“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. “1 Peter 4:10-11
As someone who had walked with Jesus and heard him talk about how God is a heavenly Father who delights to give good gifts to his children, apostle Peter takes it for granted that every Christian has received a gift from a good, gracious and generous Father. It is also important to note that these gifts are varied – which means we all don’t receive the same gifts. It is from this understanding the apostle admonishes his readers in these two verses.
Ordinarily, when one receives a gift, they use it on themselves. However, here in our text, Peter tells Christians to use whatever gifts they have received to serve one another as good stewards. This throws light on the countercultural nature of the Christian faith. The world often makes much of us as individuals, but in the Kingdom of God, the body of Christ is the focus of God’s redemptive plan.
And so, Peter tells his readers that the reason why they have been given a gift is so that they can serve others. Which means the best way to identify your gift as a Christian is to serve the needs that are closest to you. As you serve those needs, it will become apparent in which areas God has gifted you to serve his body. The present-day emphasis on an individualistic walk with God in certain Christians circles is not Scriptural.
The apostle also speaks about the concept of stewardship in verse 10. As Christians, we will one day all appear before the glorious throne to give an account of how we have used whatever gifts our gracious Heavenly Father has given us. And Peter wants his readers to be aware as they use their gifts.
Finally, Peter tells his readers that the ultimate reason for their gifts is that “God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.“ This begs the question, is your gift being used to the glory of God? Within Christendom today, there is undoubtedly a very strong emphasis on identifying one’s gift. But the question is whether we are thinking about gifts the same way Peter wants us to think about them; and whether we are using whatever gift we have received for its intended purpose.
Regardless of what gift we’ve received, the end goal should be to the glory of God. May the Lord help us as we seek to honour him with our lives.
