Using My Gifts

MARISSA SCHNEIDER, Communications Coordinator

• BIBLE VERSE

  1 Peter 4:10 “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

• INTERPRETATION

  Every Christian experiences God’s grace, and part of God’s graciousness is to give each of us a special gift. If we want to be good stewards of God’s grace, then we have to actually use those gifts, and not just for personal gain. Peter is specific that we are supposed to use our gifts to serve each other within the body.

• BREAKTHROUGH

  God specifically gives us our gifts so that we can use them to serve other Christians. If we are not serving other people with our gifts, then we are wasting what God has given us.

• LIFE APPLICATION

  This verse specifically reminds me of Jesus’ parable of the talents. In the story, the master rebukes the servant who buries his talents instead of using them or multiplying them. In the same way, we are squandering our gifts, which are manifestations of God’s grace, when we choose to horde our gifts. Hording our gifts can look like a number of different things: It can be pretending not to have any gifts and refusing to acknowledge them. It can be a refusal to use the gifts because of fear or even laziness. Or I might have a sin issue that is causing me not to want to use my gifts for a period of time. The bottom line is that God didn’t give us special gifts so that we would waste them, he intended for us to use them to serve one another and to build one another up in love. I know that God has given me special gifts and talents, but I choose not to utilize them because “I just don’t feel like it.” The Bible says that when you know what you’re supposed to do, but you don’t do it, then you are committing sin. In the same way, God has given us all gifts, and he intends for us to use them. So, when we don’t, then we are in sin.

• ENTREATY

  Lord, thank you for giving me a special gift, a gift that you intend for me to use to serve you and your children. I confess that I’m not always a good steward of your grace in this way. I pray that you would give me more and more opportunities to use my gifts and that you would give me the courage to use them when those times come. Amen