“Life isn’t fair!” We are born with a strong inner sense of fairness and a strong desire to fight for our rights when we have been treated unfairly.
Although we know that life isn’t fair, we’re prone to fight back when we’re the victims of unfair treatment. Let’s assume that you are a conscientious worker on your job. You get to work early, you’re careful not to extend your lunch breaks, and sometimes you stay late on your own time to finish a job. You’re careful not to waste company time with excessive chit-chat. You work hard and produce for the company and yet when opportunities come available you are passed over and wrongfully treated. Life isn’t fair!
The important question is, “How do you respond when you’re treated unfairly?” How should you respond? Is it wrong to defend yourself or to stand up for your rights? How should a “do-liever” (doer of Gods word) respond when treated unfairly, especially on the job? That is the question Peter addresses in 1 Peter 2:18-23. Because we are natural fighters and have the need to defend, you’re not going to like his answer. (I can guess thats because I don’t like his answer either!) His answer is, When treated unfairly by a superior, we should submissively endure by entrusting ourselves to God, the righteous Judge.
Applying the word of God can be soooooo hard in practical terms but like a muscle that we want to get stronger we have to keep exercising it. Submitting to what we know is wrong can be difficult but if it is the authority that has wronged you then that person has a greater judgement awaiting them because God admonishes people in authority to be gentle and loving with those in their submission. Here are 5 quick points to help you the next time you have been wronged by your authority not only in the workplace but in any situation that you have an authority:
1. Remember that you are not the boss and in all situations we have to show Christ examples. When you are labeled a believer you are now walking on Gods character and credibility…DONT MESS IT UP!
2. The motives for submission are to please God and bear witness to the lost. No matter what, WE WIN by the blood of the Lamb and WORD of our testimony. Submitting to unjust treatment allows God to get the glory and to move us through the test. When we submit our will of anger pride and retaliation, WE GET THE VICTORY and we prove Gods word is true!
3. NEVER RETALIATE…..Gods word says that vengeance is HIS and believe me….His justice is way better than any courtoom or retaliatory act we could perform. Stay quiet and concentrate on all of the mess that God has seen you through and how He has continually protected you from the nonsense of evil people. Remember in the word of God, Jesus never retaliated against his enemies for any reason…even unto death. He never threatened anyone or said Ill show you….He didn’t do it and we shouldn’t either.
4. Our ability to entrust ourselves to Gods plan in the wrongful treatment from others gives God room to move on our behalf and further builds the trust that God wants us to have in Him alone.
5. SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND MAKE NO MAJOR DECISIONS!!! Naturally when we have been hurt or wronged, we are ready to TELL IT!!! I challenge you to do this…..NOT TELL IT. The only reason we want to tell it is to get others to sympathize in our pain and emotional anguish and anger. Its called gossip…..don’t engage in it. No matter how hard the urge to tell your coworkers….dont do it. If you do need to talk about it then go the bathroom and talk about it with God who can change your situation, then call your most trusted person and have them pray with you.
In these five points also remember that YOU CAN MAKE IT THROUGH YOUR DAY AND THE SITUATION NO MATTER WHAT because GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN YOU THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD!!!!
I pray this helps you.
