A Supervisor From Hell

I worked at a marina in New Jersey with a few other college students.  We were all on a Summer Project with a Christian student mission organization.  Beyond earning a little income from our employment, the larger goal was to learn to be effective in evangelism at our workplaces.  

Every Day a New Challenge

We were in for a huge surprise with a supervisor who would try different things every few days to break our faith or take advantage of us.  

• He would purposefully mess up our paychecks and make a hassle out of all resolutions.  
• One of us was made to handle creosote soaked logs without protective gear and suffered chemical burns. 
• This one and another was given an unnecessary job of crawling under docks in the water to clean them.  
• We as a group would strip insulation off of boats without proper safety equipment or adequate ventilation.  
• One morning I was assigned the worthless task of pulling weeds at the entrance to this completely run down marina.  
• Another day I was sentenced to the hull of a boat to clean up a large neglected sewage spill without efficient equipment.   
• The girls who worked in the office testified to the office politics and rampant lying, deceit and immorality.  

The list continues with things like constant yelling, berating, derogatory remarks and never giving any hint of encouragement.  To top it off, he would slander us as Christian employees to his clients and colleagues, even to those from whom we would seek to get jobs after he unjustly fired some of us, or pushed us to quit. 

One of the Best Jobs Ever 

That was one of the best jobs I ever had.  Even at the time I took a strange joy in it.  Maybe this was because my livelihood didn’t depend on it, or it was short-term, or I could commiserate with fellow Christians.  Truly our sharing suffering together helped us respond spiritually and consistently so.  Many others have it much worse than we did.  I learned a lot through this experience, and the best lesson of all was the lesson of 1 Peter 2:19.

1 Peter 2:18–20 ESV “Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.”

He was a employer from hell, but one who was greatly utilized by heaven.

The Grace was Great

God is pleased and honored by our trusting Him while suffering unjustly in our daily jobs.  It is called “gracious” because God gives more grace as we are mindful, or conscious, of Him in faith and hope.

This is far different than simply enduring, which is natural and required of so many in similar situations.  It is not commendable to endure injustice simply because we are afraid, or have become numb to it, or feel we cannot change it, or think resisting would bring more pain, or hope for retaliation one day.  

Being “mindful of God” means being mindful of His providence, care, provision, concern and justice.  This helps us not be disrespectful, enraged, rebellious, pitiful or despairing.  It helps us to grow in our relationship with God, to pray, to receive positive changes, and to hope for glory.  

All sorts of stuff, bad stuff, goes on in the workplace these days.  Be assured, God knows it all, is concerned, is acting in wisdom and power, and will settle it all.

Another Subversion by the Gospel

Submission will sometimes involve suffering, and when it does we have the greatest example of suffering unjustly before us in Our Lord Jesus Christ.  And not only is He our adored example and worshipped God, He also grants us powerful grace in suffering to endure, to glorify God our Father.

1 Peter 2:21–25 ESV “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

It undermines evil when we do good according to the Gospel--it is dignified and without rebelliousness.  Suffering unjustly as a Christian is powerful for good in so many ways, and often does eventually lead to opening up people to thinking in new ways.

Our supervisor failed and Christ won.  After a few weeks he let most of us go probably because of shame, anger, frustration, weariness, and the like.  Better yet, those who stayed told of changes in him as they continued to witness for Christ.  He started to show respect and an unusual openness.  I hope God has saved and transformed this man whom God used to transform me.