By Rev. Dr. Brent Russett – Asbury Free Methodist
August 4, 2024 – 1 Peter 4:7-11
We have been taking a summer tour through 1 Peter. I have been hearing a lot of good feedback from this series because 1 Peter seems to speak directly into our culture.
Today’s passage comes right in the middle of a passage on suffering.
Two weeks ago, we looked at
1 Peter 3:13–14 (NIV)
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”
Last week, we looked at
1 Peter 4:1 (NIV)
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
In other words, since Christ suffered, you can expect to suffer as well.
Next week, God willing, we will look at
1 Peter 4:12 (NIV)
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
Sandwiched between these verses is the passage that we are going to look at today. At first reading it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with suffering. But if you understand what it is saying, it has everything to do with living well and living healthily while suffering.
You heard it read. Let me read it again. I am going to read it from a different translation, because doing that often helps us to pick up on different nuances
1 Peter 4:7–11 (NLT)
7The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.
10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
If you were to take these verses outside of their context, you wouldn’t know that they have anything to suffering. But they do.
Let me paint you the picture of the previous verses. Peter says most people are not going to want to harm you for doing good. But there will always be those who will look for a way to put you down. There will be some who misunderstand you. There is a good chance that you will be disrespected, put down, and even harmed.
If that happens, know you are in good company. That happened to Christ, it will probably happen to you. When you suffer, either for being a Christian or just because you are human living in this world, there are going to be people who are going to encourage you to live recklessly. But Peter says,
1 Peter 4:3–4 (NIV)
3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.
Because you won’t join them in their reckless way of coping with pain, they will slander you and heap abuse on you.
I know that scripture is describing some of your lives – at different points in your life. So, the question is, “How do we live in a world like this?”
If you need evidence that this is our world, just take a look at the opening ceremonies of the Olympic games. While the organizers denied it, the table populated by drag queens looked a lot like Da Vinci’s painting of the last supper. What do you do when your faith is mocked? What do you do when people put your or your faith down?
Peter tells us in our passage today.
He doesn’t say you need to protest. He doesn’t say you need to somehow make your views known. He starts off by saying,
1 Peter 4:7a (NIV)
7 The end of all things is near.
Christians in the early church expected Jesus to return in their lifetime. The fact that he did not return then does not invalidate his promises. In fact, Peter addresses this in
2 Peter 3:3-4, 8–10a (NLT)
3 Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. 4 They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created…”
8 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief.
But the day of the Lord will come. Don’t worry to much about what you see on the media that mocks our faith. If it disturbs you to much turn it off.
Back to our passage
1 Peter 4:7 (NIV)
7 The end of all things is near.
The end of all things is in God’s timing. But if you are going through suffering, it is helpful to remember that this world is not all that there is. It is helpful to remember what is important and what is temporary. It is helpful to remember that God still has a plan for this world.
Peter says, because the end is near
1 Peter 4:7 (NIV)
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
You may remember a few verses back that Peter wrote about the drunkenness of the pagans. Here he contrasts the life of the Christian. We are called to be sober minded to that you may pray.
In the next chapter is Peter is going to reiterate this command. He says
1 Peter 5:8–9 (NIV)
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Be alert and sober minded so that you may pray. Be alert and sober minded so that you can spot the work of your enemy – the devil.
We live in a world where we will experience pain and suffering. Peter tells us, this world is not all there is. Stay alert and be sober minded so that you can pray.
I grew up in a church where to be a Christian meant that you didn’t drink. It was one of those minor beliefs that became a major litmus test of your faith. There are a lot of good reasons not to drink, but what got lost, at least in the circles that I grew up in, was Peter’s reason. Stay alert, be sober minded to you can pray.
When you are going through a difficult patch of life the temptation is numb ourselves, distract ourselves, or avoid ourselves and the trouble in front of us. Peter say, don’t do that – pray. Pray – fully realizing the situation. Pray, and trust God with the situation.
That is good advice. But it is advice that you would expect.
But Peter goes on to exhort us in ways we might not expect. Peter tells us that when you are suffering push into community. Push into Christian fellowship.
1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
What is going on here. I am suffering and Peter you tell me to “love each other deeply.” Then Peter goes on to highlight that people are not all that easy to love because, “love covers over a multitude of sin.”
Peter, I’m dealing with my own stuff. Why do I have to deal with other people’s stuff as well.
Here is the temptation. When I am going through stuff, the temptation is to make life all about me. I get focused on my issues, my problem, my pain. I get focused on me to the exclusion of everyone else.
When this happens, we will often begin to throw ourselves a pity party. It is a short journey from there to slip into a victim mentality. When this happens, it reinforces the pain and the situation you are in and it keeps you in the situation longer.
