Series: Don’t Be Discouraged [#6]
GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER
1 Peter 3:8-12
Introduction:
I remember when I was growing up, that my brother and I fought all of the time. I know my parents got tired of it because I got tired of my kids fighting all of the time too. Especially on trips, after a while my mom would say, “Can’t we all just get along?” I guarantee that if you have to be around people that argue and fight all of the time, you’ll become discouraged. Peter knew this, so he encouraged them to get along with each other.
1 Peter 3:8a (NIV)
“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another.”
Peter gives us numerous things that we need to do in order to get along with each other.
1 Peter 3:8b (NIV)
“Be sympathetic.”
You can get along with each other by being…
1. Sympathetic.
What does it mean to be sympathetic? To sympathize simply means to understand and validate or affirm someone's feelings. When you're sensitive to their feelings, you don't belittle them, put them down, say "You shouldn't feel that way", when you validate somebody else's feelings you're being sympathetic. How do I become sympathetic? Use your ears more than your mouth. Learn to listen. Listening says "I care".
1 Peter 3:8b (NIV)
“Love as brothers.”
You can get along with each other by being…
2. Loyal.
You might wonder where I came up with the point of being loyal from the Scripture saying, “Love as brothers”. As I said earlier, no one fought with their siblings any more than I did with my brother. I’m not exaggerating when I say we fought every day; but if someone else messed with my brother- It got really bad for them. As my mom always says, “Blood is thicker than water”. No matter how mad I was at my brother, I would still defend him from others. That is loyalty. We need to be loyal to one another. I realize that some of us drive others of us absolutely crazy; but when it comes down to it, we are family.
1 Peter 3:8b (NIV)
“Be compassionate.”
You can get along with each other by being…
3. Compassionate.
Compassion is really defined as love in action. If sympathy is understanding someone's feelings, then compassion takes it one step further and demonstrates it in action. What can I do to help you?
1 Peter 3:8b (NIV)
“Be humble.”
You can get along with each other by being…
4. Humble.
Humbleness is putting other’s needs before your own and being willing to admit when you are wrong. It is hard to not be “out front” sometimes; especially when you deserve to be. Sometimes we have to quietly let the spot light shine on others. 1 Peter 3:10-12 comes from Psalm 34:12-16 and is a good example of humbleness.
1 Peter 3:10-12 (NIV)
“For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
David wrote this Psalm while he was running from King Saul. David had served King Saul faithfully and because David was chosen by God to be the next King of Israel, Saul wanted David killed. Although David was to be the next King of Israel, he was having to run and hide like some kind of criminal. Notice what was happening in David’s life during the time of this Psalm.
1 Samuel 21:10-15 (NIV)
“That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. But the servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one they sing about in their dances: “’Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard. Achish said to his servants, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?”
How embarrassing. David was doing what God was asking him to do and then he had to act like some kind of lunatic in order to save his life. Talk about a humbling situation. Don’t forget that God cannot use us until we are humble.
1 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
You can get along with each other by being…
5. Merciful.
Being merciful means that you do not give someone what they deserve. Just as the verse says, don’t retaliate. There are many times that people would get along if they would stop retaliating against each other. We have to learn to show grace instead of retaliation. Grace is giving someone something they don’t deserve.
1 Peter 3:10-11 (NIV)
“For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.”
You can get along with each other by being…
6. Mature.
Sometimes it simply “boils down” to maturity. As my mom used to say to my brother and I, “Would you grow up please”? A mature Christian understands that sometimes it is as easy as shutting your mouth and a mature person wants there to be peace. Often times there is fighting and arguing because that’s what the person wants. There are some people that aren’t happy unless there is drama.
Conclusion:
At a time when Christians are being attacked, we need to learn how to get along with each other. If we can’t depend upon one another, who can we depend upon?
