“For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.”
This passage doesn't speak to the morality of slavery, but to the way people should let their faith affect their responsibilities. The message is, “do right.” I read a quote that says, "The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway."
Christians we are to live to glorify God even in the way we do our employment. We are to not be lazy, disobedient, stealing, or disrespectful. There may come times when we will be rebuked for living up to our convictions at work.
Joseph in the Old Testament was such a man. He was a slave who was wrongly treated for doing what was right. God used him as an example of faithfulness. There are times when doing right results in some suffering. That is what is commendable. There are people willing to suffer unjustly for the cause of righteousness.
Take delight that God will reward and avenge. Take satisfaction in doing a good job, not how much money you make or what type of status the job gives you. Many people determine their self-worth by the nature of their work. Unless their job has an exalted title and a large salary, they see themselves as inferior.
As followers of Jesus Christ, the purpose of work is to glorify God. We are to treat our work as if we are working for God, not money or power or material things, but ultimately God made us all for work. Some of that work we may get re-numeration. Whether we work at home, or are self-employed, or under an employer, we are doing business for God in our everyday work-a-day world. Life is to be lived with an acute awareness of God.
Peter also addressed the problem of Christian slaves who did wrong. It was the temptation then and now to give as little work as possible, so many masters and employers were hard on employees. To the employer or master who sees that the employee is trying his hardest and is working to do a good job, he most likely will be rewarded. They don't want to lose a hard, careful worker.
But because you work for the Lord, do not forget who is paying your wages. One does not make a good testimony for Christ when he or she is not doing what he or she agreed and was paid to do. God has benefits that far outweigh our paychecks, or even a clean house.
Application: What is the purpose of our work? To glorify the Lord in attitude and responsibility even if no one is looking.
Prayer: Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee. Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.
