Sermon Tone Analysis

Pursuing the “Good Life”

How would you define “the good life”?

Does it really exist?

What does it take to get it?

The most trusted source of information…Wikipedia…simply defines the “good life” as “the life one would like to live, or happiness”.

That’s helpful now isn’t it?

If you were to ask 100 people what constitutes “the good life” you would get 100 different answers.

Who gets to decide what defines “the good life”?

Advertisers work very hard at trying to convince you that your life is not complete without their product.

Sadly, many in our culture, including believers, have bought into the hype of pursuing their “right to happiness” through the lens of materialism.

Money, houses, cars, fine clothes, etc.

Some find the good life exists in attending high profile sporting events.

The Super Bowl will take place in February in Arizona.

The cheapest seats available are $5,302.

Most expensive seats, $23,880.

(According to Stubhub).

Just for comparison...

Average monthly payment on a $100,000 home in Bossier City is around $2000.

For the cheap seats = 2.5 months of mortgage payments — just for 1 ticket

For the premium seats = close to 1 year of mortgage payments — just for 1 ticket

All for the thrill of attending 1 football game and getting a piece of the “good life”

That does not include the rest of the money spent on transportation, lodging, food, etc.

Some pursue more dangerous avenues to somehow make their life better...recreational drug use, frequent alcohol consumption, sexual promiscuity, but the sad reality of all of this is that none of it brings any source of real peace and lasting fulfillment.

Often find that many people live for that next “high” – “good feeling” which is only temporary, continually searching and then they are trapped in addictive and destructive thinking and behavior.

This is not a new problem!

Solomon had incredible wealth in the form of land, palaces, chariots and horses, gold and silver, and many beautiful women.

Because he was king over Israel, he also had great power and influence.

He seemed to possess everything that constituted the good life.

In fact, 2 Chron 9:3-4 says that when the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon and observed his immense wealth, power, and imposing presence she was breathless.

But toward the end of his life, Solomon was not content and failed to experience life to the fullest.

In Eccl 2:17 he wrote, "So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind."

Solomon came to realize that the good life is not found in great accomplishments or much education (Eccl 1:12-14,16).

Neither did he find it in pleasure (2:3) or material possessions (2:4-11).

He finally rendered this sobering conclusion that life was really more oppressive than good:

You read a text like that and you are left to wonder does the good life exist, or is it a myth?

The good life does exist and has been defined by God.

It is God’s desire for every believer to love the life He has entrusted to us and to enjoy His goodness every day.

How do I know that?

Our text this morning gives us clear instructions to enjoying life on this side of heaven.

Let me give you hint…it is not in the things you own…it has everything to do with your relationship with God and others...

Sadly, many believers struggle to enjoy life, to overcome the evil and suffering of living in a hostile world, because they seek peace and happiness and joy apart from the God who saved them…no matter what they pursue they only find emptiness.

We have been walking through 1 Peter with an understanding of the historical context of this book being believers suffering under great persecution…living in a world that is hostile towards Christ.

Peter writes so that his readers would learn to stand in grace even though they are experiencing great suffering.

– 5:12 “…this is grace, stand in it”

4:19 -- Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

(NASB)

So everything we glean from this wonderful book is from the context of suffering, especially unjust suffering.

Let’s remember that as we read and examine our text this morning.

Read 1 Peter 3:8-12

Main Point: Enjoy Life Even When Surrounded by Imperfect People

This text comes on the heels of responding correctly to the imperfect people in our lives… we all live under the authority of an imperfect government…we are called to be godly even when living under a hostile and sin-corrupted government...

Last week Pastor Matthew examined the text regarding marriage…

and I only know of 1 person who is married to the perfect spouse (I will let you figure out which one of us I’m referring to)…not really…

all who are married live with imperfect spouses and regardless of whether they think and act in a godly manner, you have the responsibility to do what is right...

and now Peter shares how to respond to all the imperfect people around you.

This is addressed to the entire Christian community… “all of you”

When Peter says “to sum up” he is concluding this section on standing in grace under difficulty… he ends with a general exhortation regarding our relationships to others, even when those around us are hostile towards us.

He shares the purpose for this exhortation in v.9 — that you might inherit a blessing…Peter knew what was coming for God’s people…as the suffering would spread and intensify, he wanted them to find joy in this life, regardless of the suffering they would endure...

v. 10 he says “The one who desires life…to love and see good days”… enjoying life as God intends…even when surrounded by imperfect people…some of whom will be hostile towards you...

Peter wanted his readers and us to view life as a precious gift from God and to enjoy it the way God wants us to…to inherit the blessings

Please, don’t anyone leave here thinking Pastor Kevin said we could do anything we want so we could enjoy life because God wants us to live life to the fullest...

What we are talking about this morning means living it to the fullest HIS way not ours.

Trying to live the good life on our terms only produces a temporary satisfaction or heartache

How can we enjoy life the way God intends?

Four admonitions for living and loving the good life.

The first admonition is found in verse 8...

Develop Right Thinking (8)

This is where it all starts…everything you say and do is a result of the way you think…

Attitude

We see five specific attitudes to have if we desire the good life God provides.

Be harmonious.

This is a compound word that means “to be like minded, united in spirit”

Doesn’t mean you have to think in the same manner.

Differences of opinion will exist – that is okay.

The key is how we handle those differences.

Believers are to live and serve together in unity, not allowing the differences to divide us…instead those differences enrich us.

The exhortation here is to let the mind of Christ govern our interactions and not allow those differences to divide us but rather enrich us.

Our culture is hostile enough towards believers that we don’t need to be against one another also.

Believers are to stand together for the sake of the Gospel…all serving with the same purpose.

Phil 1:27-28 “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.”

How do we live in harmony?

It takes a concerted effort from everyone...

Phil 2:3-4 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Rom 12:18 “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”

Learn to listen to each other

Lay aside our own agendas (which leads to the next attitude)

Be Sympathetic,

This word is a transliteration of the Greek Word which means "sharing the same feeling."

We should be continually demonstrating our concern for and interest in others, especially in times of joy and sorrow.

Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.

There are some believers who just don’t know how to do this…

Sometimes I wonder if those individuals sleep with an endless supply of lemons on their nightstand and then every morning when they wake up they take this huge bite out of one and then just suck the juice out until their whole face is caved in

They just have this sour look on their face all the time and can’t find ways to rejoice with those who rejoice…and if you can’t rejoice with them how can you mourn with them?

Don’t become hard-hearted towards each other…not just within this body, but other believers all over the world.

Share both joys and sorrows…we are all part of the same family.

So be ready to sympathize with the pain of others

Be Brotherly

Peter used the term ‎philadelphoi‎,

The first part of the word stems from the verb ‎phileœ‎, "to love," and refers to affection among people who are closely related in some way.

manifested in a willingness to go out of your way to help…