Certainly, no person gives a gift to a person expecting that the gift will never be used. Instead, the purpose of giving gifts is that they will be used, not sitting on a shelf collecting dust. In the same way, the gifts God has given us are to be used well. We are meant to take hold of the gifts that God has given to us and use them to build His kingdom.
Throughout Scripture, we read about the gifts that God has given each one of His followers. Many of us refer to these gifts as “spiritual gifts” because Scripture teaches that these gifts are given by the Holy Spirit in order to help us live lives that honor God and build up the body of Christ. One of the places we learn about these gifts is in 1 Peter 4. He wrote in this chapter, “God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (verse 10). In this one verse, we learn two things. First of all, Peter teaches that followers of Christ have been given spiritual gifts. This means that every person who has placed their faith in Christ has been given these gifts, including you and me. Secondly, this verse teaches us that the purpose of gifts: to “use them well to serve one another.” We are to serve each other as the body of Christ. As Peter taught about spiritual gifts, he continued saying, “Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God Himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies” (1 Peter 4:11a). In other words, whatever way that God has gifted us, we are to use that gift to the fullest extent.
What happens when we all come together to use our gifts? Peter explains further along in 1 Peter 4:11. He writes, “Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:11b). When we use our gifts, we bring glory to God. This is our ultimate goal, isn’t it? Don’t we all want our lives to point others to God and His glory? We have been given great gifts, may we use them well and bring Him glory and make Him known throughout the process.
God’s gifts are given to us so that we will make Him known and build His kingdom. One of the ways we can put this into practice is by practicing the Bridge Diagram, which is a method of sharing with other people about how to take a next step in their faith in God. Review this diagram so that you can be prepared to share your faith with the people God puts in your path.
So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.
Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead. That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit.
The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
