1 PETER 4: 7-11 [Renewing Hope Series]
PREPARING FOR THE END
[Luke 12:35-43]
The Bible here sounds a note of warning and motivation, the end is at hand! And because the end is near, there are some specific ways we should be living out the will of God. So Peter gives his readers some very practical instructions on how to end our time on this earth so that we are properly prepared for our eternal future. You could call it: Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth, or B.I.B.L.E. This basic instruction contains some wise counsel regarding Christian living and ministry (CIT).
God is concerned about our ministry. So Peter has written about such important subjects as being serious and watchful in our prayers, practicing hospitality, and above all things, sharing fervent love with one another. In other words, Peter turns his attention to practical ministry within the body of Christ.
Within these verses, we find four specific instructions and one specific goal.
I. BE SANE AND SOBER IN PRAYER, 4:7.
II. HAVE UNFAILING LOVE FOR THE CHURCH, 4:8.
III. BE HOSPITABLE AND UNCOMPLAINING, 4:9.
IV. SERVE ONE ANOTHER, 4:10-11a.
V. A LIFE GOAL TO PURSUE, 4:11b.
After mentioning Christians who had died in verse 6, verse 7 then refers to the imminent return of Christ for His church. “The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.”
Another benefit of suffering is that it keeps us focused on eternity. It’s when you’re going through tough times, difficult days, seasons of suffering, pressures and persecution that you long for heaven. Good times, nice things, and easier days have a tendency to shift our focus off of eternity. It’s when the tough times come—when the body hurts, the heart breaks, or the wallet is empty that we say, “I don’t belong here. I’m longing for heaven.”
Fortunately, the end . . . is near (çngiken, lit., “draws near”or approaching; used in James 5:8 to refer to the Second Coming) or is closing in on us. The shortness of the time remaining to any and all of us is motivation to live for and serve Jesus Christ (v. 2). So Scripture urges us to be prepared for the end of our life whether it is caused by the return of Christ or by our death.
We should live our life in light of the fact that our end is near. Such perspective helps one recognize how many activities don’t make any eternal difference. So much of what Christians do is little more that rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. The question of eternity is when Christ returns will he find us asleep at the switch and reclined in leisure, or will He catch us diligently working to fulfill His Great Commission to make disciples and teach them His Word?
[In regards to today’s modern church, Eugene Peterson, in his book "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction" writes, “it is not difficult in our world to get a person interested in the message of the gospel; it is terrifically difficult to sustain the interest. Millions of people in our culture make decisions for Christ, but there is a dreadful attrition rate. Many claim to have been born again, but the evidence for mature Christian discipleship is slim. [In our…culture anything, even news about God, can be sold if it is packaged freshly; but when it loses its novelty, it goes on the garbage heap.] There is a great market for religious experience in our world; there is little enthusiasm for the patient acquisition of virtue, little inclination to sign up for a long apprenticeship in what earlier Christians called holiness.”]
There’s a WEBSITE that claims to predict when you will die. After you answer a series of questions, your projected date of death appears along with a digital clock counting down the number of seconds you have left to live. It's all based on current life expectancy charts, but seeing it on a computer screen makes it more vivid. As the site says, it's "the Internet's
friendly reminder that life is slipping away."
Jesus said, "Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. . . . Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes" (Luke 12:40,43). God in His wisdom doesn't tell us the day of our death. Nor do we know the day of Christ's return. The Bible urges us to live for Christ and be prepared for either event.
The realization of our future reality ought to motivate every believer to make sure they have oil in their lamp. Peter gives a wonderful prescription to help us become ready for the end of time or the end or our life. If we will adopt these guidelines, we will be ready for Christ. These guidelines are to: keep sane and sober in prayer; have unfailing love for one another; be hospitable to each other without complaint and keep serving one another.
THE FIRST COMMAND that will prepare us for the end of life and the judgment of Christ is TO BE SANE AND SOBER IN PRAYER. We need to advance and deepen our prayer life. For our spiritual vitality depends upon our prayer lives.
Christians therefore are to be clear-minded (sôphronçsate, lit., “be of sound mind,” Mark 5:15) as to their true priorities. Godly thinking is at the heart of communication with God.
