1 Peter 4: Time is Short, Love Others

August 2025

The end of the world? This may immediately make us think of doomsday signs or basements full of supplies. Is this where the Bible tells us to invest in gold, secure our homes, and learn survival skills? Peter's audience has been facing hardships. They are exiles, some physically, but all cultural exiles (1:1). They have "brief in all kinds of trials" (1:6). They've been accused of doing wrong (2:12). Much of the suffering is unjust and the accusations inaccurate (2:19). Things have been hard for them, and may be hard for us. Peter knows they must hang on only a finite amount of time. Someday, every circumstance we are in and every difficulty we face will be over. Peter encourages his audience to be alert, love each other deeply, and use their abilities to serve.

If you were facing the end of the world, what would be helpful? The end of the world makes me think of the movie 12 Monkeys starring Bruce Willis. In the film, a global virus has killed most of humanity and forced the survivors to live underground. Willis's character wears a crazy suit to protect himself as he explores for clues on how this happened and how to fix it. Since it is a sci-fi movie, the characters decide to travel back in time and stop the pandemic. Spoiler, they fail. They fail because for much of the time, they are focused on the wrong things. Their judgment and assessment of how the world went wrong are inaccurate and they pursue the wrong causes. Another reason they fail is due to so many things outside their control. The main character gets shot and this injury significantly slows down his progress. Other people do not believe them and interfere. They are not even sure the people they work for can be trusted. I am sympathetic. Even when you see the direction the world is going, what can you do about it? Peter's wisdom comes from focusing on things which help no matter what lies ahead. He prioritizes things within our power and control.

Notice the two attitudes Peter suggests, "alert" and "sober mind". He recommends these so we can pray. Unlike 12 Monkeys, we can appeal to an all-powerful God. He has abilities and power we lack. God may affect change far beyond what we're capable. Let's explore what these attitudes mean.

Alert: calm, collected, aware, watchful. (The opposite of drunk.)

This same word is used in contrast with being asleep:

Alertness is the antithetical of being out-of-it, dull, sleepy, or zoned out. It's easy for us to drift through life on mental auto-pilot. Peter is calling for the opposite. In the next chapter, he uses the word again:

Imagine you are walking in the woods and a lion is stalking you. You would immediately be on guard, looking for ways to escape, paying attention to every detail. I'd be analyzing shadows and bend in the path for danger! You would not presume everything is OK and blithely keep walking. This is the sense of watchfulness and attention Peter is going for. While we may be tempted to panic, anxiety, or fear when we think about our time being short. Instead, we should be watchful and ready.

The second word is similar to the first but emphasizes our judgment:
Sober mind: sound thinking, not off-track, deceived, or clouded thinking.

This is used of people's thinking when they are no longer demon possessed (Luke 8:35). When possessed their thinking was muddled and oppressed. After they are set free, their thinking is clear again. Paul exhorts us to this attitude also:

A sober mind includes accurate thinking about ourselves. Humility is viewing ourselves correctly. Pride is viewing ourselves as better than we really are and insecurity is viewing ourselves as worse. Neither are sound judgment. The Bible wants us to have a realistic view of the world and ourselves.

Unfortunately, this is a quality young men tend to lack! Paul tells Titus to "urge the young men to be sensible" (Titus 2:6). Young men do not tend to make wise decisions or determine risk accurately. They need to be taught sound thinking.

Discuss: Why would Peter call out these two attitudes? How would they be useful?

Peter says the most important thing, above all, is to love each other deeply. Is this really the biggest priority? Sure, no one argues against loving people or that it is a bad thing. But is it the most important thing? What about accomplishments? Or making a difference in the world? Or providing for our families? What about squeezing what we can out of life if time is short?

In Christianity, love is the greatest priority and the central ethic. Consider Jesus's response when asked what is the most important commandment:

The first most important thing is loving God. The second most important thing is loving others. In the Bible, love is central. It's all about love, love, love. This verse extends this message with an interesting point: love covers a multitude of sins.

Discuss: Peter claims love covers a multitude of sins? In what ways does love make up for other flaws or shortcomings?

Christians also have the ultimate example of prioritizing love in the person and life of Jesus. Look what Peter said back in chapter two:

Jesus suffered unjustly, like Peter's audience, like us. He did not retaliate. He did not threaten or overpower people, even though he could. He instead used his love to cover a multitude of our sins. On the cross, he decided to forgive us and initiate a loving relationship with us, instead of hold us accountable to the wrong things we have done. We often drift in life, forgetting what's important and making mistakes. We get lost. But Jesus seeks to reunite us with God our Father. To God, love is the most important thing.

Loving deeply is sometimes translated loving fervently. This suggests maximum effort. Think about the effort of running. Could you run across the street? Sure. How about down the block? Yeah. What about a half marathon? Not everyone can, because you cannot casually run a half marathon. You need effort and practice. Anyone can love others casually. It's not hard to be patient with your family for twenty minutes. Or to be polite to a neighbor once a month. This is not deep love. Peter is exhorting a love which takes effort, which is more meaningful.

Discuss: How does a Christian community like ours show love to each other?

The community we have is one of the things I want most for people who don't have it. This community has people who were in my wedding. People who were at the hospital for the birth of my first child. People in my Christian community are genuinely interested in me: my life, my concerns, my thoughts. If anything were to happen to me, I am secure in the knowledge my community would jump in to help or look out for my family. For those who may not immediately have ideas on how to love others, Peter ends with several concrete examples.

Hospitality is offering your home to others. We are in a phase of life where this is an endless need. Between sports teams, youth groups, and social events, there is a never-ending number of asks for hosting and meals.

Next, Peter throws out two general categories: speaking abilities and serving abilities. His list is not exhaustive. Speaking abilities include encouraging, teaching, exhorting, and applying truth to someone's situation. Perhaps you've noticed something good about someone. Encourage them. Maybe you've studied a certain subject. Teach it. Have you been fired up about a topic that's important? Exhort us about it.

Service abilities are things like being handy, helpful, administrative, or a generous giver. If you are competent with cars or home repair, there's a lot of good you could do for others. Can you decorate well or cook? Help out. Do you know how to organize a quality event? Please do. The point Peter is making is to get us to reflect. What do you have? What could you do?

Because the end is near, Christians should live with watchful prayer. We should be fervent in love, generous with hospitality, and faithful with service, so that God may be glorified. People look to us to see what God thinks is important. Time is short. Loving others is the most important. Don't be fooled by other things.