That is part of the reason why Peter says, love each other deeply. Don’t make life all about you.
Now there is a flip side of that coin, and it is just as big of pitfall. This will be the tendency for some of you. When you are going through challenges, suffering and pain, you have no trouble loving other people. In fact, you excel at loving other people. But if you read this verse carefully it says, “love each other.” You have no trouble loving others, but you have trouble letting others love you. You refuse help when it is offered. When others reach out to you, you turn them away. What you do is isolate yourself from community. That is not helpful either.
If you see that tendency in yourself – stop it. If you see that tendency in someone else – “Love covers a multitude of sins.” Love them with as much love as they can receive.
When you are suffering, remember that this life is not all that there is – and love each other.
Peter goes on.
1 Peter 4:9 (NIV)
9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Now hospitality was a whole different thing in the ancient world than it is now.
But here is the takeaway from this verse. It says offer hospitality. When you are going through stuff – or for some, even when you are not going through stuff, what people often do is wait for someone to invite them out. We wait for someone to call us. But the verse says offer hospitality.
In our culture, offering hospitality can be as simple as inviting someone out for coffee. Many of us, in our culture, have lost the ability to host people in our homes. But if that is not you, invite people over to your place. Peter writes, “Offer hospitality.”
I have to say that many of you are very good at hospitality. You welcome people here. You connect with people in coffee shops, in homes, and in restaurants. If that is you, way to go.
The question is, why does Peter command this to a people that are hurting. It is really important that you connect with people when you are going through challenging situations. It is important that you have social contact. It is important that you give yourselves opportunities to share life together. It is vital that you can be in a space where you can share your hearts with each other. It is important that you are around people who believe as you do. It is important that you experience real fellowship.
When you are going through hard times, push into fellowship.
1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
Since this is a statement that follows on hospitality, which is in those days was using your house and your food to serve others. I believe the primary meaning of this verse is just and expansion of hospitality. Use what ever good you have been given to serve others. This includes spiritual gifts but it is not limited to that. James said that “every good and perfect gift comes from above.” In other words, what ever you have that is good, that is a gift of God’s grace to you. Peter is saying to steward those things well.
The question is, “How can I serve others with what I have?” Many of you have a telephone and a voice. You can serve by calling others and encouraging them. Many of you have access to texting or email – you can encourage those around you. Some of you have access to a car and are able to afford the gas. You can serve others by driving them.
Others of you access to some talents. You can fix things.
1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
Remember, this is said in the context of dealing with suffering. If you wait until life is perfect to do ministry, it will never happen. It is also a reminder than in suffering we have to be careful not to make life all about us. Chose to serve.
Peter then goes on to say,
1 Peter 4:11a (NIV)
11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,
Peter then chooses to emphasize spiritual gifts. There are over 20 spiritual gifts mentioned in the bible. But they can be broken down into two categories. Speaking gifts and serving gifts.
Speaking gifts are those gifts like apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher, evangelist, and encouragement. There are serving gifts like leading, and giving, and serving and showing mercy and healing and helping.
Peter says, if you are speaking, speak as one who speaks the very words of God.
I have worked with a lot of speakers over the years and this verse freaks some of them out. They get all hung up on – what if I am speaking and I say something that is wrong. What if I preach heresy.
This verse is not meant to tie people in knots. First of all, when you’re speaking, stick to scripture – it is hard to go wrong from there. Second of all, if you do speak something that is wrong – you need to trust God to correct both you and your listeners. What this verse is trying to get at is that we can trust what God has shown us and we can speak it with confidence. Trust the work of God in you and testify to it.
It goes on to say, serve with the strength God provides. This is really important in this context. When you are suffering, you may not be able to do everything you want to do. But you can serve with what strength you have. God isn’t asking you to give more than you have. He is asking you to give him what you have.
For those of you whose strength isn’t what it used to be, this is important. You can’t give what you used to have. But you can give what you have. But it is important that you give something.
Not only does this keep you from being too self-focused, but it is also a way of worshipping. Notice how the verse ends
1 Peter 4:11 (NIV)
11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
When we live this way, our lives become one of worship.
I know we live in a challenging world. There are people, not everyone, but there are people who will mock our faith. It happens.
We live in a challenging world because it is a fallen world. Because of that many of you experience pain and grief. Our bodies break down. Sometimes our relationships are strained. Sometimes we hurt because we see the people we love hurting. I know a lot you are right there.
How do you live? Remember that this life isn’t all there is, so pray. Also push into community. It is very easy when you are going through suffering to make life all about you. That would be a mistake.
Love each other deeply. Offer hospitality. Use whatever gifts and graces you have to serve others. Yes, your capacity might be limited, but limited doesn’t mean non-existent. For when you live this way, God is glorified. In the face of suffering, live well.