Notes Talk 4: 1 Peter 4:1-11 – Don’t fritter your life away
1 Peter 4:1-11New International Version (NIV)
Living for God
4 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same
attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do
not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will
of God. 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. 5 But they will have to give account to him who
is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was
preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according
to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to
the spirit.
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you
may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude
of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 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. 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.
First, Peter says, focus don’t drift or fritter your life away (1 Peter 4:1-6)
Peter says if you are not going to fritter your life away you have to focus. As we
have seen over the book he makes all sorts of recommendations. Here:
He says be done with “sin” (1)
4 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same
attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
This does not mean that we will never sin – the bible rules out the idea that
anyone can be done with sin (1 Ki 8:46; Prov 20:9, Ec 7:20; Ja 3:2; 1 Jn 1 :8)
But he effectively says – sinful behavior though tempting if indulged will waste
your life. You’ll fritter it away. How do you turn away from sin?
Here he says decide to live for God (2)
2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires,
but rather for the will of God.
IF we are to focus and not waste our life – we need to be people who put God and
his will first. He needs to be number one.
What is more the decision to put God first is not a decision that is made once
when we come to faith. It is something we have to keep deciding and keep
choosing to do each day. Probably several times a day!
Peter’s reasoning goes something like this. He effectively says that your life
before coming to faith has already had enough of your precious time and your
precious energy. Why should they have any more?
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.
SO according to Peter, nothing is to be gained from licentious and lawless
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behavior. It might seem fun for a while. It might be what many people do. BUT it
is uncreative and destructive to you and those around you and is akin to pouring
your life down the drain.
Notice the realism too here. Peter says if you do go for God your old friends
wont like it (4)
4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and
they heap abuse on you.
The phrase “join them” literally means, “running with them” an expression which
widely reflects the frenetic pace of their continually disappointing search for true
pleasure. And Peter say when don’t join in any more - you will get abuse. Abuse
is primarily verbal abuse and slander – the term means, “speak evil of, defame or
injure the reputation of someone (Mt 27:39; Lk 22:65; 23:39; Rom 3:8; 14:16, 1
Cor 10:30; Tit 3:2; 2 Peter 2:2).
Actually, you are likely to get abuse even when you say nothing but just change
your priorities and lifestyle. Silent non participation in sin often implies
condemnation of that sin, and rather than change their ways unbelievers will
slander those who have pained their consciences.
Peter says done let that deter you – don’t forget that they will face
judgment too (5-6)
5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the
dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now
dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the
body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
We all give account to God for how we have lived don’t we and the choices that
we have made.
So, first Peter says don’t fritter your life away. It merely wasted the time you
could have been growing as a human being, discovering how God’s love can
transform your life and that of those around you.
Secondly, Peter says if you are to put God first – this does not just happen
you have to be practical, intentional and prioritise a few things.
Another great temptation in life is not just to drift but to dream.
What do I mean by that? Well we may not want to drift. We may want to focus on
God but then we don’t practically do anything to get us to go where we want to
go. Peter challenges the dreamer in us and recommends a few practical things.
He says be prayerful (7)
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that
you may pray.
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Story – I don’t know about you but even though it is a struggle to pray. Makes a
massive difference
He says be loving (8)
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of
sins.
All sorts of things can go wrong between people but if you abandon the old
pagan ways but Peter says if we learn the new habit of love you would be
amazed to see what happens.
Better translation is “keep loving one another earnestly.” Why? Because “love
covers a multitude of sins”. Peter is quoting from proverbs 10:12. This phrase
does not mean that love is a cover up operation – hiding things that we would
rather not face. Rather the love that we are offered to extend to each other day
by day, hour by hour, minute by minute through our lives actually transforms
situations so that the multitude of sins that were there are forgiven. Instead of
squabbling and fighting we can we can now live together and work together.
Where love abounds in a fellowship of Christians many small offences and even
large ones are readily overlooked and forgotten. But where love is lacking every
word is viewed with suspicion, every action is liable to misunderstanding and
conflicts abound much to the delight of Satan.
Peter says be hospitable (9)
9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Ernest love which seeks the good of others finds expression in hospitality. Notice
it is generous hospitality done without grumbling – without resenting the time
and expense that may be involved. Ever have people around and think “Oh God
we have them coming?” “Oh No what’s this going to be like?”
He says use your gifts (10)
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.
We have talked a lot about this as a church haven’t we? Idea of working out our
heartbeat our calling our vision and our gifts and going for it!
Do you know what your calling is?
Do you know what your gifts are?
I think being English does not help. We can think it is inappropriate or vulgar to
talk about gifts.
The word for gift here is the same used in 1 Cor 12-14. So the reference here is
to spiritual gifts
What is a spiritual gift?
A spiritual gift is any talent or ability which is empowered by the Holy Spirit and
able to be used in the ministry of the church.
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According to Peter here everyone has at least one gift
(Paul teaches this explicitly in 1 Cor 12:7-11).
Note that reference to one gift here does not just mean one gift.
[There are lots of different gifts
There are five different lists of spiritual gifts in the NT (Ro 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:7-11;
12:28-30; Eph 4:11, 1 Peter 4:10).
We are called to exercise our gifts by God with great enthusiasm and faithfulness.
“faithful stewards” good stewards – of God’s gift will not hide it but employ it for
the benefit of other people (cf the parable of the talents Mt 25:14-30; Lk 19:1127).
Gods rule for our gifts if you like is that we use them, with the confidence that
comes from knowing that God has given them to us and wants us to use them,
and even more than that these gifts are anointed and empowered by him.
Why is God so keen? When we use our gifts other people benefit and the church
is built up.
Peter say when we use our gifts we must also do so not just with great
enthusiasm and faithfulness but also with great reverence and care. (11)
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.
4:11 If speak – does not just preach or teach or stand up in the front of church
but any gift that involves speaking evangelism, prophesy, perhaps singing or
sharing words praise or testimony means “with the seriousness of purpose
which one would use if one were speaking God’s words.”
If anyone serves –again is very broad – which includes any kind of helping or
encouraging ministry for the benefit of others in the church (and by extension to
anyone outside the church)
Must never forget to do this in the “strength that God provides”.
This life to which God calls us, this life that Peter is speaking off … is not a call to
a life of driven striving and painful exertion. It is a call to find life and life to the
full. What is more God promises to strengthen us.
We need to serve through the strength that God provides…service performed by
merely human energy can soon become very tiring (Gal 6:9; 2 Thess 3:13)
God promises to empower us….
If we are to exercise our gifts in the strength that God provides we need to be
people of the HS.
Suggested questions
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Do you ever feel that you have wasted some of your life?
What do you think of Peter’s call to turn away from sin?
Do you feel that you are living for God at this point in your life?
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How is your prayer life?
Do you feel you have experienced love from members of the church?
Do you feel that you have given love to other members of the church?
Do you extend hospitality to other people at the church?
Do you know what your gifts are?
Split into pairs and pray for one another
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