Working for the Glory of God
For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:21)
You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. (1 Peter 2:18–19)
Do you have an uncaring boss? Do you have a supervisor or a manager who isn’t fair? Do you have to deal with unreasonable people? You may not want to hear this today, but there is a lot of truth for you in 1 Peter 2:18–19, none of which will ever appear in your local newspaper or on a television talk show.
The natural tendency of the human heart is to fight back against unfair and unreasonable treatment. But Peter’s point is that seeking revenge for unjust suffering can be a sign of self-appointed lordship over one’s own affairs. Revenge, then, is totally inappropriate for one who has submitted to the lordship of Jesus Christ. Christians must stand in contrast to those around them. This includes a difference in attitude and a difference in focus. Our attitude should be “submissive,” and our focus should be “toward God.” How is this change viewed by God? It “finds favor” with Him.
Our focus, then, should not be consumed with getting the raise at the office but with getting the praise from God, not with getting the glory for ourselves but with giving the glory to Him.
For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. (1 Peter 2:20 NASB)
The contrast is eloquent. There’s no credit due a person who suffers for what he has coming to him. But if you are a hard-working, faithful employee, diligent, honest, productive, prompt, caring, working for a boss who is belligerent, stubborn, short-sighted, and ungrateful, and if you patiently endure that situation—aha! That “finds favor” with God!
Actually, another meaning for the word translated “favor” is grace. So when you endure, you put grace on display. And when you put grace on display for the glory of God, you could revolutionize your workplace or any other situation.
Can you see why the Christian philosophy is absolutely radical and revolutionary? We don’t work for the credit or the prestige or the salary or the perks! We work for the glory of God in whatever we do.
Taken from Hope Again by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 1996 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. Used by permission of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. www.harpercollinschristian.com