Along with being "sane" of mind, we are to be sober or self-controlled (nçpsate, lit., “be sober;” 1 Pet. 1:13; 5:8) as well. This means we have not let the ways of the world intoxicate our thinking. Simply, it is refusing to lose our spiritual concentration or alertness. Pray accesses all the resources of God, bur we cannot pray properly if our minds are divided due to worldly pursuits, or ignorance of divine truth, or indifferent to divine purposes. We must refuse to let ourselves get distracted and lured away from the things of God by our work, leisure, hobbies and self-interests.
We become sane and sober not so that we can pray, but that we’ll be able to pray effectively and pray appropriately and wisely. Our prayer is to be clear, reasonable, sober mutual communication with God.
II. HAVE UNFAILING LOVE FOR THE CHURCH, 4:8.
In view of the Lord’s certain return in victory and with judgment, Christians are given the priority of life in verse 8. “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.”
The second instruction which will prepare us for the end is to “keep fervent in your love for one another. ” A Christian’s unselfish love & concern for others should be exercised to the point of sacrificially living for the welfare of others. For we are to love (agapçn . . . echontes) each other deeply. “Deeply” (ektenç, “stretched” or “strained”) was used to describe the taut muscles of an athlete who strains to win a race (ektenôs in 1:22). A good translation would be full strength or maximum effort, holding nothing back or giving it everything you’ve got.
[Webster's New World Dictionary describes fervent as showing great warmth of feeling or devotion. When joined together with love the two words make the statement, above all, hold unfailing, your love for one another.]
Let your love be without reservation. Let your love be without hesitation. Let your love be without qualification. Such love is the most needed quality in a church. Where God's love permeates the lives of His people, genuine forgiveness becomes a reality. Past hurts and harmful actions are forgotten. Folks in the flock stop keeping count of others' sins and remove the scoreboard.
Fervent love, Peter teaches us, is the incentive that promotes forgiveness, cleansing, and God's healing. Notice that such love covers over (kalyptei, lit., “hides”) a multitude of sins. Covers means “does not stir up or broadcast sins.” This kind of strenuously maintained love is not blind but sees and accepts the faults of others (Prov. 10:12; 1 Cor. 13:4-7). We need to pray, “Lord, help us to love and accept others unconditionally, just as you accept me.”
Have you noticed that WHEN WE forget something, it's just a little slip of the mind; but when somebody else forgets, it's gross negligence. When we snap at someone, it s simply because we're having a bad day; but if they snap at us, we see them as mean-spirited. And if we're late for an appointment, it's because of the hectic day we're having. But if someone else is late, we accuse them of being irresponsible.
We may chuckle, but isn't this the way we behave? It's easy to condemn and criticize others for their short comings while excusing our own. We need to be as gentle when confronting the faults of others as we are with our own our own.
We all have faults. And while someone's fault may strike a sour note in us, be assured that one of our faults may strike a sour note in others. Jesus did not tell us to judge one another but to love one another. How much stronger the body of Christ would be if we used our strengths to complement others and our voices to build them up!
And we need to build one another up. For as God's people, He holds us responsible for sharing His love with the lost world; it is called the Great Commission. To be effective however, we will need to fulfill the Great Commandments to love God and others. This love has to begin at home and at church [with you and me].
III. BE HOSPITABLE AND UNCOMPLAINING, 4:9.
The third instruction which will prepare us for the end is to be hospitable and uncomplaining and is found in verse 9. “Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
This command requires us to go beyond being "nice" and accommodating to others. The primary reason for hospitality is not to entertain the guests, but to meet their needs. It is providing the guest a place to stay, food to eat, a listening ear for conversation, a heart to express love and acceptance.
During times of persecution, hospitality was especially welcomed by Christians who were forced to journey to new areas. Christian love was displayed through extending free food and lodging, offering hospitality (philoxenoi, lit., “being friendly to strangers”)
Notice hospitality is to be extended “without grumbling” [“complaint” literally means "without grumbling"] or "without murmuring." It refers to repeated words of complaint indicating a person who gripes and complains incessantly to others with the sole purpose of stirring up trouble against someone else.
Why would we complain about having to help someone? Maybe cost, inconvenience, effort, nobody says thank you, it seems like they’re always asking you to do something else, something more ...
