Blessed to Be a Blessing

Over the last two Sundays, we have been walking through 1 Peter 3:9–14 and thinking about how to respond to suffering, mistreatment, and opposition as followers of Christ.

There is one thought from those passages that I kept coming back to after the message. It has to do with one little word: Blessed.

Peter says in 1 Peter 3:9:
“Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”

Then, just a few verses later, he says:
“But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed.”
— 1 Peter 3:14

In English, we use the same word—‘bless’ or ‘blessed’—but Peter is actually using different Greek words that help us see something we can easily miss in translation.

We Are Called to Bless - (eulogeō)
The word Peter uses in 1 Peter 3:9 for “bless” is the Greek verb eulogeō (εὐλογέω). It describes an action. Peter isn't merely telling us to have a positive attitude toward people who mistreat us. He is commanding us to actively bless them. Peter has just told his readers not to repay evil with evil or insult with insult. Instead, when someone speaks against you, mistreats you, or does you wrong, the Christian response is to bless.

Peter says: “For to this you were called.” In other words, this isn't an optional extra for particularly gracious Christians. This is part of what we have been called to be. And that raises an interesting question: Why should we bless people who don't deserve it?

God Is Worthy of Blessing - (eulogētos)
The answer becomes even more interesting when we look at the related Greek word eulogētos (εὐλογητός), which is an adjective translated as “blessed” and used in the New Testament in expressions of praise to God. For example, Peter begins this letter by saying: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!” — 1 Peter 1:3

God is eulogētos. He is worthy of blessing, praise, honor, and worship. We don't bless God because He needs something from us. We bless Him because He is holy and worthy and good. He is deserving of all praise. And here is where the command of 1 Peter 3:9 becomes so interesting. The same Greek word family used to praise the God who is perfectly worthy of praise is the verb Peter uses when commanding us to bless people who may be completely unworthy of it.

The person who insults you may not be worthy of your praise. The person who treats you unfairly may not deserve your kindness. The person who persecutes you may certainly not deserve to be rewarded for their behavior. And yet Peter says: Bless.

We Are Blessed - (μακάριος)
Now look at 1 Peter 3:14: “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed.” Here Peter uses a different Greek word: makarios (μακάριος). This is the word we see throughout the New Testament when describing someone as blessed—a person who is in a blessed or favored condition before God.

Jesus uses this word repeatedly in the Beatitudes:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit…”
“Blessed are those who mourn…”
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake…”

The point isn't necessarily that their circumstances are pleasant. They are poor, grieving, persecuted, and suffering. And yet Jesus calls them blessed.

That is exactly what Peter is saying.
You may suffer for doing what is right.
You may be mistreated because you follow Christ.
You may bless someone who doesn't deserve your blessing.
And yet you are blessed.

Your circumstances don't determine whether you are blessed. God does.

Blessed to Be a Blessing
Here is the pattern: God blesses His people, and His people become a blessing to others.

We don't bless people because they have earned it.
We bless because we have received something we never could have earned.
We have experienced God's grace.
We have received forgiveness we didn't deserve.
We have been shown mercy.
We have been blessed by a God who is completely worthy of our praise.
And now He calls us to extend that grace—even toward people who don't deserve it.

Peter doesn't tell us to pretend that evil isn't evil. He doesn't tell us that injustice doesn't matter. He doesn't tell us that suffering isn't painful. He tells us something much harder: Don't become like the person who hurt you. Don't repay evil with evil. Don't answer insult with insult. Instead, bless.

Even if doing what is right costs you something—even if you suffer for righteousness' sake—Peter says: You are blessed. "For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil" - 1 Peter 3:17

The question we need to ask ourselves daily is this: “How can I reflect the blessing and grace that God has already shown me?” Because the Christian life is not simply about being blessed. It is also about becoming a blessing to others.

We bless because we have been blessed.