of approval is on it, despite the challenges. He will be with you.
