1 Peter 4:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

NIV: Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.

NASB: As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God.

CSB: Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.

NLT: God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

KJV: As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

NKJV: As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Peter continues describing how Christians should live in response to the knowledge that the end of all things is near (1 Peter 4:7). Knowing that Christ could return at any time should affect our thinking. Christians should not excessively invest ourselves in a world that is passing away. Believers should not divert ourselves with whatever pleasures we can find to indulge in. Instead, we should manage our minds for effective praying and love each other deeply, including sharing our homes and food with Christians in need.

Now in this verse, Peter says we should take a very different view from others in the world about anything we might call "ours." First, he implies that we must see whatever we have as a gift from God. After all, we have nothing which God has not given to us (James 1:17). Second, we should see whatever we have been given as an opportunity to serve other Christians. In other words, we should not view anything which is "ours" as off-limits for use in serving other believers.

A steward is one entrusted to manage the property of another. Every good thing we have is ours only by God's grace and intended to be used for His purpose. To fail to use God's gifts to us to serve each other is to fail to be a good steward. Wisely using everything we have to serve each other is part of fulfilling our purpose as God's set-apart people.

1 Peter 4:1–11 urges Christians to take on Jesus’ attitude toward suffering. We should see it as an expected part of fulfilling God’s purpose for us on earth. Those who willingly endure suffering for Christ set the course of their lives away from mind-numbing sins. This is true even when those who still commit those sins bad-mouth them. We must stay alert so that we can pray in these end times. We must keep loving each other, using God’s gifts to serve each other with God’s power in and through us, so all the glory goes to Him.

Peter continues to describe how Christians should respond when faced with persecution: Take on Christ’s attitude, and expect God’s purpose for your life to include suffering. Set the course of your life away from mind-numbing pleasure seeking. Be alert so that you can pray effectively in these end times. In fact, rejoice if you share in Christ’s sufferings. God uses suffering to refine the faith of His people, and our present suffering contributes to future glory. If you suffer, keep doing good while trusting your soul to your Creator.

Peter’s letter to Christians is about how to live in the world while suffering for faith in Christ. Thus far, he has assured Christians that their future is secure with God. We are His holy people, set apart for His purposes. Christians are called to live in submission to every human authority. Now in chapter 4, Peter writes that we should take Jesus’ attitude toward suffering and expect it in this life, avoiding mind-numbing sin while loving each other earnestly. God may use suffering in this life to refine our faith, but the end of all things is near.

Some 30 years after the resurrection of Jesus, Christians are facing greater persecution for their faith. How should they respond? How should we respond to suffering today? The apostle Peter writes this letter both to comfort believers and to encourage them to stay strong. He urges them to put all their hope in their perfect future with Christ, and to obey and trust Him in the present, even in their suffering. Christ suffered greatly; now the Christ-followers have the opportunity to follow Him even in this, showing His grace and power in their hopefulness, obedience, and faith.