Lesson 16

When It Just "Ain’t Fair!"

I Peter 3:3-17

We all want life to be fair. We want the good guys to win and the bad guys to go to jail. We want the best team to win. We want the righteous to be rewarded and the wicked to be judged.

From the time we were very young, we all have a strong sense of fairness. We tend to remember those times when we were treated unfairly by a teacher, a coach, a parent or an adult.

We want our parents to be fair, our bosses. We want life to be fair!

As Christians, we believe that ultimately things will turn out righteously. The eyes of the Lord see our righteous deeds and understand the motives of our heart. And someday, He will make it all right. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28).

But in the meantime, sometimes life ain’t fair. The best team doesn’t always win; the best guy doesn’t always get the promotion and get the raise. The umpire doesn’t always make the right call. The teacher, the parent don’t always have all the facts. The jury doesn’t always reach the right verdict. This life isn’t always fair.

Peter wrote his first epistle to some Christians for whom this life was difficult. In this letter, he urges them to look up and see the coming glory. He challenges them to maintain always the right attitude. He warns them that persecution may be coming and instructs them about how to respond when it does.

In 3:13-17, our text for today’s message, Peter writes about those times when life is unfair and teaches us how to respond. So how do you respond to unfair treatment? Do you handle it well? Do you have a over-sensitive sense of fairness? How do you respond when life is unfair? How should you respond? In this text, there is a list of 7 "Do’s and Don’t’s" when it comes to how to handle unfairness in life.

Don’t Bring Hostility On Yourself, v. 13

In verse 13, Peter lays down a general principle in the form of a rhetorical question with an implied answer. "And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?" In other words, most people find it difficult to mistreat those who are fervent in doing good. The word for those who do good has to do with being gracious, unselfish, kind. "Followers" is a word for being zealous and passionate. If you are zealous and passionate about being gracious and kind, most people will find it difficult to mistreat you. Some people are mean and rude with their Christianity - walking around with a Christian chip on their soldier - and they oblivious as to why they are treated with hostility and claimed that they are being persecuted. Peter’s point from this question is an implied principle - Don’t Bring Hostility On Yourself.

Don’t Be Surprised If Suffering Still Comes, v. 14a.

Goodness isn’t a guarantee against suffering and persecution. (Think about Jesus). The possibility of suffering exists (even for righteousness sake). we shouldn’t be surprised if suffering comes. The word for "happy" has to do with being blessed. In fact, this same word is used in Luke 1:42 where the angel of the Lord says to Mary. "Blessed art thou among women" and has to do with honor and privilege. Peter is saying that suffering is possibility but that suffering is also a privilege. (Read Matthew 5:10-12).

Don’t bring hostility on yourself but don’t be surprised if it comes.

Don’t Panic Or Worry When Suffering Comes, 14b.

The natural thing to follow the possibility of suffering is worry and panic. Peter knows this and so he says, "Be not afraid (panic) neither be troubled (worried)".

For a Christian, suffering is not a cause for panic or worry. God’s grace is sufficient. Paul said, "Let the peace of God rule in your heart" (Colossians 3:15).

Submit To The Lordship Of Christ, v.15.

This is a tough phrase to understand - "Sanctify the Lord ... God in your heart." The Lord refers to Jesus. Sanctify has to do with setting apart. Peter is saying, "In your heart, set apart Jesus as God", that is, make sure that you are practicing the Lordship of Christ. Submission to Christ as Lord yields courage, boldness and fortitude in the midst of hostility. Make sure that you are practicing the Lordship of Christ. In tough and unfair times, we have a tendency to want to take control of our own lives. Peter reminds us to submit to the Lordship of Christ, even if that means suffering.

Be Ready To Defend The Faith, 15b.

"Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" The word for "answer" means a defense.

Persecution is a tremendous opportunity for witnessing. So...

*When will you give a defense? - "be ready always"

*To whom will you give a defense? - "every man that asketh you"

*What should be your answer? - "a reason of the hope that is in you" = a word about your Christian faith.

*How should you answer? - "with meekness (that’s graciousness, gentleness and humility) and fear (that’s respectfulness - not being quarrelsome, debating or argumentative. Defend your faith without sounding defensive.

Keep Your Conscience Clear, v. 6.

The "good conscience" that we should have is being guilt free. Guilt free living produces tranquility in your heart even when you are being slandered. Keep your conscience clear so that even if you are falsely accused of evil, your good behavior will cause those who falsely accuse you to be ashamed. By maintaining a clear conscience, the insulter looks bad instead of the insulted.

Don’t Let Suffering Lead To Sin, v. 17.

For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

According to Peter, suffering may very well be part of God’s plan for you (vs. prosperity theology). And Peter adds that if you are going to suffer, better to suffer for doing what is right, better to be treated unfairly, than to be suffering for sin.

Suffering injustice is better than committing sin.

When it just "ain’t fair", here’s how to respond:

Don’t Bring Hostility On Yourself

Don’t Be Surprised

Don’t Panic Or Worry

Submit To The Lordship Of Christ

Be Ready To Defend Your Faith

Keep Your Conscience Clear

Don’t Let Suffering Lead To Sin