Introduction

I want to show you this truth from God’s Word today: You do not have a secular job. You have a mission field. I wish I would have understood and embraced this truth when I was working in sales.

A new boss took over the office and he began to reorganize his new staff. He had just pulled me in and told me that I was being pulled out of the art department and I was going to be working on the sales staff. He saw it as a good thing and a way to both increase revenue for the business and a potential increase my pay. All I could see was that my base pay was going to be reduced and now I would be working on commission.

I was out of my comfort zone, working outside of my gifting and pretty stressed out. During this time sales where very difficult to make and the boss gave a critical sale to another, undeserving salesperson. I responded with…resentment and anger. I regret my choice in attitude now.

What I didn’t really understand then, it this: I didn’t have a secular job. I had a mission field

If Christ has penetrated your heart and transformed your life then it should result in a difference in the way that you work. The faith that saves us, it also changes us. Christians have always lived in the context of secular cultures. (What I mean is that there is no such thing as a Christian society) Peter is careful to instruct us how to pick our battles, but the battles the Bible calls us to fight may not be intuitive, so we need to read it carefully.

Jesus is the perfect model of how to glorify God in every relationship while living in the context of a sinful, fallen world. God has placed you in a workplace for a purpose. Our everyday witness is significantly important because you don’t have a secular job – you have a mission field!

Slavery in Peter’s Time

I want to take a look at the social environment that existed during the writing of 1 Peter. When 1 Peter was written, some Bible scholars estimated that there were as many as 60 million slaves in the Roman Empire. Slavery was rampant! We can assume that in any given New Testament church, many slaves sat in the services. Some scholars believe that slavery was so prevalent in Peter’s time that the church may have been mostly slaves.

Before we go any further, let me give a disclaimer. The institution of slavery is evil and repulsive. The New Testament does not endorse slavery. It was a reality of their day and people were working side by side with slaves in the workplace, so the New Testament addresses it. This passage is highly applicable to our workplace scenarios today….Here’s why:

You might work for a boss who is unkind, or unfair, or totally unreasonable. He might be a downright jerk. If that’s you, the Bible has some powerful instructions for you today.

The workers who were originally reading this letter were not just treated unfairly, but they were often physical beaten. They had no freedom. They could not change jobs. There was no labor union. There were no employee counselors or HR departments. There was no one to complain to and no way to ever leave.

The only choice they had was the attitude in which they served and Peter is encouraging them to choose an attitude that is so Christ-honoring that it is a testimony to the life changing, transformational power of Christ. Is that how you work?

No man can read the Bible and ever say, “I can’t do that where I live.” Or “Things are different now than they were then.” The Bible was written in a way to be applicable to all cultures, all people groups, all economic levels, to all generations and all workplaces. 2 Tim 3:16-17 says:

¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Direct transformation of society is not the New Testament’s primary concern. The New Testament is mostly concerned with the transformation of the individual – regardless of the situation they find themselves in.

• If you are an American, the New Testament is written to make you a transformed American
• If you are Jewish, a transformed Jew
• If you are free, the New Testament is written to make you a transformed free man
• If you are a slave, a transformed slave

However, to fully understand the implications of this passage, we need to unpack a little more about what First Century slavery looked like.

Description of 1^st Century Slavery

As Rome began to conquer more territory, they amassed a huge number of slaves. When a Roman army would capture prisoners of war, they would often sell them off as slaves. Many slaves were loved by their master’s families. Some were highly trusted. Some were treated well. Others were not treated well at all. Many were treated harshly, frequently beaten and forced to live in terrible conditions.

Either way, a slave was not considered a person. A slave was considered a thing. Romans believed there were 3 kinds of instruments of agriculture: the articulate (slaves), the inarticulate (livestock) and the mute (vehicles and tools). Slaves had absolutely no rights. There was no law against the abuse of slaves. A slave could not quit and they could not sue their master. They owned little or no material goods. If they ran away, they could be tortured, beaten or even killed.

The well-known Greek philosopher, Aristotle, in the 3^rd Century wrote this about slavery in his time, “a slave is a living tool, just as a tool is an inanimate slave.” The Bible had something very different to say than Aristotle.

The New Testament writers saw slaves as people who were deserving of God’s redemption. (1 Cor 7:22) People who he loved and who Christ died to redeem their sins. If a slave repented and followed Jesus as Lord, he was given the highest status of all – Child of God! The NT did not see a slave as a tool in the field but as a Co-Heir with Christ.

Paul put it this way in 1 Corinthians 7:22: ²² For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ.

A slave was no longer a slave in the eyes of God but a freeman. In fact, the way that New Testament writers elevate the dignity and humanness of slaves was unheard of in their culture. As a result, it created the basic building blocks for social reform and the dissolution of slavery in years to come.

Individuals who were transformed by the power of the gospel were among the first to realize the corruption and brutality of slavery and dedicate their lives to its eradication. The idea of a free man laying down his life to free a slave (thought of as a tool) was so foreign that could have only resulted from somebody following Jesus’ example…. It could only have been the result of understanding that we were once slaves to Sin and Christ laid down His life for us in order that we might be free to follow Him.

