1 Peter 4:14-16
14 If [ei] ye be reproached [oneidizo] for [en] the name [onoma] of Christ [Christos], happy
[makarios] are ye; for [hoti] the spirit [pneuma] of
glory [doxa] and [kai] of God [theos] resteth [anapauo] upon [epi] you [humas]: on [kata] [men] their part [autos] he is
evil spoken of [blasphemeo], but [de] on [kata] your part [humas] he is glorified [doxazo].
15 But [gar] let [pascho] none [me] [tis] of you [humon] suffer [pascho] as [hos] a murderer [phoneus], or [e] as a thief [kleptes], or [e] as an evildoer [kakopoios], or [e] as [hos] a busybody in other men's matters [allotriepiskopos].
16 Yet [de] if [ei] any man suffer as [hos] a
Christian [Christianos], let him [aischuno] not [me] be ashamed [aischuno]; but [de] let him glorify [doxazo] God [theos] on [en] this [touto] behalf [meros]. KJV-Interlinear
14 If you are reviled for the
name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests
upon you. 15 By no means let any of you
suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let
him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God. NASB
Everyone who has ever
lived in this world, or will ever live in this world, will be the object of
hate, derision, prejudice, rejection, scorn, disdain, loathed, detested, and so
forth.We are but pawns in this devils
world, and innocent victims caught up in a war between Satan and God.
That is the policy of
Satan, and therefore of the world.
Arrogance is His foundation and hate is his motivation. In order to defeat God Satan has to destroy
everyone.
So, evil is never going
to be your friend.
Satan has many devices
and methods to destroy you.In some
cases he will use prosperity, talent, elitism and such. In most cases, he will use poverty, or
enticements, or frustration.
The best and most
effective tool that Satan has against truth, is the lie. And, Satan has
saturated this world with religions, and even non-religions, in order to
dilute, blur, and render ambiguous, the truths of God.
Regardless of your position
in life, regarding truth, philosophy, religion, or whatever, you will be a
victim of the world, sooner or later.
And there, is the reason for these verses.
You are going to be
slandered, ridiculed, harassed, and not in person, but in principle. That is to say, the policies of the world, as
sponsored by Satan, and more obviously by people who pursue the policies of
lies.The philosophies of government and
society in general create policies and views that will have an impact on public
policy, and that will sooner or later, affect you and your life.
Whether the price of
bread or fuel, or the interest rates, the availability of an education, the
opportunity to even pursue your dreams, or even have friends and a social life,
all of these things affect your life, and are affected by the views of society.
You are a victim,
whether you recognize it or not.Whether
you are a billionaire, or just like everyone else, makes no difference.
The big difference
between you and everyone else is your spiritual life, and their lack of one.
God blesses the
believers of the world.God issues
exceptional blessings to advancing believers, and especially mature believers.
Since everyone in the world
is a victim, and since only believers will receive blessings because of this
victim status, then it is by far better to be a believer, than not.
Unbelievers may live in
the world and they will certainly be the target of trouble, if not during their
life, certainly at the end of their life, but they will never be the recipient
of blessing.
Their life is all for
nothing.
You, as a believer,
will be the target of trouble.You will not
be able to escape it.So it is far
better to understand this principle, stick with your spiritual life, and
receive blessings from God, in the many different forms that they will come in,
rather than living in this world just as unbelievers do (out of fellowship),
get hammered from time to time, and get nothing out of it.
You do not have to be
the recipient of direct hatred. No one has to come up to you and slap you in the
face.Most of your suffering will be of
the indirect kind, where you will be caught up in the worlds troubles, like in
a bad economy.
Nothing is aimed at you
personally, but the world will treat you as just another steer in a long line
heading toward the slaughterhouse.
So, don t get caught up
in sin, don t be a liar, a gossip, a criminal, and so forth. Don t become part of the problem. And certainly do not get upset at life, when
life goes wrong.
Remember, this is the
devils world, and yet God is able to deliver you through all sorts of
difficulties, regardless of what the world throws at you. Your greatest weapon for life, is Bible doctrine
in your soul.All you have to do is get
it into yourself, by staying the course, and letting God do the rest.