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1 Peter 4:10
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
James 1:17 states that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” All that we have that is good in this world ultimately comes from God and belongs to Him. After all, He made the universe and tells us that “the world and its fullness are mine” (Ps. 50:12). This is true whether we are talking about physical goods or spiritual goods, and since they ultimately belong to Him, everything we have is not finally ours. We are stewards called to manage our goods under the authority of God and for His glory.
The Apostle Peter makes this point in today’s passage with respect to spiritual gifts. Let us start with the end of 1 Peter 4:10, where we are called to be “good stewards of God’s varied grace.” God is full of grace, and He manifests His grace—His undeserved favor—in different ways. There is the common grace by which He sustains all living things (Matt. 5:45). There is also the special grace of salvation that effects our redemption (Eph. 2:8–9). By His special grace, the Lord also gives a variety of spiritual gifts, which are listed in several places in the New Testament, including 1 Peter 4:11.
God gives a variety of gifts to His people, and today’s verse indicates that every Christian has at least one gift—“as each has received a gift” (v. 10). So, as John Calvin reminds us in his commentary, when we use the spiritual gifts that God has given us, “we do not give our own, but only dispense what God has committed to us.” We dare not boast in our gifts, for they are not from anything in us but are granted by the Lord.
Our Lord grants us spiritual gifts so that we can use them “to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10). We must not employ our gifts to advance ourselves. Instead, we are to use our spiritual gifts for the good of others and for the well-being of Christ’s church. Practically speaking, this means that we participate in church life not only to receive from the pastor and others but also to give of ourselves for building up the body of Christ (1 Cor. 14:12). We remember that we are stewards of God’s gifts and must use them as He directs. Augustine of Hippo writes, “God has granted to each of us the special graces needed for the upbuilding of his church, so that we will do what he has indicated should be done, not only without complaint but with joy.”
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Because God is the giver of gifts, every Christian is responsible to properly steward those gifts. Let us use our gifts responsibly and seek opportunities to serve others in the church with the gifts that God has given to us. If we are not using our gifts to bless others, we are disobeying the Lord.
For further study
- Proverbs 2:6
- Romans 12:3–8
- 1 Corinthians 12
- Ephesians 4:1–16
The bible in a year
- 2 Chronicles 16–18
- John 15:18–16:15