1 Peter 4.10-11
“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.
We are saved by grace. We are also gifted by grace. Through His grace the Lord gives gifts to His people so they might use those gifts to serve and minister to others in the church. Indeed, the word translated “spiritual gifts” in the NT is the Greek charismata, which literally means “grace gifts.”
Peter tells us that the Lord’s grace gifts are “varied;” that is, different people receive different gifts. Peter also emphasizes that the ultimate purpose of exercising our grace gifts is “that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”
Peter also calls us to be “stewards” of the grace gifts that God gives. This means that the gifts don’t belong to you. God gives you gifts so that you might serve others. In other words, the gifts aren’t for you; they are for others through you.
Spiritual gifts should never be a source of selfish pride or create a false sense of spiritual superiority. God gives each of us grace gifts for the purpose of serving others, building up the church, and glorifying Him.
“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.” (Romans 12.3-4)
The Lord is calling.
