1 Peter 4:10 - Gifts

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

We’ve reached the half-way point of Peter’s 10 Commandments! To review:

1. Thou shalt be of sound judgment
2. Thou shalt be of sober spirit for the purpose of prayer
3. Thou shalt love one another deeply
4. Thou shalt be hospitable
5. And today’s: Though shalt be a good steward of God’s gifts.

Once my brother and I reached a certain age, my grandmother started giving us money instead of gifts. She realized she didn’t really know what we wanted, so she would give us some cash so we could get something we were excited about.

Often – especially when I was in college – I would put her money in the bank to pad my balance. It was helpful, but it wasn’t in keeping with the spirit of the gift. My mom eventually told me that Deedo (that is what we call my grandmother) wanted us to use the money to buy something we really wanted. She wanted her gift to be a blessing, not to be stuck in the bank.

I think in this matter, Deedo and God on are on the same page. God gives us gifts to be used, not to stick in the bank. As Paul says in Romans 12:6-8:

6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Every gift that God gives is given specifically to meet a need within the body of Christ. God gives the gift of preaching because people need to be challenged by the Word of God. God gives the gift of serving because people need help. God gives the gift of giving because so many people are without. I firmly believe that God has equipped each church or body of believers with everything they need…if everyone is faithful to use their gifts.

So, what are your spiritual gifts? If you don’t know, you can probably get a spiritual gift inventory at your church or on-line. Inventories are a useful tool, but they are not gospel – the evidence of your life and testimony of those around you are more accurate. Ask your friends what gift they think you have – you might be surprised how evident your gifts are to those around you. Pray about it – God will reveal.

More importantly, get out there and serve. If you know what your gifts are, use them for God’s glory! If you don’t know what your gifts are, serve wherever there is a need and God will use you and direct you toward your gifting. And by the way, don’t use your gifts as an excuse not to serve, “I’m so sorry, my gifting is in another area, I cannot help you put up chairs.” That isn’t the nature of spiritual gifts…

In His unfathomable grace, God allows us to work alongside Him. He gives us meaningful – eternal – work to take part in. Don’t sit on the sideline – get in the game and use your gift for God’s glory!

1 Peter 4:9 - Hospitality

“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”

I forgot to mention that last week’s instruction to love one another deeply is the third of Peter’s Ten Commandments. Today we’ll look at number 4.

In Peter’s day, there were no Holiday Inns, Motel 6, or even Marriott’s. There were a very small number of inns where people could spend the night when traveling (the phrase, “for there was no room in the inn” comes to mind). Early church members were called to open their homes for Christian travelers. Sometimes the travelers were preachers like Paul or Peter, other times it was just some guy who needed to get from Bethany to Damascus.

These travelers would show up at a Christian’s door, often unannounced, with a letter of reference from a friend or a church leader saying, “This guy is okay, please let him stay with you.” When this happened, it was your job to welcome this person, or persons, into your home and offer them the best hospitality you could. It was an act of service that was seldom convenient, always a lot of work, and a complete disruption of your home and family. As most acts of service are…

Housing Christian travelers isn’t a common practice today; so how do we offer non-grumbling hospitality? Well, I think we offer hospitality by opening our lives as the New Testament Christians opened their homes. We should be the first to welcome the new person; we should be the first to befriend the outcast, and the first to help those who find themselves in trouble.

Hospitality means much more than throwing parties for your friends. To offer hospitality means that we are to show kindness to those who need it. Think of the word “hospital” when you think of Christian hospitality. People go to the hospital for many different reasons: to have a baby, to have tests run, for injuries, for illnesses, and a hundred different reasons.

Our hospitality should be just as varied. To be hospitable, we are to be agents of God’s healing to those who are hurting. We are to give our resources to help those in need. We are to provide a place for people to stay when they’re passing through town. We are to be a friend, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on for someone who is hurting – even if they are a stranger. It’s a big job!

Finally, Peter calls us to offer hospitality without grumbling. That is even a bigger job. I can work and be nice and sacrifice my stuff – but to do so without complaining is often beyond my ability. Only the Spirit of God can change our hearts to the point that we are happy to be put out by the needs of others.

As God loves a cheerful giver, so He commands us to offer hospitality without grumbling. You can do it – in His strength!

“Instead of complaining that the rosebush is full of thorns, be happy that the thorn bush has roses.” – Proverb

1 Peter 4:8 - Above All

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

There’s a story about an old pastor who got up to speak one Sunday morning. He struggled to his feet as the offertory hymn finished and shuffled to the pulpit. He took off his glasses, looked over his congregation and said, “Love one another”. Then he turned around, shuffled back to his seat, and sat down.

The congregation waited for him to get back up, or for someone to sing a song, but nothing happened. You could read their thoughts on their faces: “Um, is that it?” “What are we supposed to do now?” “Has he finally lost it?” “Can we leave?” After several uncomfortable minutes, the pastor pushed himself out of his chair, walked to the microphone and repeated, “Love one another.” After sitting down, he looked over his people and was met with blank stares.

One more time, he got up and repeated himself before sitting back down. A few moments later, a woman stood up and walked over to another woman on the other side of the church. The two talked quietly for a moment, emotion obvious on both faces, and then they embraced with a sob.

As they parted, smiling and wiping their tears, a husband reached over and grabbed the hand of his wife who was sitting just a little farther away than normal. She looked away for a moment, then looked back with the exhausted look of one who is tired of fighting, ooched over, and laid her head on his shoulder.

All over the room, ex-friends reconnected, fathers spoke words of encouragements to their sons, daughters apologized to their mothers, people who used Macs talked with those who owned PCs; there was a love revival right in the middle of the church. All because the pastor shared the most basic, unfiltered truth of God: Love one another.

God is love and He calls us to be the same. Go out and love everyone the best you can – God will be glorified. “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” Someone must be bold and take the first step – will you be that person?

“Every Christian would agree that a man’s spiritual health is exactly proportional to his love for God.” - CS Lewis

“Every Christian’s love for God is demonstrated by their love for their fellow man.” – Me