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. 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. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
(1 Pet. 2:18-25, NIV)
It doesn't get much more depressing than being a slave. Hard manual labor, second-class status, not much opportunity for career advancement, and consistent abuse. Slaves would have to endure just and unjust suffering, and most people didn't think there was any difference with regard to slaves. A slave was someone to whom it was impossible to do an injustice.
A slave has no choice but to endure, speaking practically. The slave cannot prevent him or herself from suffering abuse. The slave can, however, control the occasion for their suffering, and they can control how they bear that suffering. There is a big difference between suffering for doing evil and suffering for doing good, according to Peter. Suffering for doing good is the true grace of God.
In fact, Jesus suffered unjustly as God's servant. He did nothing wrong, and he didn't even retaliate when he was abused (Notice that the second and third phrases describing Jesus' passion both relate to his refusal to respond to the abuse of power with violence - he did not retaliate to the insults, and he made no threats when he suffered). Here's the point - Jesus is an example for us because he entrusted any vengeance and vindication to God, rather than exacting it himself.
How quick we are to strike back, even if only with words. But again a writer of the New Testament, this one addressing slaves, urges that his readers endure hardship and affliction, burnout and abuse. In fact, Peter explains that we can do just that if we follow Jesus' footsteps. We don't have to keep fighting against others to hang on, we only have to hold fast to "him who judges justly."
This address is different than the others we have contemplated recently, though, because it calls people to endure who do not have the option of letting go. A slave has to hang on, as opposed to the Christians addressed in Hebrews who could turn away from their faith and return to normal. A slave can't give up being a slave. Still, the manner in which slaves endure matters, and the reason for their suffering also matters. Slaves should suffer for doing good, like the suffering servant Jesus did. Slaves should also endure suffering patiently, just as Jesus did.
Here is our prayer this morning:
May Jesus Christ, the King of glory, help us to make the right use of all the suffering that comes to us and to offer him the incense of a patient and trustful heart; for his name's sake. Amen.
Peace,
Greg and Tiffany
