Don't waste time! (Conclusion)

Yesterday, we posed this question: if we want to make a difference for God, how then shall we live?

Peter has some words of advice for us!

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. (I Peter 4:7-11)

First, in verse seven, he tells us to pray. Peter had no clue how long he was going to live, although Jesus had indicated that he would face a difficult death. But Peter had hope, because Jesus also promised that He would return for His church. And if Peter thought the end was near over two thousand years ago..... how much closer it must be today!

My grandpa (you thought I was going to quote grandma again, didn't you?) was fond of repeating that there were only two things that were absolutely sure to happen to us in this life: death and taxes.  And some of us may certainly die and go to be with our Lord. Others may survive long enough to meet Jesus when He comes back in the clouds:

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (I Thessalonians 4:16-17)

How much time did we spend this past week, talking to our Lord, with Whom we will spend eternity? I'm guessing we should be much in conversation with Him, so He's not a stranger when we get to heaven? (Grin) Peter makes two conditions about our prayer -- to be clear-minded and to be self-controlled. There are some unbiblical ideas out in our world regarding prayer...."name it and claim it" is not Biblical! Instead, scripture tells us that when we are in love with our Lord and pray for the things that God wants for us, He is going to give us His mercy and His blessings!
So, if we don't want to waste our time, the first thing we need to do is pray. Prayer can make a difference in our world.

Next, Peter says to "love each other" deeply.  I guess if there was one thing that we could focus on that would improve the value of our lives, it would be loving -- God and other people. The word that Peter uses, "deeply," is translated sometimes fervently. It literally means to "extend." Like an athlete extending herself to reach a goal, we are to stretch ourselves, to fervently love others. We should not show love to manipulate -- it's the best way to show Christ to our world! And Peter tells us loving others will cover a multitude of sins -- you can overlook a lot when you love someone! Let's commit to love more and judge less.....

Thirdly, to spend our lives wisely, Peter tells us to share. In verse nine, he is specifically talking about hospitality. Offer hospitality without grumbling. Show love to others in practical ways. Invite others to spend time with us and encourage and cheer them.  Have you ever been a guest in someone's home, and they reminded you of how long it took to clean the place up so you could visit? Have you been reminded by a host or hostess of the price of the steaks they cooked for everyone? Oy vey. Peter is urging his readers to be cheerful hosts and hostesses, since the whole purpose of hospitality is to show love and offer a blessing to another person!

Fourth, to make the most of our time here on earth, Peter says we need to be actively serving. He sounds a lot like Paul, writing to the Corinthians in chapter 12 of his first letter! We are all one body, and our gifts and talents are not given to us for our own benefit, but for the common good.  We should seek to serve each other by using the gifts that God has blessed us with. When we do that, Peter says we will be giving God's grace to others.

As we close this week's study, let's ask ourselves some questions.... am I devoting time to prayer? How have I shown love to others? Am I a cheerful host to believers and unbelievers, alike? How have I used my God-given talents to serve others?
We may realize that we aren't doing the best we can at these things. And these are the areas that we can work at, in order to utilize well our time on earth.....to make certain that we don't waste our time here!
What will we do this week to pray more, or more effectively?
How will we intentionally show more love?
Is there a way that we can share cheerful hospitality this coming week?
How can we use our gifts to serve others, and to serve our Lord?

Excuse me. I need to get on my knees and ask the Lord to show me how I can do better......