1 PETER 3:8-12

A WONDERFUL LIFE

 

Many of you have seen the Frank Capra Movie; It's A Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed.  It is the story of a fictitious hero, George Bailey, who lived the fictitious town of Bedford Falls.  All did not always go well for Bailey. He wanted to go to college, and didn't. He wanted to travel and didn't. He didn't want to work at the Building and Loan that his father and uncle started and did.  He was constantly struggling to keep the Bailey Building and Loan afloat and this caused him much aggravation.  His biggest problem turned out to be missing money that could have landed him in jail.  The point of the movie was that in spite of all his problems and disappointments, George Bailey was a special person.  He saved the life of his brother when they were boys. He married a wonderful girl and had wonderful kids. He helped countless numbers of people by supplying affordable housing, and he was constantly doing good deeds. As an "angel" by the name Clarence showed him, George Bailey had a wonderful life.

 

Now, It's A Wonderful life was pure fiction, especially the part about the angel named "Clarence."  But it is no fiction that countless thousands of Christians have had wonderful lives in spite of their struggles and hardships.  Think of some of the folks from this church that you know or have known.  They have seen many blessings and have been a blessing to many of you. Because of their relationship to Christ they led and are leading wonderful lives.

 

You might ask the question, "How can I be sure of having a wonderful life?" As we study 1 Peter 3:8-12 this evening, we will learn how to be sure of having a wonderful life despite frustrations, hardships and trials.

 

1 Peter 3:8-12 - Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: [9] Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. [10] For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: [11] Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. [12] For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

 

To begin with, I need to remind you that having a wonderful life begins at the cross of Calvary were Jesus paid for you sins. Your wonderful life begins with a faith commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. You can't have a wonderful life without knowing you have eternal life. That's step #1!

 

For those of us who know Christ 1 Peter 3:8-12 shows us how to have this wonderful life. I have summed up what Peter is saying in three words.

 

CONDUCT - Vss. 8-9

CONFIRMATION - Vss. 10-11

CONSOLATION - Vss. 12

 

CONDUCT - Vss. 8-9

 

Believe it or not, having a wonderful life has much to do with your behavior.  All of us have made ourselves miserable at one time or another because our behavior has made us miserable.  I remember a lady named Barbara who was offended by a Christian man.  She never forgave him and became very bitter and miserable.  I've known people who have neglected their families or lied, or cheated on their mates, or disobeyed the law, or done other wrong things and have ended up in misery.  On the other hand, I've known Christians who have done what is right and have ended up being joyful and contented.

 

Vs. 8 begins with the word finally. Peter is not concluding his book, but he is concluding his thoughts on interpersonal relationships.

 

2:11-12 - unsaved people

2:13-17 - government

2:18-25 - masters, bosses, those over us

3:1-7 - husbands and wives.

 

Now Paul says finally, which would imply that what he is saying in these verses applies to all of these relationships. And remember he is addressing Christians.

 

·        BE OF ONE MIND

 

As Paul Cedar pointed out, to be of one mind means to live in harmony with each other.  I enjoy the Victory 5.  I've noticed something though. The instruments aren't always playing the same thing as the other instruments. What Jason is playing sounds different from what Jan is playing. And what Jan is playing sounds different from what Dan, Doug or Denise is playing. And the singers very often are singing different parts. As leads, Hughie and Randy are singing different parts than Doug at Baritone, Dan at tenor, or Don at bass. And yet, what they sing sounds so good because they are in harmony. Each singer compliments the sounds of the other singers. Each instrument compliments the sounds of the other instruments. They start together, they end together, and most importantly they are singing the same song!

 

For Christians to be of one mind, they are to live in harmony. Each has a different personality. Each has a different way of doing things. Each has a different job to do. But they are to start together and end together. What each one does is to compliment the other. And most important, they are to have the same Lord and be submissive to Him, and ultimately to each other. They are to sing the same song - CHRIST!

 

To be of one mind we must have the mind of Christ!

 

Philippians 2:5-8 - Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

 

·        HAVING COMPASSION ONE OF ANOTHER

 

Having compassion actually means to be sympathetic towards each other. We are to "feel the pain" when people are hurting.

We are to "experience the joy" when people are rejoicing.

 

Romans 12:15 - Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

 

When our church family has things to rejoice about, we rejoice with them.  When our church family has things to grieve, we grieve with them.  Most recently, we have grieved with the McKinley family and rejoiced with Randy and Denise.

 

In our church family may we always rejoice with them that rejoice and weep with them that weep!

 

·        LOVE AS BRETHREN

 

Part of a wonderful life is loving fellow believers as brothers and sisters. Brothers and sisters sometimes disagree, but usually they will defend each other and cooperate with each other, and have a special affection for each other.

 

As you know, we have had some additions to our families over the years.

We have two daughter in-laws, Carletta and Candace.  One thing I appreciate about them is that they love our family members and show that love as if they had always been part of the Peters family.  When there is a need, when we need to pull together, they are there as part of the family.

