Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect…” 2 Peter 2:18

Repugnance is the instinctive response of most Americans to the idea of slavery. In Peter’s day it was engrained in the culture. While we assume we have rid ourselves of such a practice, the truth is that a form of slavery still exists in America today. We have simply assigned a new label:

employee or military service personnel.

My nephew just finished Army basic training. He now understands something about what it means to be a slave. Whatever we call it, for most of us in the workplace a significant portion of our life is ruled by someone with authority over us in the workplace.

While we may not embrace slavery in principle, especially as it relates to legal ownership, Peter’s instructions to slaves are no less applicable to us. Wherever we work—in the marketplace, the military or at school—those with significant oversight authority expect us to submit to that authority. Those who live the good life in Christ, willingly do so for the Lord’s sake. It is part of the character of the godly man or woman. The good life of submission provides no justifiable reason for those over us to accuse us of wrong doing.

I get rankled by the blatant disrespect for authority I see in our world today. Student attitudes towards teachers, employee attitudes towards employers, children’s attitudes towards parents, and citizen attitudes towards law enforcement all reflect a deep spiritual atrophy in our society. Tyrannical authority is inexcusable, but so is insolence and insubordination. Rudeness has replaced courtesy, respect and submission.

Peter leaves no wiggle room for any objections. He has the audacity to say that it is “commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.” What an amazing statement. Is he really serious? Does he really mean we should grin and bear it when treated unjustly?

Where else is our faith tested for authenticity than in the fires of hardship and unjust treatment? Peter, speaking out of personal experience, reminds us that the strength to do so is the product of our consciousness of God. The Psalmist wrote, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” Remember, our Lord suffered unjustly. Let his life be an example for us and for the generations that follow.

What will your grandchildren say about the integrity of your heart in the sphere of authority that is over you? Will they learn respect and honor from you, or will they learn more about insolence and disrespect? May God always be your heart and mind. May you never grow weary in wrong doing knowing He is faithful and will never leave you. If you do, your grandchildren will call you blessed.