1 Peter 3:13-17, Cautiousness vs. rashness (2)

c)    “Right timing” can be as simple as …

i)      Prov. 25:17: not overstaying or visiting too often at your neighbor’s house.

ii)   Prov. 24:27: being wise in your work priorities.  Get things planted in the field first; then start working on your house.

d)    For followers of Christ who are involved in making disciples of all nations, timing is critical.  For example:

i)      There is an urgency about the gospel.  In 2 Cor. 6:2: Paul said that the “day of salvation” prophesied in Isa. 49:8 was “now.”  Paul was cautious about the use of his time, desiring to take “finish (his) race with joy,” which he did (2 Tim. 4:7). 

(1)                        In the OT David often “inquired of God” as to whether it was time to go to war (e.g. 1 Sam. 23:2).  In the NT Paul wanted to know from God when to move and when to stay in his ministry (cf. 1 Cor. 16:5-7; 2 Cor. 1:15-17; 2:1f; 12:14f; 13:1).  David and Paul waited on the Lord!

(2)                        This should be personal for us.  The parable in Luke 19:11-27 is for believers. To each have been given resources to use and we exalt Christ by being faithful servants.  We should use our time well.

ii)   Along with the urgency we must “wait on the LORD (Ps. 27:14).  In 1 Peter 3:15 we are told to “always be ready” to give an answer to those who ask about our hope.  Being ready is an issue of timing. 

(1)                        One summer while at Bible college I worked with a couple of men.  One day while eating our lunch one man raised a question about salvation.  I could hardly wait to set them straight.  The other man gave an answer that revealed his Catholic background.  I assured him he was wrong.  His response was to point out how arrogant I was (and he was right).  The subject of salvation never came up again that summer. 

(2)                        My timing was way off.  Peter says something at the beginning of the verse that is key to being ready: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts…”  If God is set apart in our hearts we are filled with the Spirit, led by the Spirit, and bearing the fruit of the Spirit.  In that context, being ready means that those around us are also ready in their own hearts.  If I had been quiet it is quite likely that someone would have asked: “Ron, what do you have to say?” 

(3)                        If you pay attention to the life of Christ as well as Paul’s ministry you will see this happens regularly.  Let me just remind you of the back-to-back stories in John 3-4: Nicodemus (who came by night to ask Jesus) and the woman at the well (to whom Jesus showed respect so that eventually she brought up the subject of the Messiah).