 

May we show that same love towards other Christians. Because we are all children of God, let us treat each other as brothers and sisters. Other Christians, especially within the church family should be able to count on us as loving them as Christian brothers and sisters.

 

·        BE PITIFUL

 

The word pitiful does not mean pathetic here.

It means to be tenderhearted.

 

The thought ties right in with having compassion and loving as brethren.  We should have a tender heart towards each other.

 

We should be so tenderhearted, that we strive to understand what someone else is facing. I think it has a lot to do with being considerate of others. I will be considerate towards them if I have a heart-felt compassion towards them!

 

·        BE COURTEOUS

 

The word courteous means "humble-minded".

Humility is to be an important part of our behavior.

Jesus said in Matt 23:11-12 - But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

 

And let's face it, the person who is humble-minded will be courteous.  He or she will treat others better than themselves.

 

Verse 9

 

·        NOT RENDERING EVIL FOR EVIL OR RAILING FOR RAILING

 

You all know the golden rule given to us by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 7:12 and other places.  It is summed up as,

Do unto others as ye would have them do unto you.

 

Some people think that the golden rule is

"Do unto others because they did it to you."

Or, "Do unto others before they do it to you."

 

We are not to return evil deeds for evil deeds.

We are not return evil words for evil words.

This is indeed easy to do.

When we have been hurt, we often want to retaliate.

But we are told not to retaliate.

If we want to have a wonderful life, we are told not to render evil for evil or railing for railing,

 

·        BUT CONTRARIWISE, BLESSING

 

Matthew 5:43-45 - Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

 

 

 

According to Christianity Today, "Local officials in southern Ethiopia illegally confiscated money, lumber, and corrugated metal roofing that a congregation had collected for a new church building. But the elders decided to rely on prayer and not go to court, according to SIM International. Shortly afterwards, an epidemic of dysentery struck the area. The officials, concluding they were the objects of divine retribution, met with the elders, asked forgiveness, returned all confiscated property, and requested the church to pray that God would end the epidemic. Prayer for local leaders has now become a weekly event for the congregation."

 

·        1 Peter 3:9 - knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

 

The New American Standard Bible translates this, for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

 

Folks, the Christian life is full of blessings.

We have inherited the blessing of eternal life.

We will be with Christ for all eternity.

 

We will receive the blessing of rewards for the good we have done in this life.

 

2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

 

The greatest reward of all will be to hear our Lord say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

And on a day by day basis we receive blessings from the hand of God. Just look around and start counting your blessings.

 

Because we are so blessed, we are to bless in return.

 

To have a wonderful life we have

CONDUCT

 

CONFIRMATION - Vss. 10-11

 

Have you noticed that when I preach, I try to confirm that what I am saying is true, by quoting God's Word. Listen to the sermons I preach and you will generally hear several Scripture verses quoted, showing that what I am saying is accurate. It is what God says that is important, not what Jack Peters says.

 

Now Peter does the same thing here. He confirms that what He says is true by quoting God's Word. In verses 10-12 Peter is quoting from Psalm 34:10-12.

 

Vs. 10 - God is asking, "Do you want to have a wonderful life?"

 

God is saying, "If you want to have a wonderful life then watch your tongue! Don't speak evil, and don't deceive!"

 

James 3:6-10 - And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

 

My dear friend, so much hurt is done by the tongue.

Unkind words

Untrue words

Hurting words

Deceitful words

Angry words

Many other kinds of words

 

May we pray with the psalmist in Psalm 141:3 - Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

 

We will not have a wonderful life, unless our lips are under control.

 

Vs. 11 - We are to eschew or avoid evil. And we are to avoid evil because it is evil!  We should have a good healthy distaste for evil. In fact the word eschew in the original means that we bend out of the way of evil. We want nothing to do with it.

 

Psalm 1:1 confirms what Peter is saying here, Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

 

Instead of doing, evil, for a wonderful life, we are to do good.

 

We are to seek and pursue peace. Peace is to be a goal.

 

Not a peace which compromises with evil, but a peace that does what is peaceful in God's eyes.

 

These verses quoted from Psalms give confirmation of the good conduct which Peter already called for.

 

CONDUCT

CONFIRMATION

CONSOLATION - Vs. 12

 

Still quoting from Psalm 34 we have some consoling words here for all who are willing to pay the price to have a wonderful life.

 

The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous.

If you are righteous, because you have become a Christian, and because you are striving to live a righteous life with Christ's help, then the eyes of the Lord are over you.

 

I am reminded of Psalm 23:6 - Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

 

God is watching out for the righteous. His eye is always on us.

We are secure, because we are under his watchful, unending care.

 

Psalm 121:2-4 - My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

 

And notice this His ears are open to their prayers,

 

God is there to hear and answer the prayers of the righteous.

 

Not only do I have God watching over me, but he's listening too!

 

And look at this final note: the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

 

Be encouraged and be warned.

 

So, do you want to have a wonderful life?

 

Consider:

 

CONDUCT - Vss. 8-9

CONFIRMATION - Vss. 10-11

CONSOLATION - Vss. 12