Why Does Behavior Matter?

1 Peter 3:8-17

As a Christian, your behavior matters. Not because of the law, for Christ fulfilled the law and thus we are no longer required to live up to the law of Moses. We are required, however, to live according to the law of Christ. This comes from Jesus’ teachings in the gospels but can be summed up in Mark 12:30-31: love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. Love is a verb, as per God’s defintion of it, proved by the cross. So, what does it mean to love? It means to act in such a way that those around you are better off because you were there. Behavior matters. Peter echoes the same idea in today’s passage as he summarizes the last few weeks—looking at the roles we have in life—and point it all to the hard reality: your life is a display that God uses to attract people to Himself. The faith that you have, while personal, is not private. It is meant to be seen and responded to.

Behavior Starts with Church Family

Unity is an interesting thing. We all want it, at least when we think on a national scale, but can only seem to even come close during tragedy. If you were alive for 9/11, you’ll remember how in the aftermath of the attacks our country truly came together and was fairly unified. The tragedy of those attacks softened our hearts enough to come together as one nation, but it was not to last; the Patriot Act showed that even in our unity, there was division, and by the time we invaded Iraq in 2003 the chasm of public opinion was fully split and still hasn’t rebounded. Unity, like love, while often treated as an experience, is an action. It is a choice to look beyond uniformity (everyone having the same opinion or being the same) to the deeper connections that bring us together. In Greek, that word for “unity of mind” is “homophrones” or, in English, homophone. A word that looks different but sounds the same (heel and heal). Unity may look different but sound the same. It sounds like sympathy, love, tenderness, and humility. And it starts here…with each other. My old pastor still finds time to meet up with me and take me out to ice cream just like we used to. It is such a blessing to be back with one of my shepherds again. Greg has plenty of other things to do but he still chooses to give me time. Blessing each other matters. Behavior starts with family.

Behavior Makes a Scene

But it doesn’t stay only with family. Others are watching and they are asking why they should care. Just like in marketing, we must consider that question of what’s in it for me, because that’s what non-believers in your life are asking. What’s in it for me in Christianity? Why should I follow Jesus? You can’t answer that with logic or persuasiveness because they aren’t listening for your thesis or argument. What they are doing is watching you. Remember that 80s commercial with the dad who yells at the kid when caught doing drugs? The kid screams, “I learned it by watching you!” The non-believers in your life are learning about faith not by what you say, but what you do. Your actions, your behavior. It matters. This is why suffering is so important. They are looking to see if you do in fact mean it – is Christ the Lord of your life? Do you truly honor Him? It is your behavior, your actions that will tell your truth. Elisabeth Elliot, wife of famous martyr Jim Elliot returned to the Ecuadorian jungle and those who killed her husband—with their 10mo daughter!!—to live among and share the Gospel with the Waorani people. She looked her husband’s murderers in the face and offered them life and forgiveness in Christ. Many of them, including some of Jim’s killers, turned to Christ. They are watching; Godly behavior makes a scene.

Next Steps

Elisabeth probably didn’t write out or plan how she’d respond to those who murdered Jim. She simply focused on God and let Him work through her. She let God use her life for His glory and her faith journey – I highly suggest you check it out. Your faith is personal, but not private. It is made to be seen.

1. Invite people in here to meet together out there. Bless someone in this room today.
2. Ask God for understanding of what the people in your life need to see to be drawn to Christ, then put that into practice.
3. Seek Christ first – none of this can happen if He isn’t your all in all.

This is the point of the book of Job – it is all about God’s desire to show His people off to the world. Your faith is personal, but not private. God wants to be seen in your life. Behavior matters. Let your light shine.