The New Testament laid down the building blocks for the elimination of slavery, (1 Peter 2:9) but emancipation would take a very long time and there were still people in the church who did not have physical freedom. As the gospel began to penetrate the Roman world, Paul wrote these words in 1 Corinthians 1:26:

²⁶ For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

What is Paul getting at? These believers were not powerful and they were not of noble birth. God chose the poor and the “nothings” to build His church. That means that is it highly likely that many of these believers in Corinth were slaves. The presence of many slaves within the New Testament church is why there is so much written to slaves in the New Testament.

So the issue is this: now that they’ve been saved, how should a slave act in their workplace? Should they run away? Should they demand their rights? Here are the facts: although these believers are now considered sons and daughters of God, their current life situation has not changed and may not change within their lifetime. Writing to a similar cultural situation, Paul writes these words in 1 Corinthians 7:21:

²¹ Were you a bondservant (a slave) when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)

Paul and Peter are pointing out that living for Christ can happen as a free man or as a slave. God can be glorified by the way we live regardless of our work situation or social standing. (1 Cor 7:21) That’s a huge encouragement to us. Few Americans today have ever faced a situation as harsh as what these Romans slaves faced. If 1st Century Romans slaves can live for the Glory of God in their workplace, certainly 21st century, free Americans can live for his glory in their workplaces! You do not have a secular job. You have a mission field

Your Job…A Mission Field

Although these believers had little hope of escaping their bondage as slaves, they are still missionaries on a mission field with a mandate from God to live for Jesus right where they are! Let’s take a look at the passage:

¹⁸ Servants (lit. slaves), be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.

Back in verse 9, Peter just told us of our new identity as disciples of Jesus: a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession… We have freedom in Christ and a new status as chosen and holy. Our freedom in Christ set us free from the evil slave-master of sin. The wages of our former master – sin and Satan – is eternal judgment and conscious punishment in a place called hell. That is the most vile slave master of them all! Christ released us from Satan’s grip and allows us to be a possession of a new Master. (Rom 6:22) Look at the benefits of this new life from Romans 6:22

²² But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

Peter tells these believers to submit to their masters with all respect (phobos: fear, dread, terror). He’s telling them not only to respect the good masters, but also to the ones who are harsh.

Let me submit this idea to you: If you are having problems growing in your spiritual life (seem to be hitting roadblocks), it may not have anything to do with your church attendance or other spiritual activity. It could be God doing a corrective work in your life because of your bad attitude towards your boss.

So what does God expect out of us in the workplace? TURN IN YOU BIBLES TO EPH 6:5 He expects us to submit to the authority that is in place…. without a sullen and begrudging spirit but to submit to them like you are working for Jesus himself. Look at Ephesians 6:5-7

⁵ Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, ⁶ not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, ⁸ knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.

The end result of working “as to the Lord” is that HE will pay you back according to your work. (Eph 5:5-7) When you work as unto the Lord – especially in the context of having an unreasonable boss – it silences your critics and it is a constant testimony to the grace of Christ in your life. It may even lead your boss (or coworkers) to a saving relationship with Jesus

Look at verse 19

¹⁹ For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

When a person chooses to submit to authority, to patiently endure grief and even endure unjust suffering, it is commendable to God. (1 Peter 2:19)

Peter assumes that the pull of this dark world continually lead believers into position of suffering – whether they are free or not. The truth he is speaking applies to every believer in every culture. Injustice will reign until the Lord’s return and unjust suffering will affect every believer regardless of their social status.

To be clear… He’s not talking about suffering brought upon yourself for misbehavior. He’s clear about that in verse 20a:

²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure?

Getting punished for being naughty is not righteous suffering. However, when Christians endure unjust suffering and do not sin in response, they find favor with God. Look at 1 Peter 2:20b

But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

In other words, God pours out His grace upon the person who patiently endures unjust suffering. (1 Peter 2:20b) I had a young man the other day come up to me and tell me that he was trying to figure out why God’s grace was such a big deal. My response to him was the G.R.A.C.E. acronym – we received God Riches At Christ’s Expense. That’s true, but it goes way beyond that. I wish I was talking to him this morning, because I have a much better answer now. When I explain to you what the gift of God’s grace is, you’ll want to have it. You’ll want it poured out into your life. You’ll endure whatever it takes to receive more of it.

“Gracious” or “finds favor” as it is used here in verse 20 is the word charis (hhhhar-is). Charis is the gracious, loving kindness of God that:

• Exherts is influence upon the souls of Men
• Turn men’s hearts to Christ
• Keeps them during trials
• Strengthens them in difficult times
• Increases their Christian faith
• Multiplies knowledge of spiritual things
• Increases affection for Christ
• Kindles into flame the exercise of Christian virtues that ultimately result in more of God’s blessing

Don’t you want more of God’s grace in your life? Peter’s saying to them, you don’t work a secular job. You work on a mission field! AND as one of God’s missionaries, when you suffer sinlessly, you’re on the receiving end of God’s grace!

Why does God do it this way? Why does God give His approval to those who patiently suffer unjust punishment? Peter gives us that answer in verse 21

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.

