Whatever Gift: 1 Peter 4:10

          Today, I would like to expand on a small piece of scripture that has always captured my heart and help you understand how it applies to your life and how you can use it to revolutionize the way you think. In 1 Peter 4:10, it says,

10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

         This verse can be essentially split into two parts: the first part tells us that we should use any gift we have to serve other people. The second part tells us that, by doing so, we will spread God's grace to other people. You may not have thought of this before, but everything that you own and every facet of your personality and life is a gift from God. Consider 1 Corinthians 4:7b, which says

7b  What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

          All of these gifts were meant to bless everyone around us. For instance, if I see a stranger who is lonely or a new person at my church's Sunday school, I can use the small portion of social ability that I have to serve the other person. This kind of service is validated by passages like Matthew 25:34-35

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For... I was a stranger and you invited me in,

          Every friend, boss, and coworker is a relationship that God has given you as a gift and each is its own unique ministry. You have chances every day to live out your Christian walk in every conversation that you have. In fact, we are instructed to process our conversations and remember to say things that will encourage and grow those who are around us. In Ephesians 4:29, it says

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

         Another verse, Colossians, 3:17, says

17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

         Additionally, 1 Peter 4:11 continues:

 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

         We should be careful to survey the needs of the people in our lives and craft our words to uplift them and to encourage them in a unique way. Even our daily work should be a ministry that is used to encourage and uplift those around us. As boring and forced as your job may be, we see Paul give instructions to even slaves to use their position to bless their masters. 1 Timothy 6:1-2 says

1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them.

        The second half of the 1 Peter 4:10 passage tells us that we are actually administering God's grace in its various forms. It is exciting to see that the passage says "various forms" because it means that we have freedom to come up with all sorts of ways to bless other people rather than be forced to keep to a static list of good deeds. This doesn't even have to be all for believers, either. In previous posts, I've mentioned common grace, where God gives good things even to evil people and unbelievers that they get to enjoy during this lifetime. You can be a part of that process as well. They may even turn to the Lord because of your influence, like in 1 Peter 2:12:

12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

           My last example is the money that you own. Most people know that we are supposed to serve the poor and the helpless with our money and resources, but did you know that we should use it to gain influence in our social circles and to make new friends? In Luke 16:9, Jesus commands,

9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 

           So, I encourage you to look at your entire life as an exciting new adventure. Every day is brimming with possibilities to go out and change the world, one life at a time. I'm very frustrated with believers that have their eyes so locked on to their distant future that they forget that ministry is here and now. Every thought, word, and passing moment has untapped potential for the kingdom. Don't leave ministry to the people who do official ministry positions, either. In fact, their jobs mostly consist of convincing and empowering you to do your ministry. Otherwise, the Church would have very little impact on the world. No one else is uniquely equipped to change the world in they way that you will. Finally, thank God for all the gifts that he has given you and make the best use you can with every drop of God's blessings. I close with the words of Jesus to the faithful man who used the five talents to his fullest ability in Matthew 25:21:

21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

In Christ,
Simeon Snow