How often is it that we receive things of value and let them sit on a shelf without being used. We seem to understand the value of the item, yet are not inclined to use them for their intended purpose as we may somehow reduce the value of them. Lori and I have a buffet filled with china we received 30 years ago when we got married and I believe we may have used it 10 times at best over those 30 years.
“10As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:” — 1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)
We receive gifts from God that are to be used. Whether that gift is of teaching, singing, evangelism, hospitality, nurture, or any other that we can line up here, we are to use those gifts and not just keep them to ourselves or worse, boast of them and yet not use them at all. We have been entrusted with a gift and yet we tend to keep them to ourselves as opposed to using them for their intended purpose, bringing glory to God.
“11whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” – 1 Peter 4:11 (ESV)
God provides for us and we are to acknowledge those provisions. We pray in thanksgiving and use those provisions to make it through the day and week and month and year and life in general. You know that we have also received gifts from God and we should be praying in thanksgiving and use those gifts to bring glory to Him each day and week and month and year and life in general.
God provides for us and for Himself as well. He ensures that we have what we need and ensures that we have what is needed touch the lives of others and bring glory to Him in the process. God gives us gifts, not for us to store away and keep to ourselves but we receive them and are asked and expected to use them for His glory.
What are you doing with the gifts you receive? Are you storing them away internally and boasting about them? What if you were to bring those gifts out for the world to see and use them to make an impact and bring glory to the LORD?
