INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• Who should be the most respected and hardest workers in a company? Who should be the ones willing to do whatever job they are asked to do from their employer?
• What kind of people should employers be searching to hire in their businesses?
• The answer to the above questions is Christians!
• When working with my company too often I saw that not to be the case. Some were so focused on evangelism that they would not a good job. Some were just lazy others felt entitled to not have to put out a good effort.
• Before we go on, I want to stress something. For those still in the workforce, if you want to have any effective witness for Jesus, particularly with your employer, work for them as you would for Jesus Himself.
• In the business world, you will not reach people relationally UNTIL they respect you.
• Once you earn the respect of others, then you will be able to build relationships and effective witnessing opportunities!
• Today we are going to explore a section of text that when you give it a first glance, you may be tempted to pass over it as you read 1 Peter.
• This passage at first glance may not seem to have too much application for us living in the USA in 2010, but a deeper examination of the passage shows us this not ot be true.
• I have entitled this message, “Taking Your Faith To Work.”
• Christians are called to take their faith with them wherever they go. We are to live for Jesus at home and in the workplace.
• As we get ready to explore this passage it is important for us to know that much of the workforce during Jesus’ was the slave labor. They worked in virtually every area of the economy at the time.
• It seems as though a lot of these slaves were immersed into Christ so it was necessary for them to receive instruction on proper conduct in the workplace. They needed to know what God expected from them concerning their relationship to their master or today we would say our employers.
• Many people spend a lot of their time at work so it would be a shame to leave our faith at home for so many hours a week.
• Let us turn to 1 Peter 2:18-21 together, let’s begin in verse 18.
• SLIDE #2
• 1 Peter 2:18(ESV) 18Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.
• Verse 18 starts us off with an important observation.
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. Your faith should be displayed in your attitude.
• You will notice that verse 18 properly uses the word “servants” instead of “slaves”.
• The word translated “servants” is the word used of domestic or household servants. The word denotes servants who were part of the household, who had some form of relationship with the master of the house.
• Their relationship with the master of the house made their situation much more tolerable than that of the “slaves”.
• Our passage encourages us to be “subject” to our masters (or employers).
• Not only are we to be subject to them, we are to do it with ALL respect!
• In the direct context, Peter called these servants to submit … to [their] masters, meaning that they should cooperate, be loyal, and willingly obey.
• Believers who were servants were not set free from serving their masters, but they were set free from slavery to sin. While their masters might not be Christians, that did not allow the servants to be disrespectful or lazy.
• The subjection here implies a conscience decision; it is to be voluntary and habitual.
• WE also need to realize that the word translated “master” denoted someone who had absolute authority and power of those within the household. They had total control over what went on within the household.
• This is very similar to what a boss on the job has over the employees. They generally set the rules; they are the ones who terminate the employment of one who is unsatisfactory in their performance.
• We are to submit with all respect, meaning that we are to have a healthy fear doing all we can not to incur the anger of our employers.
• When it comes to work, look at what we are told on Colossians 3:23-24.
• SLIDE #4
• Colossians 3:23-24(ESV) 23Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
• We need to realize that even when we are at work, we are to be working for the Lord!
• We are to give our employers maximum effort and if we cannot do that we need to get a new job. God expects us to be the best.
• Imagine trying to witness to people who think you are lazy or have poor work habits?
• Do you really think you will get very far with them? People who respect you will listen to you.
• Notice that God expects us to submit with all respect to good masters? That would be a given, but then Jesus expects us to go a step further.
• SLIDE #5
II. God calls you to be a cut above.
• At the end of verse 18 look at what is said, 18Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust
• That is not fair! So if we have a bad master, an unfair master, we have to treat them the same way as the good gentle boss? Why?
• Look at verses 19-20.
• SLIDE #6
• 1 Peter 2:19-20(ESV) 19For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
• WE are ALWAYS called to go above and beyond, we are called to be a cut above.
• The hated Roman soldiers could make a person carry their equipment for up to a mile. Jews HATED doing that; Jesus says His followers will be a cut above!
• SLIDE #7
• Matthew 5:41(ESV) 41And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
• We are told that when we do our best even for those who may not deserve it.
• Thus it would be gracious, commendable or praiseworthy if Christians trusted in God as they endure “pain” (referring to mental, not physical, anguish) caused by unjust suffering.
• WE can do this if we are aware of God’s presence in our life. WE need to realize that God is always with us, He is always watching so that He can help us in times of trouble.
• Our goal is to please God; His approval is all that should matter to us!
• We are further told that is we suffer for doing something wrong, and we endure, that is really nothing special because we are getting our just due.
• We are called to be a cut above, we are to endure while suffering unjustly and we are to give our best because we belong to Jesus!
• Peter spells it out, enduring when suffering unjustly is important to God because we are ALWAYS in EVERY situation called to be ROYAL PRIESTS for God!
• Being a cut above, going the extra mile is not easy but it is what God wants us to do; it is what God will help us to do.
• Too many times when we have things happen to us that’s unfair, all we can think about is getting back at the person. I have known WAY too Christians who when you get on their bad side are vindictive and hateful.
• It is nature for us to want to do that, but we cannot succumb to the temptation to be like everyone else. We are called to be a cut above!
• God is pleased when we can maintain a submissive attitude even in the face of undeserved suffering.
• This was quite an issue for Peter’s readers and to some extent it is still an issue for us today.
• I dealt with this on certain levels a lot when I worked with my company.
• I asked why we need to conduct ourselves in a different manner than the world. For one God is pleased when we do that but also we see in verse 21…
• SLIDE #8
• 1 Peter 2:21(ESV) 21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
• SLIDE #9
III. Jesus blazed the trail for you to follow.
• To do good and to patiently endure while unjustly suffering is what we were in part called to do.
• SLIDE #10
• 2 Timothy 3:12(ESV) 12Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
• The ultimate reason we are called to live this way, the reason we are called to live a different type no matter what happens is the fact that Jesus suffered unjustly in our place!
• He blazed the trail, He was the example.
• In the ancient world they taught people to write by example. They would do an outline of the letters and have the student fill in the outline so they would learn how to write.
• Jesus gave us an outline with His life for us to follow.
• Jesus suffered for me, so when I may be called to suffer for Him, I need to be willing to do it.
• We are getting to a point in society and unfortunately in the Church in general where we do not even want to be inconvenienced to the point of serving Jesus in an area of ministry.
• Some will serve when it is convenient or it does not interfere with anything else in the world.
• Is this the example Jesus left us or did He give it all for us, did He not even pay the ultimate price for us?
CONCLUSION
• Jesus blazed a trail to show us the way. Are we willing to follow the path? Are we willing to let go of thoughts of revenge, anger, vindictiveness in the face of injustice or will we chose to be just like everyone else?
• Anyone can get even, get mad or be vindictive; it takes a Spirit-filled, Spirit-led Christian to be different!
• Do you want to be blessed even at work, then be a blessing! You will be glad you are!
