Devotionals by Raul Ries

WEDNESDAY September 16, 2026

Submission in the Workplace

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
1 Peter 2:18

Peter continued his teaching on submission. He had taught submission to God, submission to government and authorities, and, at this point, he teaches submission to your employer, as an employee. Of course, in biblical times, he used the terms masters and servants.

In the Old Testament, a servant would be bought at the marketplace and taken home to work. He served his master for six years, whether he was treated kindly or mistreated. After six years, his master would give him the opportunity to be freed. If he had grown to love his master and wanted to stay willingly, having now a wife and children, he could stay. Then his master would take his servant over to the doorpost to pierce his right ear and place an earring through it. This was a sign that he became a servant by choice, all because he loved his master.

We, too, are bondservants who willingly serve our Lord and Master Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul also taught on the subject of masters and bondservants. He encouraged bondservants in their position of servitude to have this mindset when serving their masters:

Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free (Ephesians 6:5-8).

As an employee, I want you to know that, as you serve your employer in your place of work, you are actually serving the Lord. You also represent Him. As an employee, learn how to handle difficult situations with God’s wisdom. Then you will react in a godly way when treated harshly.

I believe that the sphere of service, your career, the plan which God has mapped out for you and prepared for you, is the greatest agency in His hands to conform You to His character and to His will.
~Alan Redpath~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!