First Peter 4:7 reminds us that the end of all things is at hand. With that knowledge, Peter instructs on the proper way to order our lives. Yesterday, we noted that we should be self-controlled. Next, Peter says we should be “…sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.” To be sober-minded doesn’t mean we lack humor, but it does mean we understand there is a seriousness to life and eternity. A sober-minded person is a circumspect, well-balanced individual. This attribute goes hand-in-hand with self-control.
As Christians, our behavior and mindset are guided by God’s Word. We should not yield to the excesses of the world, be pulled away by the fleeting pleasures of sin, or allow ourselves to be distracted by the merely temporal and carnal. Our mindset should be focused on eternity, not just the present moment. If we develop a sober-mindedness towards godliness, then we can be ready for the end of this life and the beginning of eternity.