First Epistle of Peter
THE CHRISTIAN AND GIFTS
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 4:10 (KJV)
"the gift"
The "gift" mentioned in this verse refers to the gift of the Holy Spirit – talents or enablements to do things. Some of these gifts are listed in Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14, and Ephesians 4:11, 12. These gifts were of extremely wide variety. Not only were they the ability to teach and preach, but to visit, give, comfort, exhort, love – to serve in a thousand ways. No two had the same abilities or talents. The Spirit of God gave this to one and that to another. Of course, some of the gifts given by the Holy Spirit were given in the first century; for first century Christians only.
"As every man hath received the gift"
This would seem to tell us that every Christian is given some gift from the Lord and certainly the greatest gift of all, the Holy Spirit, we receive when we are born again. Therefore, there is no use for any of us to say, "I am unable to do anything for the Lord". There is something each of us can do to reach the lost or help the saved. The story is told of a dedicated young Christian who had a desire to preach like the apostle Paul. He made a failure of preaching, so he said, "If I can't preach like Paul, I will make tents like he did". So he started a business. In time he became successful and personally sponsored several preaches. Like him, we may be gifted to do some great thing, but perhaps we can do some smaller things that would be helpful to the work of the Lord.
"even so minister the same one to another"
The word "minister" is an untranslated Greek word meaning "to serve". Remember, whatever gifts the Lord does in fact give us today through the Holy Spirit, they are certainly not for selfish purposes. They would not be given to us for wealth or popularity. They would be given to us for the benefit of others. We are all pictured as different parts of the body of Christ. Each member has its special work to do for the benefit of the whole body. This is true of the human body and should also be true in the body of Christ. As the hand lives for the whole body or the foot, so each member of the body of Christ should live for the whole. How wonderful it would be if this was true in a practical way.
"even so minister the same"
Or "even so serve in the same". This study is not intended to go into detail pertaining to the "gifts" mentioned in the New Testament for the first century Christians. But briefly it should be noted that God provided gifts such as speaking in tongues (the ability to understand the tongue), laying on of the apostles’ hands, etc., because it was necessary for the early church. Why? So the early Christians would know what God wanted them to do and how He wanted them to live righteously before Him. Today we have the Word of God (that will never pass away) and all of us have the opportunity to read it, obey it and live by the teachings of God therein for all time to come, thus removing the need for those super-natural gifts. Still, each of us has been given a variety of natural talents usable to promote the cause of Christ. However, too many of us are like the man we read of in Luke 19:20, who did nothing with what he was given. The Lord condemned him for this (see v. 22) and so He will us too, if we do not use the talents He has entrusted to us. Let us seek Him through prayer about what He has enabled us to do and then seek diligently to do it. Let us not waste our time on this earth.
However, let us not try to do anything for which we are not gifted or talented. This is sometimes done and it always brings confusion. One of the most difficult things is to exhort the people of God either publicly or in a personal way. Some have thought they were gifted for this, but found out the hard way they were not. Someone has done something wrong and one goes to visit him. It takes special wisdom and ability to handle such a case. Some have gone and done more harm than good. In some cases they have driven them away from the body of Christ. Certainly many instances could be given demonstrating someone ungifted doing more harm than good.
"as good stewards of the manifold grace of God"
A steward is one entrusted with something not his own. It may be in the form of money or a position of responsibility. It is well to remember that these gifts we have are not our own, but rather given to us in trust. In the story already referred to in Luke 19:11-27, we have an example of each man being left with a gift. Each of the ten servants was left money. Some used it and prospered. One gained considerable, another a little less and one gained nothing. The day of reckoning came and so it will be with all of us. Those that gained by using the money were commended, but not so the one that gained nothing. In other words, they all discovered that the money entrusted to them was not their own, it belonged to the master. It is exactly the same in the story of the talents in Matthew 25:14 to 30. Sometimes, Christians think they can do as they please with the gifts they have received. However, the reckoning day is coming. Will we receive His smile or His frown?
"of the manifold grace of God"
This word "manifold" speaks of "great variety" and truly, God's grace varies greatly in one from the other. Our gifts of talents may differ widely, but never-the-less they are all of grace. Because of our sins, all of us deserve hell. Our salvation is completely of grace. Everything we receive above and beyond salvation is also of grace. How good is our loving Lord? He not only saves us, but gives His people other good things beneficial to one another.
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 4:11 (KJV)
This verse will not be understood apart from an understanding of how the early meetings of the church were conducted. This has to be read in the light of 1 Corinthians 12, 14 and kindred portions. It is evident that in most of their meetings a number of brethren took part and the meetings were not prearranged. Read 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 carefully. Especially notice chapter 14:26, "How is it brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying."
These chapters have a great deal to say about speaking with tongues. The gift of tongues was highly prized by the early Christians and therefore those who did not receive it were inclined to fake it and those who did have it were inclined to stretch it. This the apostle appears to be correcting.