The purpose of Christ’s death was to enable us to live differently. (1 Peter 2:21) Christ died so that we could live in a way that glorifies God! God’s purpose for us as a church is that we live righteously like Christ lived. We suffer for Christ because he suffered for us. Christ suffered until he died – and he never did anything wrong. When they tortured and murdered Jesus, it was absolute, perfect injustice – the most unjust action that was ever committed by men. Look at verse 22:

²² He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.

Jesus never lied. He never cheated. He never had an immoral thought. He NEVER sinned. How could anyone justify inflicting suffering on a perfect man? The cross of Christ was the worst injustice in all of human history, yet (this blows my mind) it pleased God. Isaiah 53:10 in the NASB says:

But the Lord was pleased
To crush Him, putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,
He will see His offspring,
He will prolong His days,
And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.

Isaiah 53:10 NASB

God was pleased that Jesus suffered on the Cross at the hands of sinful men. God’s wrath against my sin (and yours) was perfectly satisfied when He looked upon the suffering of our Savior.

Lastly, let’s look at Jesus’ example when he was enduring suffering

²³ When he was reviled (Gk: heap abuse upon), he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

It was impossible for Jesus to return evil for evil. (1 Peter 2:23) Why? He never did anything evil at all! It was Jesus’ style to return good for evil. It reminds me of the example of a story I read about a young soldier who was weak and did not do well as a soldier.

His boss – a sergeant – abused him tremendously. One day during their training, he was unable to physically perform the tasks assigned to him by the sergeant and was lying on the ground unable to continue. The sergeant who had been so hard on him walked over to the young man and brutally kicked him….pummeling him with his boots. He took such a beating that they had to carry him back to his bunk that night.

The next morning the sergeant reached down to pick up his boots and found them perfectly shined. When he asked who shined his boots, he was told that it was the young man who he had brutally kicked the night before.

He pulled the young man in and he asked him, “how can you do that?” The young man replied, “because Christ has given me a love for you.” Later on the sergeant went on to be a Christian.

Read on (verse 24) and see what is says about Jesus’ suffering:

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. ²⁵ For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

The cross creates new lives. (1 Peter 2:23-24) When it says, “By his wounds you have been healed” Peter is not thinking primarily about physical healing. For believers the cross will ultimately produce physical healing whether it is temporarily in this life or perfectly in the next. Peter explains in verse 25 that the suffering and death and wounds of Jesus produced a much more important healing – spiritual healing for eternity.

This is good news! Peter intends for you to feel the joy and excitement of this news! Peter is saying that Jesus endured suffering so that we could be saved. He encourages us to endure suffering for his glory because…

You do not have a secular job. You have a mission field. You have a spiritual calling to reach people right where God has placed you. If you work you:

• Never demonstrate anger or hostility
• Never demonstrate dissatisfaction or discontent
• Never demonstrate pride or ego
• You’re never selfish, but you pour out love for your coworkers – no matter how they treat you

Then you are working at your job like Jesus would work. In following Jesus’ example, and offering spiritual sacrifices to Christ in our workplace we create an environment around ourselves that is conducive to evangelism. The way you act at work is a far better testimony to the transformational power of Jesus than going door-to-door.

LIFE APPLICATION: A worker who is reliable and obedient and conscientious and willing to serve their employer no matter how they are treated, they are a testimony to the grace of God. (1 Peter 3:14-15, Col 3:23)

That kind of worker overwhelms employers and coworkers. They silence their critics. Those opposed to the gospel can find no fault in you and ultimately some may ask you about the God who you really serve. Peter tells us that might happen in 1 Peter 3:14-15

…even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Wouldn’t it be amazing to see your supervisor or coworkers come to faith in Jesus as Savior because of the way you “work(ed) heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” (Col 3:23)

Teaching Outline

You do not have a secular job. You have a mission field.

1^st Century Slavery

The NT writers saw slaves as people who were deserving of God’s redemption. (1 Cor 7:22)

²² For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 1 Cor 7:22

The way that New Testament writers elevate the dignity and humanness of slaves was unheard of in their culture. (1 Cor 12:13)

The New Testament laid down the building blocks for the elimination of slavery, (1 Peter 2:9)

God can be glorified by the way we live regardless of our work situation or social standing. (1 Cor 7:21)

²¹ Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 1 Cor 7:21

Your Job…A Mission Field

Christ released us from Satan’s grip and allows us to be a possession of a new Master. (Rom 6:22)

²² But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

The end result of working “as to the Lord” is that HE will pay you back according to your work. (Eph 6:5-7)

When a person chooses to submit to authority, to patiently endure grief and even endure unjust suffering, it is commendable to God. (1 Peter 2:19)

God pours out His grace upon the person who patiently endures unjust suffering. (1 Peter 2:20b)

The purpose of Christ’s death was to enable us to live differently. (1 Peter 2:21)

But the Lord was pleased
To crush Him, putting Him to grief; Isaiah 53:10a

It was impossible for Jesus to return evil for evil. (1 Peter 2:23)

The cross creates new lives. (1 Peter 2:23-24)