Community & Discipleship

The Proper Perspective in Times of Pain (1 Pe. 4:1~11)

2014.11.16Rev. Eddie Byun

Love Christ more than comfort, leave the world behind, and live with the end in mind; then pain is seen with the proper perspective of faith. Hold to Jesus, who gives meaning and hope in our suffering.

Choose Christ over comfort in pain (1-2)

Peter says that since Christ suffered in the flesh, we should arm ourselves with the same way of thinking. Suffering comes with carrying the cross, and it is a part of following the Savior. Suffering does not mean we are finished with sin, but when we choose to please God over our flesh in the midst of pain, we overcome a major source of temptation. Our default is to seek relief first, but true comfort and peace for the soul are found only in Christ, not in things like ice cream or shopping. The testimony of John Yakabuku, who was attacked by Boko Haram militants in Nigeria, shows this. Even after losing his hands and suffering other wounds, he refused to renounce Christ and said, Jesus is my strength, protector, and comforter.

Leave the world behind for true treasure (3-6)

The time spent living for fleshly desires should be over for those who belong to Christ. When we stop following the world's pleasures, friends may wonder why we no longer join them, and that is because we love Jesus. The prosperity gospel chases the same broken toys as the world, but our possessions are gifts from God, to be used to spread the gospel and help the poor and vulnerable. A film producer who funded Trade of Innocence after seeing child trafficking in Cambodia, and a businessman in Thailand who built a water plant for rural villages, show what it looks like to be a blessing with what God has given. Faith lets us see true reality, distinguishing real treasure from temporary trash, and we will all give an account to God one day. The gospel is needed by believers every day, since we never outgrow it.

Live with eternity in view (7-11)

Peter reminds us that the end of all things is near, so we must be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer. Prayer is an investment in God's kingdom, and Billy Graham said that if he could live again, he would study the Bible more and pray more. Living with the end in mind also means loving God and others earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins, and showing hospitality without grumbling. It also means using our gifts to serve the church, so that in everything God is glorified through Jesus Christ. The road of Calvary includes pain, loss, and even crucifixion, but it does not end there, because following Jesus ends in resurrection and glory.

Looking to Jesus gives meaning to pain

Brittany Maynard chose to end her life in Oregon after learning she had a brain tumor, and she did not know Christ. In contrast, Clayton McDonald, a teenager who died of the same kind of tumor, saw his illness as a gift that let him share the gospel with others. How we see Christ determines how we see our pain. God, who knows our pain, sins, and failures, sent his Son Jesus to die for us so that we can have real life with God forever. There is a purpose behind every pain, and there is a healer, redeemer, and savior, whose name is Jesus. Look to him and he will walk you through the dark days.

Apply to Life

  • Let us choose to love Christ more than comfort when we are in pain.
  • Let us leave the world behind and treasure Christ above its toys.
  • Let us use what God has given us to be a blessing to others and to the poor.
  • Let us live with the end in mind by praying faithfully and loving God and others earnestly.
  • Let us use our gifts to serve the church so that God is glorified through our lives.

This summary was made automatically from the sermon's captions and may differ from the sermon.

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