As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
ἕκαστος καθὼς ἔλαβε χάρισμα, εἰς ἑαυτοὺς αὐτὸ διακονοῦντες, ὡς καλοὶ οἰκονόμοι ποικίλης χάριτος Θεοῦ·
What does the phrase “Christian service” bring to mind? Explicitly religious ministry like that which a pastor does? Or perhaps something like medical missionary work? To think biblically is to appreciate that such a phrase is best considered very broadly as the work of every Christian in every place with his or her God-given abilities. Whether we help others by hospitality, godly counsel, or any kind of genuinely loving act (1 Pet 4.9, 11), this is the service that Christians are called by God to render. According to the Bible, ministry is not reserved to “professionals.”
1 Peter 4.10, considered in the light of all biblical teaching, is rich with truth and direction for our lives before the Lord. Let me mine some of its wealth under four main ideas.
1. The Church is richly endowed with serving gifts from God
This text is both individual and corporate, addressing “every man” and the church of believers as a whole. “The manifold grace of God” highlights a rainbow or patchwork of skills and abilities the Lord has given to the whole body of Christ. The adjective translated “manifold” was sometimes used in extra-biblical ancient literature to describe things that were many-colored, or variegated.1
By the grace of God, the church’s human resources are incredible! Though we are only sinners in ourselves, we are the people of God’s favor, and taken together, we are the recipients of all kinds of heavenly treasures for the sake of ministry (Jas 1.17). The Greek terms for “gift” (χάρισμα) and “grace” (χάριτος) in this verse are very similar and probably refer to essentially the same thing. Without our deserving it, God has freely and abundantly imparted valuable special abilities to help one another, especially within the fellowship of believers. We are one body with many members, each with its own function and contribution.
2. Our service must be rendered faithfully
Stewardship is the metaphor used here. An ancient steward was a household manager responsible to administrate his master’s estate and goods according to the will of the master. A steward, for example, possessed the master key to all the household’s supplies. He was responsible to dispense them under accountability to the owner. While the master was away, one might get the impression the steward himself was the owner, but eventually the steward’s service would be evaluated with consequences, good or ill. The most important trait of Christ’s steward is faithfulness–fidelty to God and His directives for our service (1 Cor 4.2).
Corporately, the Church is called to be a company of “good stewards,” those who manage these divine gifts according to God’s revealed will, accomplishing His purposes. Even though individuals are the ones gifted and serving, we are supposed to be doing this in cooperation with our brethren in a particular church and among the churches of Christ. Faithfulness requires not only each person’s employment of his or her particular gifts, but the body’s recognition, development, and deployment of its gifted members.
3. We all need one another’s help
“Minister the same one to another” is literally, “to / each other / serving / it,” i.e., the particular gift each and every believer has received (/ separates the words in the original Greek). A wonderful mutuality appears in this teaching. Peter is well aware of the office and special work done by elders (e.g., 1 Pet 5.1-2), but he has no sympathy with the mistaken idea that the church’s ministers are only her officers, or that only non-officers need the ministry of other members. “Everyone helping everyone” could well be our motto. All church members are designed for a symbiotic2 relationship, including pastors and deacons. Consider the divine wisdom in all this, and how conducive it is to promote our humility! No one is to be always giving without receiving, or receiving without giving. Even Jesus allowed others to serve Him while He was busy serving them, a true Brother within His Church (Mark 15.41; Heb 2.11).
4. Your special giftedness points to your special calling
Discerning God’s will for your life’s work should be a great concern. No small part of discovering it is implied here. One interesting translation reads, “Making distribution among one another of whatever has been given to you, like true servants of the unmeasured grace of God.” When Moses was making excuses for not answering God’s call, the Lord said to him, “What is that in thine hand?” (Exod 4.2). It was a rod, and immediately God instructed Moses how to use it in the ministry. Likewise, providence gave Moses day by day whatever he needed to glorify God, edify the church, and testify before the world. Moses’ calling was to be faithful with his abilities and opportunities.
So I ask you metaphorically, “What is that in your hand?” What abilities, resources, and opportunities are yours right now by which you can come to the aid of your brethren and the world for the glory of God? As Jacob once said to his idle sons when they might have been fetching corn from Egypt, “Why do ye look one upon another?” Up and be going! Amen.
Notes:
1 Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W. (2000). A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (3rd ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
2 Symbiosis Biology an interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, especially to the advantage of both (COED).
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