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1 Peter 4:15–16
“Let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.”
Blessing attends suffering for the name of Jesus, for only those on whom the Holy Spirit rests are the subjects of true Christian persecution and so belong to Christ. These individuals should rejoice in suffering, not glorying in the pain in and of itself but because such rejoicing evidences persevering faith, the only type of faith that leads to eternal glory. These instructions from the Apostle Peter assist us in having the right frame of mind in our suffering so that we are not surprised when it comes and are enabled to hold fast to Jesus in the midst of it (1 Peter 4:12–14).
Note that our suffering at the hands of other people must be for the sake of Jesus if we are to receive God’s blessing. This is important to emphasize, for we easily rationalize any undesired response from others as persecution for our faith and excuse our behavior that brings on trouble. But if we suffer because of our own sin or because we have wrongly involved ourselves in the affairs of others, we are not being persecuted for our faith and are not blessed by God for it. Peter reminds us of this truth in today’s passage.
Earlier in this epistle, Peter wrote that there is no credit for enduring a punishment due to us for our sin (2:20). In such cases, suffering does not come from our holding steadfast to our Christian profession. Suffering the consequences of our personal sin even testifies to the justice of God and the order that He established wherein people generally reap what they sow (Prov. 22:8; Gal. 6:7). First Peter 4:15 returns to this truth when it tells us not to “suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.” The first three specifications of sin represent transgressions of the worst kind, misdeeds that most Christians are unlikely to commit (though believers are capable of the worst of sins, and some Christians have sinned heinously). Peter lists these sins for rhetorical punch, to call our attention to the fact that suffering for our sin is not the blessed suffering that he describes. The sin of meddling is one that more Christians are likely to engage in, at least on occasion. Peter subtly warns us against crying “persecution” when others resist us for getting involved in things that are none of our business.
Suffering for our own sins may bring shame, but there is no shame if we are truly suffering because of our faith and not because of our own sins and shortcomings. At such times, we are to glorify God (1 Peter 4:16).
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Matthew Henry comments: “There is very little comfort in sufferings when we bring them upon ourselves by our own sin and folly. It is not the suffering, but the cause, that makes the martyr.” No blessing comes to us if the real reason that people do not like us is our being rude or aggressive. God does not reward suffering for being obnoxious.
For further study
- Proverbs 20:3
- 2 Thess. 3:6–12
The bible in a year
- Ezra 3–5
- John 21
- Ezra 6–10
- Acts 1:1–2:13