GOING DEEPER — 1 PETER 3:8–12
What Does It Mean to “Love Life and See Good Days”?
Peter now moves from wives and husbands to all Christians.
“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”
— 1 Peter 3:8–9, KJV
Peter is still answering the same basic question that runs through this part of the letter:
How should Christians live in a world that does not always treat them well?
“Be Ye All of One Mind”
Peter begins with five qualities that should characterize God's people.
They are to be:
Like-minded. Compassionate. Loving as brothers and sisters. Tenderhearted. Humble.
Being “of one mind” does not mean Christians must agree about every opinion.
It means they share a common commitment to Christ and seek the good of one another rather than constantly fighting for their own way.
What Happens When Someone Hurts You?
Then Peter gets very practical:
“Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing.”
Our natural reaction is to return what we receive.
Someone insults me—I insult him.
Someone hurts me—I hurt him.
Someone speaks badly about me—I make sure everyone knows what is wrong with him.
Peter says Christians must break that cycle.
Instead of returning insult for insult, they are to bless.
This sounds very much like Jesus:
“Bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.”
— Matthew 5:44
The Christian does not allow another person's bad behavior to determine his own.
Peter Reaches Back to Psalm 34
In verses 10–12, Peter quotes Psalm 34:
“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.”
That quotation fits Peter's situation remarkably well.
Psalm 34 came out of David's experience of danger and deliverance. Peter is writing to Christians who also know what it means to live under pressure.
And notice where Peter begins:
with the tongue.
The Tongue Matters
Peter has already talked about how Christians respond when mistreated.
Now he says:
“Let him refrain his tongue from evil.”
Sometimes our greatest temptation during suffering is not what we do with our hands.
It is what we do with our mouths.
We exaggerate.
We accuse.
We retaliate.
We say something designed to hurt because we have been hurt.
Peter says that the person seeking a godly life must learn to control his speech.
“Let Him Eschew Evil, and Do Good”
Christianity is not merely avoiding bad behavior.
Peter says:
“Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.”
Turning away from evil is only half the instruction.
Do good.
And don't merely appreciate peace when it happens.
Seek it. Pursue it.
Peace sometimes requires effort.
Does “Good Days” Mean an Easy Life?
Peter says the person who wants to “love life, and see good days” should live this way.
That cannot mean Christians who behave properly will never suffer.
Peter's whole letter disproves that idea.
He is writing to people who are suffering precisely because they belong to Christ.
“Good days” therefore cannot simply mean days without trouble.
A life can be good before God even when circumstances are difficult.
“The Eyes of the Lord Are Over the Righteous”
Peter concludes the quotation:
“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers.”
That is especially meaningful to suffering Christians.
God sees.
God hears.
Their enemies may misunderstand them. Their neighbors may accuse them. Authorities may mistreat them.
But they are not invisible to God.
Then comes the other side:
“But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”
Christians do not have to repay every wrong themselves.
God remains the judge.
The Point
Peter's answer to hostility is not:
Fight harder than the people fighting you.
Nor is it:
Pretend evil does not matter.
His answer is to refuse to become like the people who mistreat us.
Control the tongue.
Turn from evil.
Do good.
Seek peace.
Bless instead of curse.
And trust the God who sees, hears, and judges.
That is how Christians can face difficult days—and still “love life, and see good days.”
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