The demands of hospitality were probably frequent and heavy possibly causing some hard feelings. If they were the only ones doing it, there may have been resentment and complaining. But such opportunities to show Christian hospitality ought to (since it is a command from God) be seen as a Christian privilege and a form of service to Christ Himself (Mt. ).
The same word is used in Philippians 2:14. “Do ALL THINGS without grumbling and complaining--because it will be a shining testimony to those people who live in a dark, crooked and perverse world!” People turn away from the gospel because of the way Christians have grumbled and complained about each other and about having to help others! [And who knows, you may be entertaining an angel (Heb. ).]
IV. SERVE ONE ANOTHER, 4:10-11a.
The fourth instruction which will prepare us for the end is serving as a good steward and is found in verses 10 & 11. Verse 10 emphasis we are to service each other with our spiritual giftedness. “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
God has given every believer a ministry. Paul tells us the same thing in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12. The Biblical teaching is clear: we all have a place where God wants us to serve in a significant fashion. Everyone has a "spiritual gift" - an ability that equips us to serve God in a special way.
God custom-designed you for a purpose, for an assignment that only you can do. Da Vinci only painted one Mona Lisa. Beethoven only composed one Fifth Symphony. And God only made one version of you.
[You may ask, "How can I discover mine purpose, my design?" When God gives you an assignment, He also gives you the skill-set. To discover your assignment study your skill-set! Your ease with numbers. Your love of computers. Your gift for interior design. Others stare at blueprints and yawn; you read them and say "I was made for this." Heed the music within, then dance to it! No one else hears it the way you do. Look back What have you consistently done well? What have you loved to do? Stand at the intersection of your desires and your successes, and you'll find your uniqueness. "The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others" (l Co 12:7 CEV). Away with this depreciating "I can't do anything," and its arrogant opposite, "I have to do everything." No, you don't! Paul said, "Our goal is to measure up to God's plan for us."
Don't worry about skills you don't have and don't covet strengths others do have. Just maximize your God-given gifts! "Kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you." If you're not sure what God has called you to do, get down on your knees and ask Him to reveal it to you. And when He does, pour yourself into it! [The Word for You Today. Jan. 24, 2007.]
Notice that our gifts are to be employed in serving or enriching each other. All these gifts have one thing in common. They come alive and develop in serving others. Ministry is not about US . . . it's about Him. God has given us gifts so we might enrich each other and glorify Him.
When we employ our spiritual gifts others benefit. Others are encouraged. Others gain fresh hope. Interestingly, so do we! [Swindoll, Charles. Hope Again. 1996. Thomas Nelson. Nashville, TN. p. 193.]
We all want OUR KIDS to be helpful. When they show a helpful spirit, it demonstrates that they're following God's command to use the gifts they've received to serve others.
God wants His followers to serve the people around them. But have you ever thought that there may be more to God's plan? Sure, He wants us to serve others to benefit His kingdom and those being helped. But what about the person doing the helping? It turns out the helper benefits greatly. A study at the University of Missouri found that kids who engaged in prosocial behaviors-such as volunteering and helping others-were less likely to take part in risky behaviors as young adults.
In other words, when your kids help others, they help themselves live more godly lives and build their moral character. As parents, we want our kids to be kind, considerate, selfless, and respectful. We can preach those character traits to our kids, model them in our own actions, but one of the most effective ways to build those values may be to encourage our kids to serve.
And when our kids serve, we can also look forward to the benefit of seeing them make healthier choices and display more godly values. Talk about a win-win! So encourage your kids to serve. It will help your church, community, and your kids. [STAND FIRM. March 2013. p.17]
The Bible teaches that believers are called to be good stewards of God's vast resources. He called these resources “the manifold grace of God.” The gifts God gives are varied. Some are very public, some are not. All are significant. Paul likens our gifts to parts of a body. Each part is important. None can exist for long without the others.
Do you understand? The church is healthy to the degree that the people of the church are involved in ministry. When people sit on the sidelines the church becomes ill and handicapped. We need YOU.
The move toward more and more of a professional ministry is a move further and further from the Biblical truth. Ministry is not for "professionals" it is for disciples.
When we minister in some capacity we become channels of His grace. Our faithful service reveals God's grace to those around us. But, the converse is also true - when we fail to do what God has called us to do we restrict God's grace in our own lives and the lives of others.
