“Bad Bosses”

I Peter 2.18-23 was originally addressed to servants. As we’re probably aware, the kind of slavery that was legal under the Old Law and Roman law was nothing like the chattel slavery we’re familiar with. Slaves had rights and personhood. They had the option to work for and earn their freedom. If a slave had a family, whoever purchased them was usually obligated to take care of the family. They had strict legal protections against abuse, but some masters really toed that line to its fullest extent. 

This applies to us today in the employer-employee relationship. God expects us to behave respectfully towards good bosses and bad bosses (18). Even when a bad boss mistreats us (which is far too common, unfortunately), God’s happy with us when we go through it with patience and respect (19). 

In vs 20, he cautions us against being punished for bad behavior in the workplace. Even if we go through that punishment with patience, it doesn’t really mean anything. But the reason we would ever put up with bad bosses or corrupt government rules is because that’s what Jesus did while he was on earth (21-25). He was treated unfairly the entire time he was here, and his execution was completely illegal. Many of his rights as a citizen in a Roman jurisdiction were violated. But “when people insulted him, he didn’t retaliate. He suffered without threatening anyone” because “God is the one who judges” (23). 

Jesus even told his apostles that he had to power to destroy the earth and not have to go through any of those human rights violations. He had over 70,000 angels on standby, probably chomping at the bit for him to say the word and make their day. But he suffered without lashing out and that’s what he expects us to do, too. This is as far from easy as it’s possible to get, and something I certainly struggle with. God, give us the strength to stand down when the world hurts us because we believe.