THE GIFT PART 1

1 Peter 4:10-11

Whoever you are, wherever you’ve come from, your reason for existence on planet earth is the same. You have been created for the glory of God—to take all that you are and all that you have and use it to magnify God. There is no higher purpose than to take your time, your treasure and your talents and use them to glorify God. When you live for the glory of God, you’re doing what you were created to do. And you become who you were created to be.

How do you glorify God with these talents or gifts you have been given. The writer gives us some practical lessons...

Unwrap It!

First you must unwrap the gift God’s given you. It’s your choice to unwrap the gift! It’s there all nicely packaged, and only you can unwrap your gift!

Did you notice what Peter asserts in this verse? “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another” (4:10). He states each and every Christian has already received a gift, a talent, from God. Everyone who’s been truly born-again has received a gift from God. There are evidently no exceptions. If you’re a Christian, God’s given you a gift!

Yet the problem is some have never unwrapped the gift God’s given them. He’s given it to you; you’ve even received it. But it’s still sitting there and fantastic looking! But it’s never been opened. So, it remains unused. But, worst of all, because you’ve never opened the gift, the God the Giver himself remains unappreciated and un-thanked.

How could you praise God for a gift, the contents of which are still to you a mystery? You’re also missing out on the grace of God in your life, and you’re missing out on the sheer joy of being a channel of God’s grace into the lives of others. Go pick up the package, and unwrap it. It all begins there. You can’t even begin to make progress in a life that honours God without first opening God’s gift to you.

How? Read God’s word and discover the gifts God has given us there...then prayerfully seek them and ask God to give you the right one for you.

Use It!

Unwrapping God’s gift to you is the place to start; but it’s just the start. The next step is actually to use the gift you have been given. You know, it’s a valuable gift you’ve been given, you are responsible not to waste it, but use it well.

You see, the more valuable the gift you’ve been given, the more responsible you are to not do something foolish with it, but to steward it well. God our heavenly Father is remarkably generous with each of his children. He gives each of his children a gift, not because they’ve earned it, but because he’s so gracious. Yet with the giving of this gift comes significant responsibility. Each one who’s received a gift is to use that gift, as our passage says, “as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (4:10).

We’re to be good stewards with God’s gifts. We’re to be faithful and responsible. We’re to work hard to take good care of the gift he’s given us; we’re to not squander or waste his gifts, which are expressions of God’s Grace.

Share it!

But what does it mean to use your gift well? And for who should we use it in order to use it well?

God gives you a precious gift. He puts your name on the gift he gives you; it’s your gift. But it’s not for just for you—but for those around you too. As Peter says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another” (4:10). I’d suggest you in your Bible you underline that last phrase: one another. That’s the key to the right use of your spiritual gifts. They’re not for our own sake, but for the sake of others—for the sake of one another, one another within the body of Christ, the church.

Paul had to remind the Corinthians of this critical fact. They thought their gifts were all about them—status symbols. So Paul has to tell them: “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:7). Gifts aren’t for the private good, but for the common good.

The Spiritual and practical gifts we receive aren’t for our own sake because Gods gifts are simply God’s grace wrapped in a human package. But God’s grace is never self-directed; it’s always others-directed. So, too, our gifts, our talents, are to be used, not for our own sake, but for the sake of others. That’s what it means to use our gifts well, for the glory of God. It’s got your name on it; but it’s to be shared by others.