I like to do good things for people. But I'm constantly warned with, "You know that people will try to take advantage of you." After all, no good deed goes unpunished. I'm reminded that people should learn how to take care of themselves, and pull their own weight (more exactly, what WE think is their own weight).
I'd also like to think that If I only do what's right and good, that everyone will like me. I'll be everyone's favorite person. Who doesn't like someone who is perpetually kind, good, and honest?
Well, it turns out a lot of people don't like that kind of person. In fact, a lot of people get downright angry when they come across a "good" person. There's something about a "good" person that is offensive to them. With many of those same people, the anger grows exponentially when they find out that same "good" person is a Christian. If being good, or a Christian, isn't going to make life any better on this planet why should I bother?
What good is it to be good, and do good?
Nice guys finish last. No good deed goes unpunished. If anyone thought that being a good person was rewarding, they'd have to be foolishly idealistic, right?
Maybe not.
Peter writes the following:
“Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?” (1 Peter 3:13, ESV)
The way the question is posed, it demands that the answer be "no one." Was Peter simply being foolish and idealistic? After all, "followers of good" get hurt by people all the time. Didn't Paul write that all those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:12)? Where does Peter's apparently unfounded optimism come from?
If you stopped here, you might think Peter was being naive. You might think that he had his head in the sand. After all, good people get harmed all the time!
But Peter had some unique qualifications to be able to write those words. In Acts 4:1-3, we read that very early on Peter was arrested for preaching "in Jesus the resurrection of the dead." Only a few minutes earlier Peter had healed a lame man (cf. Acts 3:6-8). After being questioned, and while being released with the instructions not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus, Peter said, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."
Again, in Acts 5:17-18, the jealousy of the Sadducees was stirred up against Peter and the Apostles, and they were imprisoned. Acts 8 describes how a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem, and surely Peter was present during that time. Likewise, in Acts 12:1-5 we see Peter being arrested again at the whim of Herod, and even how he lost a man who was likely a dear friend - James the brother of John (cf. Matthew 17:1; Mark 5:37, 14:33; - at least ten times, Peter, James and John are listed together). Peter likely feared for his life, but was again freed (by an angel, vs. 6-9)
Let's go back to Peter's original statement: “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?” Peter wasn't being foolishly idealistic. He was being sincere. We understand that from verse 14:
“But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,” (1 Peter 3:14, ESV)
Peter doesn't say that we will never suffer for doing good. In fact, he's fully aware that we might suffer; That doing good might cost us something. Instead, he's encouraging them (and us) not to be afraid to do good! Don't let the world talk you out of being "zealous for good" and being a righteous person because of the consequences it might bring.
Maybe instead of avoiding good because we afraid of inconvenience and suffering we should do more good and relish the suffering (cf. Acts 5:41). And if you aren't suffering because you're doing good - maybe you aren't doing enough good!
Just a thought.
-Daniel
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