You’ve received God’s grace, right? You know what it means to be forgiven, right? You want to serve your Master, right? Well, then, unless you use that grace and mercy and love to serve each other, you are a bad steward because you are hoarding it and not using it to bless other people. That’s what the verse says. So get busy serving God and others.
If you want to be a good steward and have your Master say, "Well done, good and faithful servant..." then you need to ask God for the PRIVILEGE of serving others who are part of your church family. According to these verses, your participation in the church family is not for your benefit--it is for the benefit of others. To whom in the church are you being a blessing?
Notice the warning in verse 11 that accompanies the exercising of our gifts. “Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies;
The two provisions that we are to rely on in serving are: God’s words (Acts 7:38; Rom. 3:2; Heb. 5:12) and God’s strength (ischyos, “power”). If you’ve been given the opportunity to teach, understand that you are handling the very Word of God. Do not give your own opinions, but base your words on Scripture.
Not only is there the up-front gifts, there are behind the scene gifts. If you are called to serve or help people, do so in the strength God supplies and not in your own strength. If you serve in God’s strength, you can serve continuously, day in and day out, instead of only once a week or once a month. How do you know whose strength your serving in? Who is getting the glory for your service, you or God?
God has not called us to "do our duty" or to "get by". He calls us to excel. He calls us to do our best, to strive for excellence, to “give it all we've got.” We might not have great abilities. We may not have great opportunities. However, we can serve enthusiastically with what we have and where God has placed us. It was Moody who said: "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And that which I can do, by the grace of God, I will do." With that simple commitment, God used him to bring revival to England and America. George Whitefield said as he lay dying, “Lord Jesus, I am weary in Thy work, but not of it.” Peter says God will supply what we need. He also says our enthusiastic service will bring glory to the Father.
V. A LIFE GOAL TO PURSUE, 4:11b.
Verse 11 ends with a purpose clause which reveals the reason we should follow these four instructions. “so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Why be sane and sober in prayer? Why Have Unfailing Love for the Church? Why be hospitable and uncomplaining? Why serve as a good steward? So that God is glorified. SO THAT is a purpose statement. Everything we do is to give God glory. God is to get the glory in everything we do.
You say, “Now hold it for one moment. I thought coming to church was so I could get something out of it?”
I thought I was supposed to have my needs met.
I thought I was supposed to be fed.
I thought I was supposed to be blessed by the music.
I thought I was supposed to feel welcomed and wanted.
I thought the church existed to help me!
I thought people were supposed to invite me over.
I thought God put teachers in the church so I could grow.
I thought the nursery workers served so I could worship without crying babies.
No, no, the Bible says, SO THAT...God is glorified.
God is not glorified unless you are more concerned about others during your participation in the church than you are yourself. God is not glorified unless you are serving in His strength. Take your eyes off yourself and your schedule and your abilities and your wants and needs and comfort--and serve for the glory of God Almighty!
To the teaching that God be glorified in all we do, Peter can not help but offer God words of praise and blessing: “To Him be the glory and the power (kratos, “might”) forever and ever. Amen.” The praise and credit for Christian ministry should always be given to Christ.
IN CLOSING
Let me conclude with our beginning thought, Time is short. We don’t have long to put these instructions into practice.
Jesus said in Luke 12:35-43, “Blessed is the slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.” [Blessed is the servant who is doing what he is supposed to be doing when the master comes home.]
Do you need even more encouragement to get going. Let me read Hebrews 6:10. “For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.” Read it again.
Your effort for the Lord’s glory is not in vain. Your prayers make a difference. Your love will not be overlooked. Your ministry, however humble it may be, will be rewarded.
We should live circumspectively because Christ is coming again. We prepare to meet Christ by continually growing in love and service for God and others. And don’t grow weary in well-doing. We can never do too much for the One who did so much for us. So keep your eyes on the Good Shepherd and see the needs in His flock. Then move out to serve in love, but remember always to do it in His strength, for His glory.
INVITATION
Maybe you have been living life for your self and need to come today and surrender your life to the Lord God. You come as the Spirit leads ...you obey... Surrender your life and service to God and you will see God glorify Himself through you as you never imagined possible. Then one day you will hear, Well done good and faithful servant...enter now into the rest that I have prepared you because you longed for My appearing.
