Growing in Grace and Hope
Living an Influential Life – 1 Peter 5:1-7
Who is the most influential person who ever lived? Ask an average person on the streets right now and you are likely to hear them say “Michael Jackson.” Others with a little sense in them might mention a world leader, a past president, a renowned author. But with a little thought, logic tells us that it is clearly Jesus. Believe in him or not, one must admit that no one has influenced this world or more people than Jesus has. We have been studying through 1 Peter the past ten weeks, seeing how his message helps us grow in God’s grace and in the hope God’s grace gives us even in difficult times.
Much of Peter’s message points to the example the Jesus left us in his own earthly life. Just before he went to the cross, Jesus said in John 17, “having accomplished the work you gave me to do, I glorified you on the earth.” Then on the cross he said, “It is finished.” He had completed what he came to earth to do. He had not wasted time. He spent his days doing the important things and doing them well. When you come near the end of your life on earth, wouldn’t you like to be able to say “I have finished what God gave me to do here on this earth?”
How do you live a life of true influence – influence for God? I have always wanted to make my life count for God. But quite honestly, I can get discouraged because I can’t even complete goals I have for one day or one week sometimes – let alone an entire lifetime. Perhaps the problem is the goals I set though. Perhaps I am too easily consumed by urgent things rather than important things. In our passage today, Peter shares how we can live a life of influence and significance.
1 Peter 5:1-7 – “And
now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a
witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when
he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: 2
Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not
grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to
serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your
care, but lead them by your own good example. 4 And when the
Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and
honor. 5 In the same way, you younger men must accept the
authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility,
for ‘God opposes the proud but favors the humble.’ 6
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he
will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares
to God, for he cares about you.”
Three Ways to
Improve Your Impact
1. Start serving.
Peter begins by addressing the elders or pastors of the church. They are the ones who had been chosen for a specific role of SERVICE in protecting and leading the church.
Matthew 23:11 – “The greatest among you must be a servant.”
That’s simple isn’t it? If I’m going to be great in God’s kingdom, it will be because I chose to be a servant.
If you want to live a life of significance – making a lasting impact, then ask yourself “Where can my life have the most impact?” The answer is not in inventing a new technology and building the biggest business. The answer is in how you influence people. The greatest building built will one day crumble. The most innovative technologies will soon be passé – relegated to a museum. The biggest business empires will one day fail or end in bankruptcy – like GM recently did. But the impact you make upon people has eternal consequences. Moms and Dads, the impact you have on your kids lasts forever and through many generations. Bosses, managers, the way you treat those under you, the way you serve them can not only impact their careers with you and others but their character and faith throughout their life. Jesus teaches that being a servant is where significance is really found.
The first verses in our passage today are basically saying
“Here’s what works and here is what doesn’t work.” It breaks down three ways. Three keys to keep service effective.
A. Choose desire over duty. – 5:2 – “Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly.”
Peter writes the elders and tells them to serve not because they have to but because they desire to. Duty doesn’t impact people as much as desire. In fact, in 1 Timothy, again addressing elders in the church, Paul writes that the first (and often most overlooked) qualification for the work of an elder is that the man desires the work of an elder. If you want to impact people, it cannot just be from a sense of duty but from a deep desire to serve and influence them.
Four words that will never change the world: “if I have to.” Of how about these, “I guess if no one else
will.” Can you imagine Christopher Columbus talking to the Queen of Spain who
is interested in finding a new and shorter trade route with
Some of you are feeling trapped by the “have to’s” in your life. Maybe most of your life right now is duty. Maybe you are a parent and everything in your life seems to be duty and responsibility to your kids and there is little or no time for you. Or maybe the pressures of keeping your marriage alive or keeping a business afloat has turned everything in your life into responsibility. It’s wearing you down. Many times when that happens, the only way out seems to be if we chose to change our circumstance.
There is a different option. Instead of a change of circumstances, there is the option of a change of heart. Changing to see those duties as opportunities. Changing the way you see your present circumstance. Instead of groaning for the day things can be different, look for how God has positioned you right now in life to impact the people you are around.
Willingness is so important in our lives. It is easy to get tired and run down if we look at our present circumstances as a series of “I have to’s.” Energy in life comes from what we want to do not from what we have to do. Peter is trying to tell us the importance of WANTING to be a servant. That’s where influence can be found.
How do you change the have to’s into want to’s? How do you change your duties into desires? You begin with prayer. Start with a prayer that expresses “God I am willing to be made willing.” Ask God to help you. Suddenly you are not in it alone. You are asking God to help change your heart. And that is God’s specialty. God will gently remind you of the selfless love he has for you – the servant Jesus who laid down his life to rescue you. And you will be reminded that God did none of this out of an “I have to” spirit but out of a deep desire for you.
B. A second encouragement Peter gives is to Choose Giving over Getting. 5:2 – “not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.”
Video – Thoughts on
Giving
A little hyperbole can help us remember the right perspective. Are we more naturally interested in getting or giving? It depends on the situation, but usually it would be getting. Getting – getting our way – seems to be the way to be happy. Giving, however, has power that we don’t often recognize. Getting can seem so important, but Peter reminds us here that you don’t make a lasting impact by what you get or take or make. You make that lasting impact by what you give.
Acts 20:25 - “You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
A mom was making pancakes for her two sons – Keven who was 7 and Ryan who was 5. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancakes off the griddle. Mom saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. She said to them, “If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, ‘Let my brother have the first pancakes.’ Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, ‘I’ll let you be Jesus first.’”
