Everything we need

3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

- 2 Peter 1:3

To quote a friend of mine - "You could give me everything I need to build a shed, and yet I guarantee that I still wouldn't be able to build it."

In other words, it's not enough to simply have everything we need to be a Christian. Instead we must "make every effort" (v. 5) to do the things that Paul lists - add faith, goodness, knowledge etc.

Why? "To make (our) calling and election sure" (v. 10). I don't think this means that we will fail to get into heaven if we don't. Rather I think it means that failure to do these things will lead to us finding ourselves in the position Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 3:15.

12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

- 1 Corinthians 3:12-15