What does it mean to live the “good life”? For many, it’s the pursuit of happiness — enough money to enjoy life, a comfortable home, good health, and meaningful relationships. But what if God’s definition of the good life looks nothing like what the world promises?
On this Memorial Day weekend, Pastor Josh White walked us through 1 Peter 3:8-12, where the apostle Peter gives us a countercultural picture of what it truly means to experience the good life.
The World’s Definition vs. God’s Definition
The world tells us the good life is found in possessions, financial security, and personal comfort. We work hard hoping that accumulation will finally bring contentment — but there’s always something newer, something better just around the corner. The target keeps moving.
Peter writes in the middle of a section where he’s teaching Christians how to endure suffering and live faithfully in a hostile world. And his answer to the question “How do we actually experience the good life?” is surprising: it has nothing to do with what you accumulate.
Three Commitments for the Good Life
Peter gives us three commitments that, when kept, lead us into the good life God intends for His people.
1. Commitment to Truth
First Peter 3:9 says we are to “walk in the truth.” But what does that look like in practice? Pastor Josh noted something convicting: the number one fear in America right now is that people don’t trust the media. We live in a culture of spin, exaggeration, and outright deception.
Yet there’s a difference between facts and truth. Facts change all the time — they’re conditional and temporary. Truth, however, never changes because it’s rooted in the character of God Himself.
“Love truth and peace.”
— Zechariah 8:16
Speaking truth requires courage, especially when it’s uncomfortable. But it’s the foundation of healthy relationships — with God and with others.
2. Commitment to Righteousness
Peter continues with a command we find repeated throughout Scripture:
“Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
— 1 Peter 3:11
Righteousness isn’t just about avoiding bad things — it’s actively pursuing good. Pastor Josh shared the vivid picture from Psalm 34 of what wickedness produces: chaos, lies, and discord among people. Sin is destructive. It doesn’t just hurt others — it devastates the one practicing it too.
When we commit to righteousness, we experience the goodness of God in our lives. The fruit of righteousness is peace (Psalm 34:14).
3. Commitment to Peace
The third commitment flows naturally from the first two. Peter says we are to “live peacefully with everyone” (Romans 12:18). This isn’t passive — it’s active pursuit. We seek peace not because everyone deserves it, but because God calls us to be agents of reconciliation.
“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
— 1 Peter 3:12
God’s eyes are on those who pursue righteousness and peace. That’s a remarkable promise — and a powerful incentive to keep these commitments.
So What?
At the end of the day, the good life is not about getting more. It’s about having a right relationship with our Heavenly Father — one marked by truth-telling, righteous living, and peacemaking.
This Memorial Day weekend, as we remember those who gave their lives for our freedom, let’s also remember the greater freedom we have in Christ. The good life isn’t waiting at the end of your next purchase or achievement. It’s found in fellowship with the God who loves you, sent His Son to redeem you, and invites you into an eternal relationship that nothing in this world can offer or take away.
May we commit ourselves to walking in truth, pursuing righteousness, and seeking peace — not just this holiday weekend, but every day.
Scripture References
- 1 Peter 3:8-12 — Peter’s teaching on the good life
- Zechariah 8:16-17 — Walk in truth and love
- Psalm 34:14 — Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it
- Romans 12:18 — Live peacefully with everyone