Serving One Another

October, 2007

by: Tina Carns

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, let him speak therefore the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. I Peter 4:10-11

The Book of I Peter focuses on suffering and hope. Peter wrote to a persecuted people and encouraged them with the hope they had in Christ. Peter exhorts believers to be holy (1:15), to proclaim the excellencies of Jesus who called them (2:9), to keep their behavior excellent among the Gentiles so that the Gentiles will glorify God when He returns (2:12), to live and suffer as Christ, our example (chapter 3), and to live their earthly lives not for their own lusts, but for the will of God (4:2).

Peter then announces in 4:7 that the end is near and gives several exhortations in rapid-fire succession:

• Be of sound judgment
• Be sober in spirit for the purpose of prayer
• Keep fervent in your love for one another
• Be hospitable without complaint
• Employ your special gift in serving one another

Peter knew that God had chosen to uniquely distribute His gifts of grace to the people who make up his body (also Romans 12:6). These gifts have been given for the common good and were intended to build up the Body to maturity (Romans 12:14, Eph. 4:13). If the body is not growing and maturing, it will not be a true picture of Christ (who is the fullness of all the spiritual gifts) to a lost and dying world. This is what the church in I Peter needed to hear and this is true for us here at Calvary as well.

Because the Body should reveal Christ’s character, Peter tells believers to employ their special gifts in serving one another. Each person here at Calvary Bible Church has a special gift from God. Some of us have one gift while others have a “gift bag.” But since Peter uses the word “special” we know that each of us are “wired” a little bit differently. Interestingly enough, many of us, with the same spiritual gift/s, look different and are used in various ministry settings. We should praise God for this because God uses all these differences and our special “wiring” to reach a variety of people for salvation and/or sanctification. For example, many may have the gift of exhortation, but it can be used through the pulpit, in a counseling session, in a small discipleship group or one on one in the church foyer or patio. Though you may have the same spiritual gift as someone else in this church, you are not in any way dispensable. On the contrary, you are vital to God’s plan for ministry to others.

The spiritual gifts have been generally summed into two categories: the speaking gifts and the auxiliary/helping gifts.

We know that whether someone has a speaking or helping gift that the employment of the gifts reveals the manifold grace of God to the church-at-large and to the outside world.

Some people are driven in the areas of evangelism, teaching, exhortation/encouragement, words of wisdom, etc. These speaking gifts are usually more noticed by others and often given more attention but we know that they are not less important than helping gifts. The helping gifts are the support ministry of the church: service/administration, giving, mercy etc. are keeping the ministry supported and going strong. All are necessary pieces—like a puzzle—which reveals the picture of who Christ is and why He deserves to be worshipped.

Would the picture of Christ through the church be complete if, when the gospel is proclaimed and the Word of God taught with passion and accuracy, there is no one to volunteer to take care of the small children, or bring the dear people over from Burbank Health Care to worship, or take charge in fixing the air conditioning when broken?

While one may notice that most of the spiritual gifts are also commands (show mercy, give, serve, evangelize, exhort, etc.), it is also apparent that there are certain areas of ministry that “energize” us more than others. There are some people who wake up in the morning thinking about how they are going to secretly give a monetary love gift to a certain person in need. When they do it they are so excited they can’t wait for another opportunity. Though we are all commanded to give cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7), yet for some, that is what energizes them. It is their spiritual gift, the thing they can’t wait to do for the benefit of someone else.

If you do not know what your spiritual gift is, you will find out as you plug in and begin to carry out the one-another commands in the Bible. It is then you will find out what invigorates you. If you are not currently serving in a ministry where you can exercise your gift, please call the office, speak to one of the counselors available on Sunday morning, or ask someone you know who is involved. You are necessary to the building up of this local church. So as you have received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God!