1 Peter 3:8-12

8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. 10 For the Scriptures say,

“If you want to enjoy life
    and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil
    and your lips from telling lies.
11 Turn away from evil and do good.
    Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
    and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
    against those who do evil.

As we started this section on submission Peter began first with a call to submit rightly to governing authorities, second he talked to us about submission and our superiors, and what it looks like to walking out God’s Will in the workplace. Third he talked to us out submission in our most sacred relationship,  reminding us that marriage matters. Lastly he is going to call us to submit rightly in our regular everyday relationships. Many of us struggle with submission and look at it as something just to survive through but the truth is that God’s plan isn’t for you to survive life it’s to thrive in life. God’s plan is for you to prosper and be productive, and there is something inside every one of us that desires and drives us to pursue prosperity. That’s why people play the Power ball, they are willing to gamble at great odds in the unrealistic chance of success.  We all want to live the life, so we chase after the American dream of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.  The problem is not prosperity, its our definition of prosperity and the plan we chose to pursue to find it. Society tells us to seek the path of self, but scripture tells us to seek the path of the Savior. The real question is what are you pursuing and what path are you taking to get there? The world tells us that success and satisfaction is found in the stuff but the Word tells us it’s not about the possessions it’s about people. True treasure is found in relationships not in riches.  This is what Peter is calling us to pursue, the real riches which are our relationships.  But if we want rich relationships, it requires us to respond rightly. What about you what are you pursuing? There are only two things that are eternal souls and scripture. Are you investing in smoke and sand or that which will stand the test of time?