FRIDAY
Finally this week, Peter calls Christians to use our gifts to serve one another.
1 Peter 4:7–11 7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 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.
Here Peter echoes Paul’s teaching on spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12-14; Rom 12). Each Christian has been given a gift and we are to use our gift to serve one another in the community of faith.
Here he references in broad categories the gifts of speaking (likely including prophecy, preaching and teaching, tongues, exhortation, etc.) and gifts of service (mercy, help, healing, etc.). Those who speak are to do so in the knowledge that they are speaking God’s words to the community of faith. God’s Words are powerful and effective, and not solely the words of the speaker. Those who serve should serve in the knowledge that they are serving in the strength that God has given them, not their own. We are all utterly dependent upon God for everything we do in the church. We get into lots of trouble when we attempt to do church without recognizing our dependence upon Him.
The fact that we have been given a specific gift also doesn’t exclude us from doing the others. For example, because one has been given a speaking gift that doesn’t mean they never have to get their hands dirty and serve. The opposite holds true as well. Yet, the reality is, which we all intrinsically know, each of us has a primary mode of serving the church that suits our gifts.
This is an element of stewarding God’s gracious gifts. God has given us a gift, and as a good steward of it, we must use it. We must use it in service to others, not in self-promotion. This is a matter of the heart that all Christians need to reflect on—are we serving as a form of self-promotion or out of genuine love? Don’t move on to your answer too quickly. Our heart is more deceptive than we think it is on this question. God has been gracious in my life, through many different circumstances, often painful ones, revealing that my service was more out of self-promotion than I had previously thought.
The church functioning like this brings glory to God. When we are self-controlled and sober-minded, love one another earnestly, show hospitality, and serve one another in our gifts we make God look awesome!
Additional Content
Below I’ve linked you to our service page in our list of spiritual practices on our new and forthcoming MyLifeBridge.
ServiceReflection
Reflect on the question of whether or not you are using your gifts in the church as a faithful steward of God’s grace and to serve one another. Do your best to weed out any prideful motives.