Thoughts on 1 Peter 4

Today’s reading: Isaiah 20-21; 1 Peter 4-5

I’m finding it really interesting this morning that Peter, when saying the end of all things is at hand, and giving his readers instructions accordingly, doesn’t tell them to run out and try to win as many lost people as possible in the time they have left, but tells them to double down on loving one another well.

Here’s the paragraph I’m talking about:

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Peter starts off by instructing his readers to be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of their prayers, which fits with what we were talking about a couple days ago about prayer out of James 5, that it is not merely prayer generically that is powerful, but the prayer of a righteous person that has great power, and Peter is bringing that same idea to bear.

But after that reminder about prayer, look where Peter goes next. He has just said he thinks the end of all things is at hand, that Jesus would be returning soon, and so it is in that context that he says, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly…” Given that he thinks they are almost out of time, the single most important thing for them to be spending their time doing is loving one another.

Now maybe this is just because of the church community I came to know the Lord in, but I honestly find this instruction surprising. My default assumption would be that Peter’s main concern, if they really only have a small time left, would be the lost. I would more expect him to be saying, “The end of all things is at hand, therefore this is your last chance to share the gospel with your friends and neighbors who don’t know the Lord, so get out there and put all your eggs in that basket!” But that’s not what he is primarily concerned about. With the little time he thinks they have left, he is more concerned with the Body of Christ growing in love and caring for one another than he is with the Body of Christ growing in numbers.

And yet, how many churches today are more concerned with quantitative growth than qualitative? How many churches care more about how many new butts they have in seats each week than they do devoted Christians engaged in discipleship, small groups, practical serving, hospitality, etc.? How often do we, as Christians, prioritize and elevate gifts like evangelism and teaching specifically because they draw people in?

Now I hope nobody takes this the wrong way and thinks I (or Peter for that matter) am saying that these things don't matter, or that winning the lost is unimportant. Peter just said, in chapter 3, that we are to always be prepared to give an account of the hope that is in us, so clearly he is not dismissing the pursuit of the lost in any way, but at the same time, that is not his top priority. When he, thinking the end is near, picks one thing that, by his apostolic authority, he wants to call the churches to prioritize and invest themselves in, it is growing in love and service toward one another.

And doesn't this match with what Jesus Himself told His disciples when He said, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another"? Again, it's not that Peter is unconcerned about the lost in what he thinks are the last days, but that a major part of our testimony to the watching world is the love we have for one another.

The fact that I found it interesting/jarring that this is Peter's priority tells me this is probably something I, personally, need to spend some time before the Lord about.