By James Riley Strange, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Religion, Samford University
Life in the Church
1 Peter 4:7–11
Many Scripture passages have to do with right relationships among God’s followers: Israel in the Old Testament and the Church in the New. This is because the Bible was written to the faithful rather than to outsiders. It will take Christians about a century to start writing “apologies” (defenses of Christianity) and “polemics” (attacks of other groups), and even those writings might have been intended for fellow Christians. Context is important, so read all of Chapter 4.
Serve one another through prayer. (7)
Like Paul and John the Revelator, Peter thought the end of the current age and the return of Jesus would happen in his own lifetime. Based on verses 1–6, we see that Peter interpreted his readers’ sufferings as a sign of the looming end of all things.
Pay attention to what he says; he doesn’t say, “Because the end of all things is at hand, abandon your earthly obligations to wait for Jesus.” Instead, Jesus’ imminence means His followers should devote themselves all the more to prayer. In context Peter is telling his readers to pray for one another. Because of their suffering, this kind of prayer requires special discipline.
Serve one another with love and hospitality. (8–9)
While anticipating the Lord’s return, we must “maintain constant love for one another” (compare 1:22). The word for “love” here is the one we expect: “agape.” It is the love that builds up community. Remember the famous 1 Corinthians 13? Paul was talking about the community there too. We first see the idea in the second half of Proverbs 10:12, to which Peter alludes (also see James 5:20).
Why must Peter tell Christians to keep loving one another? After all in Matthew 5:46–47, Jesus indicates this is natural. Peter probably knows from his own experience among the Twelve Apostles that the threat of danger can cause people to turn against one another. Peter himself denied knowing Jesus with curses. That is the subversive power of fear. Peter says replace fear with love.
In building relationships we become closer as the family of God when we serve one another. Have you ever served members of your own congregation (preparing and serving food, mowing lawns for the elderly, caring for children, writing notes of comfort or encouragement, arranging food to be delivered to new parents or to grieving families, etc.)? Did you notice how your service affected your attitudes about your family of faith? Did you detect a change in the way members of your congregation drew together?
Serve one another through your spiritual gifts. (10–11)
Peter uses an interesting mix of ideas here — stewardship and God’s grace. Normally stewards administer limited resources — household funds and manpower. But God’s grace is “manifold” or “varied,” and it is unlimited. Therefore as stewards, we do not have to worry about allocating grace in case we run out. Whatever spiritual gift we have received also has no reservoir with a gauge to warn us when it’s nearing empty (although the number of hours in a day and our stamina certainly do: this note is for our ministerial staffs).
In serving God and others, spiritual growth is integrally tied to our relationship with other believers. God has given us not only grace and spiritual gifts, but also one another. Now we know why Peter wrote verse 11: When we speak to one another we speak God’s words and when we serve one another, we do it because God gives us the strength. Glory be to God.
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