Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 

God had made us for work. Genesis tells us that.    

Tony Salerno told of a young lady who was constantly sick. One day she was required to work very hard. She had to get up early in the morning for chores. She had to work full, hard days. The harder she worked the more things started to change in her life. What surprised her was the harder she worked the better she felt. I wonder how many people are sick because they have not followed through on God's command to work. It is a privilege for which we were created.   

Benjamin Franklin was right when he said, “Trouble springs from idleness, toil from ease."  Work with complaining lasts for years, while cheerful labor passes in minutes. We have a privilege in our country.  We are most fulfilled when we have work to do.  

We have civil laws that restrict employers from discrimination against sexual bias, against religious bias, against racial bias. We have rights in our nation that many, in other parts of the world, do not have. In Peter’s  world there were 60 million slaves. Peter was writing when the Roman Empire was ruling.  

The Roman government had slaves doing most of their work.  They were under the complete authority of their masters who bought them and owned them.  Some were sold stark naked so the purchaser could see for themselves if there were any physical defects when purchased for physical labor. They bought and sold mistresses and concubines. Most slaves were prisoners of war.            

Some slaves came to faith in Christ, yet, they had no freedom. How should they act as Christians to unsaved masters? What if their masters became Christians? Should they react differently to Christian masters?  Peter tells them to submit to their masters with all respect. Whether some belonged to Jesus Christ or not, be the best slave possible.             

Although we do not have slavery, there are many situations where we think circumstances are unfair. There are times when we are under authority at school, with the police, in a courtroom, in the military service, or jail/prison. If we work under people, we will not always have fairness or righteousness. How should we respond?

The Bible tells us some will be misused and abused for our faith in Christ. God can work through those circumstances. Submission is turning the matter over to the Lord and allowing Him to do His work. Just as many slaves were used of God to advance His kingdom and lead many masters to faith in Christ, so God may have you in your present situation as His witness for an eternal reason.

Thought for the day:  The privilege we have is look beyond the paycheck or the situation to the One who has a higher purpose for you.

Prayer:   Father, let me always look to you and teach me to be still and know that You are God.