1 Peter 4:10-11
10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
We looked last week at the principle of evaluation. One of the things you will be evaluated on is the use of your spiritual gift.
The word gift in verse 10 is the Greek word CHARISMA, which means gift. A gift is something that is given, NOT earned or deserved. The credit never belongs to the one who receives the gift, but to the one who gives the gift.
Peter says, since we have all received a gift (every believer gets one), we should use it to serve others in the body of Christ. That’s how you are a good “steward” of the grace of God which you have received.
The word steward is OIKONOMAS, and it means someone who takes care of the master’s treasure. You have received the treasure of the grace of God, a gift. What you have to realize in your exercise of your gift is that you are only taking care of what God has given you; therefore, He should get all the credit.
Colossians 3:17, 23-24
17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, (heartily – from the soul – it refers to correct motivation) as for the Lord rather than for men,
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of
the inheritance. It is the Lord
Christ whom you serve.
What happens when you function in your spiritual gift with the correct attitude?
Back to 1 Pet 4:
11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
When you function in your spiritual gift realizing that it is a gift from God, then He gets all the credit as the giver of the gift!
This is one of the things that you will be evaluated on in the future. It’s basically a question of “what did you do with what I gave you?”
If you don’t know yet what your spiritual gift is, don’t
worry! As long as you are living the
Christian way of life, and growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter
Remember, it’s His gift to you, it’s up to Him to let you know when to use it!