One of the most remarkable things about our sinful nature is its ability to convince us that we are seeing things clearly when we are not. We naturally view the world through the lens of ourselves—what we want, what makes us comfortable, what makes us happy, and what we think will make our lives better.

The problem is that selfishness doesn't always show up in obvious ways. Sometimes it quietly works its way into how we think, even into how we read the Bible.

We can approach Scripture asking, "What does this mean for me? How can this make my life better? What does God want to give me?" Those aren't necessarily bad questions, but perhaps they aren't the first questions we should ask. Instead of "What's in it for me", I should first ask, "What does God want?" 

Think about the Garden of Eden.

When we picture paradise, we tend to picture a place where everything is about our comfort: no pain, no sickness, no sorrow, no stress, no problems, and plenty of time to simply enjoy ourselves. And Eden really was paradise. God created it, provided everything Adam needed, and called His creation "very good" (Genesis 1:31).

But Adam wasn't created to sit around doing nothing. God gave him a purpose. Genesis 2:15 tells us that God placed Adam in the garden "to work it and keep it." He was given responsibility over God's creation. He had a relationship with God, a calling, and a command to obey. There was even a boundary he was not to cross (Genesis 2:16–17).

There was work in paradise. There were responsibilities in paradise. There were rules in paradise.

And it was still paradise.

Maybe that should change the way we think about life. We tend to measure goodness by how much pleasure something gives us and how little discomfort it causes. But God didn't create us merely to be comfortable. He created us to know Him, serve Him, obey Him, and glorify Him.

We can become consumed with what the church does for us—the music we like, the preaching we prefer, the programs we want, the schedule that's convenient for our family, the people who make us comfortable. None of those things are inherently wrong. But when church becomes primarily about what I receive, I can easily become a spectator rather than a servant.

God didn't save us simply to fill a seat. He has given each of us opportunities, abilities, and responsibilities to serve Him and serve His people. Scripture describes the church as the body of Christ, with each member having a role to fulfill (1 Corinthians 12:12–27). Peter tells believers to use whatever gifts they have received to serve one another (1 Peter 4:10).

Sometimes that service is enjoyable. Sometimes it is inconvenient. Sometimes nobody notices.

But the question isn't always, "Do I enjoy this?"

The better question is, "Does this please God?"

That question matters far beyond church. It affects how we respond when God's Word confronts us. It affects how we handle our money, relationships, time, priorities, and desires. It even affects how we interpret Scripture.

If we emphasize what we like and minimize what makes us uncomfortable, we bend Scripture toward our preferences rather than allowing Scripture to reshape us. We may not reject what the Bible says, but sometimes we simply try to make it say what we want it to say.

That is essentially the problem we see in Eden. Adam and Eve weren't living in a miserable world from which they needed to escape. They had everything they needed. But they chose what they wanted over what God had said (Genesis 3:1–6). Humanity has been repeating that pattern ever since.

So perhaps we should occasionally stop and ask ourselves a difficult question:
Am I trying to please God, or am I trying to get God to please me?

The answer may reveal more about our hearts than we want to admit.

The Christian life isn't ultimately about building a life that pleases me. It is about living a life that pleases God. Paul reminds us, "Whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).

And the remarkable thing is that when we stop making ourselves the center, we don't lose our joy. We find it in the place God intended all along—not in getting everything we want, but in knowing Him, serving Him, and living for His glory.

The next time we open our Bibles, we should resist the temptation to begin with, "What do I want this to say?"

Instead, let's begin with a better question:
"God, what have You said—and am I willing to obey it?"

Perhaps that's the question we should be asking more often.

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.