We are often afraid to give first. We are afraid our needs and desires will get lost in the crowd. But Jesus said you are more blessed when you give then when you receive. Understand the word blessed. It is the Greek work makarion. Sounds like the Makarina song! The word means blessed or fortunate or happy. In other words, you are happier when you give than when you receive. What do you think?
- Progression of gift giving as we get older.
- Why don’t we trust it for other areas – like marriage or work relationships?
Psalm 112:9 – says of a godly person, “They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.” Wow – that is exactly what we are talking about – influence and impact. And God says it comes from giving generously.
Is having money or power the problem? No. You can use money to give to others and use the power to help others. It’s greed that’s the problem. It’s the unquenchable desire to get more that is the problem. Greed can keep you from being satisfied with what you have. Money and power can be deceiving. It can look like you are making an impact when all you are doing is building a portfolio. Don’t confuse influence with income or status.
Giving and serving is what makes a lasting impact.
C. Choose being an example over being in control. 5:3 – “Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.”
Don’t be like a ruler ordering people around. If you have authority over people, strive to be a good example to them rather than just bark orders. You don’t’ make a lasting impact by telling others what to do but by showing them how to do it. Would you agree that the world does not need more people simply telling us what we should do? When you consider the environmental debate – global warming. Regardless of your point of view, one thing we could probably agree on is that Al Gore or John Edwards will never have the impact they desire to have until they begin living the life they are advocating. As long as Al Gore’s carbon footprint is ten times that of the average American he is telling to use less energy, he will not have much credibility and therefore not much impact. And simply having excess money to buy carbon credits is little more than the equivalent of the people in the middle ages buying indulgences to offset their sins they were not willing to give up. We make an impact by our example not our force or our loopholes.
Why was there such an uproar when the government was bailing out business with billions of taxpayer dollars and then those same businesses were giving out seven figure bonuses to the executives who had made poor decisions that put the company in a position of bankruptcy? The average American saw hypocrisy. A couple of weeks ago, the same Congress that made auto and banking executives look foolish for flying their private jets to Senate hearings was caught trying to purchase several new jets with taxpayer money for House and Senate trips. People can never have a positive lasting impact when they tell you what to do and won’t do it themselves.
The word “example” that is used in this verse is a word that originally comes from the idea of a pattern or a stamp. It’s something you would use to make an impression on some kind of clay or wax in order to match the original. Do you want to leave a mark on this world? Your example is what leaves it. Be a great example in the arena God has given you at this moment – whether as a parent, a boss, an employee, a friend.
2. Stay Humble.
5:5-6 – “In the same way, you younger men must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility, for ‘God opposes the proud but favors the humble.’ So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.”
Humility says “God, I am depending on you.” Significance comes because God can use a humble person and lift them up for his purposes.
The words “at the right time” are important. We tend to think, “I’d rather he lift me up in my time.” But the “right time” is God’s timing, and it requires trust in him.
Usually, we get humble when we are desperate. When we’ve tried everything else, we cry out to God, “Help me, I have no other place to go.” He helps. But God is more honored when we depend on him even when things are going well for us.
Remember that Peter is writing this and he had learned this lesson in his life. Jesus went over and over this lesson with his disciples. Jesus said to his disciples in Matthew 23:12 – “But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” That tells me that one of the keys to significance and influence in this life is humility – everyday humility, lifelong humility.
That sounds like a contradiction – being great at being
humble. It’s like the preacher who said,
“I’ve got the greatest sermon on humility.”
I heard a story about a preacher who was voted by an organization as the
most humble pastor in
A lot of times we get confused about what humility really is. Jesus reminds us that there’s a real connection between our desire to be great and our need to be humble. We think that humility is denying our desires for greatness. Jesus says, “No, that’s not it. Humble yourself, and I will exalt you.” Don’t give up your ambition, let humility manage your ambition and determine what your ambition is. True greatness is depending on God to serve other people and influence them for him.
There is no better example of this than Jesus. He showed us exactly what humility looks like. Philippians 2:5-11 tells us to have the same attitude Jesus had. What was that like? It says that even though he was God, he chose to humble himself for our sakes. He took on flesh and determined to go to the cross to take on himself the punishment for our sins so we could be reconciled to God.
3. Stop Worrying
– 5:7 – “Give all your worries and cares
to God, for he cares about you.”
Worriers don’t make much of an impact on this world. That’s for a couple of reasons. They are so busy fighting imaginary scenarios that they don’t have time to fight the real ones going on now. Secondly, worry tends to make you focus on yourself. When you do that, you can’t effectively serve others and have positive influence on them. Peter says give all your worries to God or “cast your cares upon him.” Give them up and make them his. Why, because he cares about you. That is simple but profound. God cares about you. Do you believe that?
The Bible gives us some very practical things to do to handle worry in your life.
Philippians 4:6 – “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” You have a private and personal line to God. It is called prayer. God listens and cares. You know those cel plans called “friends and family” where your calls are free to a select group of numbers you give to your carrier when you sign up? Well, God has put you on his “friends and family” list. You can speak with him anytime for free. Talking to God about it and knowing he cares can alleviate worry.
Colossians 3:2 – “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” Peter reminds us of this earlier in his
letter when he tells us in 2:11 that we are aliens and strangers here on
earth. When I go to a foreign country, I
am usually excited about the opportunity, but it is not long before I long to
get back here to
Conclusion: And this is possible to do. Why? Because of God’s great love for us. God’s impact of his love for us in Jesus made it possible for me to be his child and a part of his family.