However, it does not necessarily follow that this particular order of worship was scrapped. It seems that when control began being left in the hands of preachers and elders the church suffered a great loss. The Lord never meant it to be so and it would be well if there was a return to the old order of things. It would be a real tonic for our time if the old order of worship and service to Christ was more universally practiced today. If a brother is privileged to take a part in the meetings of the congregation, it will give him an urge to study the Scriptures and to bring a little something to the edification of the church.
"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God"
"If any man" tells us that a man need not always speak, but if he does he is to speak as the oracles of God. It also does not say, "If every man speak". Not all are gifted to speak and if not gifted they should not attempt it. We are not saying that every brother should take part in the public meeting. For example, it is a mistake to put up one to preach the gospel who is not gifted for it. But if one has a gift and talent that needs developing, it is well to give such a little time in the worship service, then perhaps have a more capable brother speak. Today far too many worship services are highly organized – servers and speakers set up the same each week. Religious practices seem to be so well predetermined that a change in who leads singing (in fact often even the song leader is a paid professional) or who preaches becomes impossible and paid professionals seem to always take the biggest part of the time in worship services.
"as the oracles of God"
Before the full Bible was written, the Lord often spoke to one in the church by direct revelation. Then as the man spoke, he could speak as the oracles of God. Now the Lord speaks through His Word and one who intends to speak must have knowledge of the Word in order to speak as the oracles of God. Only as a person seeks to be led by the Spirit of the Lord while at the same time being saturated with the Word of God will he be able to speak as the oracles of God. The thought of "oracles of God" is as though one was "the mouthpiece of God", speaking what the Lord wanted him to speak. If one is not assured that he is speaking what the Lord wants spoken, he is better off to be silent.
The Lord Jesus is an example of one who spoke just what His Father wanted Him to speak. He spoke differently than the scribes. He spoke as one having authority. Notice what He says in John 12:49, "For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment what I should say, and what I should speak".
Paul was much the same. He says, "For we are not as many which corrupt the Word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ" (2 Cor. 2:17). No wonder Paul spoke with authority. He knew his message was of God – that he was speaking in Christ.
If one has something from God he is duty bound to give it. Remember, if we have this gift or talent we are answerable to God for it. In this we are also His stewards. However, one should never speak just to fill in time or to show off. This is not speaking as the oracles of God.
"if any man minister"
"Minister" in the Word of God does not mean what it is ordinarily thought to mean. The word is an untranslated word simply meaning "to serve". In the sense that a preacher serves the Lord and the people of God he can be called a minister. Thus, anyone who serves can be said to minister.
"as of the ability that God giveth"
"Ability" in the Revised Version is translated "strength". This perhaps is a little better than "ability". It seems to speak of physical capacity. According to this, the Lord even gives us our physical strength wherewith to serve Him and His people.
It is interesting to note that the Lord thinks as highly of this kind of service as He does of speaking in the worship hour. A hundred and one little services might be included in this thought. Keeping the worship place in shape, cleaning or painting, tending a sick saint, giving someone a helping hand or even giving one a cup of cold water in the name of the Lord Jesus can be classified as ministering. It would be well if the Lord's people would go in for this kind of service a little more.
"that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ"
Here is the purpose for any worship service, whether speaking or serving in any way – bringing glory to God in Jesus Christ. If one gets up to speak in a meeting of the church and what he says does not bring glory to God, then he is wasting his time as well as those listening. One brother put it this way, "Sometimes we hear practical sermons, sometime prophetic and sometimes pathetic". Ever heard a pathetic sermon? One that brought no glory to God or Christ and therefore no help to the people of God and the unsaved. Let us check our public gatherings to
this end – what glory is this service bringing to God?
"through Jesus Christ"
Whatever glory we may bring to God, it can be said it is through Jesus Christ. It is though Him that we become children of God and because of Him we serve the Father.
"to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen"
The Revised Version has "Whose is the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen". The "praise and dominion" evidently refer back to the Lord Jesus, although, of course, they could apply to the Father as well. Verse 11 of the next chapter has almost identical words, but there it seems to refer to the Father. Anyway, the Godhead is one, as well as three persons. The word "dominion" speaks of authority and power. "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth" (Ps. 72:8). This is yet future. At present, has He dominion over our hearts and our lives? Does He rule over us? We call Him our Lord, but is He that in fact? Let us be more and more subject unto Him.
"forever and ever"
This is literally "unto ages of the ages" and this He certainly shall be. "Forever and ever" He shall be glorified, praised and He shall rule. When we give Him His place now, we are in the plan of the ages.
"Amen"
This is the first time Peter uses this interesting word. It has been variously translated as "verily", "so be it", "surely". The expression "so be it" seems to fit in well here. The expression fits well in connection with His receiving "praise" and "dominion". May it fit equally well in connection with our speaking and serving – bringing glory to God.
