As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10
One lady tried to explain to me that today’s text doesn’t apply to her, because she is not a man. Well, she’s not off the hook, because the original Greek doesn’t use the word for ‘man’, it uses the word for ‘each’. God has made each Christian a steward, and has given each Christian gifts to use in that stewardship. What gift or gifts has He given to you? You had better find out if you want to be a good steward.
Our stewardship reminds us that we have a special responsibility in this world. Only Christians can fulfil this responsibility. Whether in being a Gospel witness or in being of service to the Lord and to others, this responsibility is ours to do our Lord’s will.
Our stewardship also reminds us that it is in regard to the manifold grace of God. God’s grace to us provided us a salvation that we don’t deserve. And the people to whom we minister in our stewardship don’t deserve for us to serve them as well. We don’t share the Gospel with them because they deserve it, but because God’s grace desires it. We don’t serve others because they deserve it, but because the grace of God would have it so. It should be exciting to us that God can actually use you and me to show His grace to an undeserving world.
Our stewardship also reminds us of the need to be faithful. ‘Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful’ (1 Corinthians 4:2). We are to be faithful to God and to His Word. We are to be faithful to our brothers and sisters in the Lord, and to the Assembly of which God has made us be a part. We are to be faithful to our communities and our families. We are to be faithful to those that the Lord brings us into contact for sharing our faith.
Our stewardship also reminds us that we must give an account of our stewardship. ‘For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad’ (2 Corinthians 5:10). It will be a complete accounting, of that we are sure. How will we account to God for all of the blessings that He gave us, for all of the opportunities that He gave us, for all of the people who He brought us in contact with?
The manifold grace of God is in our hands. God has given to us gifts to use as stewards of this grace. Are we using our gifts? – Jim MacIntosh