Have you ever noticed how some people seem to constantly chase after blessings while others naturally become a blessing to everyone around them? There’s a profound difference between seeking to be blessed and choosing to live as a blessing to others.
The Problem with Seeking Blessings
Many people approach their faith like sports fans – their emotional well-being depends entirely on external circumstances. When things go well, they’re happy. When difficulties arise, despair sets in. This approach makes our joy dependent on what other people do or what happens around us. Peter addresses this issue in 1 Peter 3:8-12, flipping the script for believers who were coming to church solely to receive blessings. Instead of seeking blessings for ourselves, we discover true meaning by living as a blessing to others.
How Do We Live as a Blessing?
Cultivate Love in Community
Peter begins with five essential qualities: unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and humility. These aren’t just nice suggestions – they’re necessities for a church facing persecution and difficult times. Unity doesn’t mean uniformity. We don’t need to look alike, dress alike, or think exactly alike. True unity means cooperation in the midst of diversity. Christians may differ on how things are done, but we must agree on what is to be done and why. What we’re doing is learning God’s word to become more like Jesus Christ, then going into the world acting like Him. How this happens will be different for each person because God made us unique. Show compassion to others. This means putting aside our own cares and worries to focus on someone else’s needs. When people come to us hurting, God has led them to us because He knows we’re capable of helping them – and often He uses these moments to grow our own compassion. Practice courtesy through humility. A humble person puts others before themselves. This isn’t just about manners – it’s about having a humble mind that considers others more important than ourselves.
Love Your Enemies
Peter challenges us not to repay evil for evil, but instead to bless those who wrong us. As Christians, we can live on three levels: Return evil for good (the satanic level) Return good for good and evil for evil (the human level) Return good for evil (the divine level) When we treat our enemies with love and mercy, we inherit a blessing. Instead of seeking the blessing, we need to be the blessing.
What Does It Mean to Love Life?
If you want to be a blessing to others, it helps to actually love life. Too many people have a negative view of life and complain constantly about why they aren’t happy. This becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Choose Your Attitude
Loving life is a personal choice. When we wake up each morning, we can choose our path and direction based on our attitude. We can focus on the negative and everything people do to us, or we can decide to love life. We have three options: endure life as a burden, escape life as if running from battle, or enjoy life because we know God is in control. Choose to enjoy life.
Control Your Tongue
Peter gives practical advice for loving life: “Let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.” If you control your tongue, you’ll be a much happier person. When you don’t control your tongue, you create many more problems for yourself. This includes avoiding half-truths, criticism, complaining, and exaggeration. The psalmist’s prayer is perfect for this: “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth. Keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3).
Seek Peace
Turn away from evil, do good, and pursue peace. The world is desperately seeking the peace and joy that Jesus gives us freely. We can be conduits of Jesus’ peace by sharing His love and not stirring up trouble. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” We need to be peacemakers, not pot stirrers or agitators.
How Do We Handle Suffering Gracefully?
Be Zealous for Good
Peter makes an important point: if you’re zealous about doing good, most people won’t bother you. In fact, they’ll support you and want to be part of what you’re doing. When someone’s ways please the Lord, He makes even their enemies at peace with them. Be an advocate for those being bullied or mistreated. Stand in the gap and fight battles for others. When God gives you opportunities to do good, seize them.
Don’t Fear Opposition
Sometimes people will have issues with your good works – they may be jealous or uncomfortable because your goodness challenges them. Peter says even if you suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear and don’t be troubled. Keep your eyes focused on Jesus, not on defending yourself. As long as God is giving you opportunities to do good, keep doing good. Don’t get distracted by critics.
Be Ready to Share Your Hope
Always be prepared to explain the reason for the hope within you, but do it with gentleness and respect. You don’t need all the answers – just point people back to Jesus. Some need to hear they need Jesus, others need to know Jesus loves them and can help, and still others just need prayer and a hug. The ultimate blessing you can give someone is telling them about Jesus Christ and how He has changed your life, forgiven your sin, and secured your eternal destiny.
Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to shift from seeking blessings to being a blessing. Instead of focusing on what you can get from others or from God, look for opportunities to serve, encourage, and love those around you. Start each day by choosing to love life and asking God to show you how you can be a blessing to someone. Control your tongue by speaking words that build up rather than tear down. Seek peace in your relationships and respond to difficult people with kindness rather than retaliation. Questions for reflection: Am I more focused on receiving blessings or being a blessing to others? How can I better control my tongue this week to speak life rather than criticism? Who in my life needs to experience God’s love through my actions and words? Am I ready to share the hope I have in Jesus when opportunities arise? Remember, when we live as a blessing to others, God often blesses us far more than the people we serve. The joy and peace we seek comes not from chasing after it, but from giving it away to others in Jesus’ name.
