1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Ah my Friends, exceptional advice from the Rock upon which Christ laid the foundation of His Church. But then, what else can we expect from Jesus’ right hand man eh? (smile) And what’s Peter saying? Here he is hammering home Bruh Paul’s earlier message and exhortation, where he likens the faith, or the Church he’s endeavouring to promote and build, to our human body, which has many different parts, but all have different duties, however they all work together for the good of the whole. ‘For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.’ (Rom.12:4-5) Yes my people, Christ is the Holy body, the Church, of which we are all members, individually and collectively, also with different functions and purposes. Collectively we’re called to promote, to promulgate the gospel of Christ, while individually, everyone has a separate duty to perform in accomplishing that overall purpose. ‘Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophesy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.’ (Rom.12:6-8) There you go, my Friends! Bruh Paul outlines some of the gifts individual believers might be blessed with; prophesy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling, mercy. However, it’s of the utmost importance that whatever is our God-given gift, we exercise it in a manner of excellence, of the highest order, a manner pleasing to God, for true believers must strive for excellence in all their endeavours. Peter also emphasizes that point; ‘even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards…’ We are to use our gifts to help and encourage one another, just as the individual parts of our bodies look out for and protect the others. As a good steward, we must have each other’s back. And what’s a steward? A steward is a guardian, a keeper, one entrusted with the important task of safeguarding something or someone considered valuable. So know it my people, write it indelibly in your hearts, that we are all considered valuable members of Christ’s household! And in appreciation of that immense honour, all God’s people declared: ‘All thanks and honour and glory be to the Most High God Jehovah!’ That steward therefore must be honest and trustworthy. As Bruh Paul puts it: ‘Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.’ (1 Cor.4:1-2) Yes my brethren, in our walk of faith, we should be considered servants, helpers of Christ, and safe keepers of God’s hidden truths, found in His Word. Above all though, a steward must be faithful. Jesus also noted the importance of trust and faithfulness. ‘Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him a ruler over all that he hath.’ (Luke 12:42-44) That’s the reward of a faithful steward my people; elevation to a more important position. And so shall Christ reward us if we persevere ‘as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.’ Yes, if we look after the gifts of God, freely given to us through His abounding grace, we too shall be rewarded. For as Bruh Paul explained to the Corinthians: ‘Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.’ (1 Cor.12:4-6) The long and short of the story my Friends, is that as believers we’ve been endowed with different gifts to help in promoting the gospel of Christ, but to achieve success, we must all take care of those generous endowments and join them together as one, that they fit like a cog in a wheel, and operate like a finely tuned engine, all to the greater glory of God. Let’s therefore come together and work as we ought; ‘Let LOVE be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.’ (Rom.12:9) And in so doing, we’ll successfully promote God’s kingdom here on earth. Much LOVE!…a chain is only as strong as its weakest link…
Ah my Friends, exceptional advice from the Rock upon which Christ laid the foundation of His Church. But then, what else can we expect from Jesus’ right hand man eh? (smile) And what’s Peter saying? Here he is hammering home Bruh Paul’s earlier message and exhortation, where he likens the faith, or the Church he’s endeavouring to promote and build, to our human body, which has many different parts, but all have different duties, however they all work together for the good of the whole. ‘For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.’ (Rom.12:4-5) Yes my people, Christ is the Holy body, the Church, of which we are all members, individually and collectively, also with different functions and purposes. Collectively we’re called to promote, to promulgate the gospel of Christ, while individually, everyone has a separate duty to perform in accomplishing that overall purpose. ‘Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophesy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.’ (Rom.12:6-8) There you go, my Friends! Bruh Paul outlines some of the gifts individual believers might be blessed with; prophesy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling, mercy. However, it’s of the utmost importance that whatever is our God-given gift, we exercise it in a manner of excellence, of the highest order, a manner pleasing to God, for true believers must strive for excellence in all their endeavours. Peter also emphasizes that point; ‘even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards…’ We are to use our gifts to help and encourage one another, just as the individual parts of our bodies look out for and protect the others. As a good steward, we must have each other’s back. And what’s a steward? A steward is a guardian, a keeper, one entrusted with the important task of safeguarding something or someone considered valuable. So know it my people, write it indelibly in your hearts, that we are all considered valuable members of Christ’s household! And in appreciation of that immense honour, all God’s people declared: ‘All thanks and honour and glory be to the Most High God Jehovah!’ That steward therefore must be honest and trustworthy. As Bruh Paul puts it: ‘Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.’ (1 Cor.4:1-2) Yes my brethren, in our walk of faith, we should be considered servants, helpers of Christ, and safe keepers of God’s hidden truths, found in His Word. Above all though, a steward must be faithful. Jesus also noted the importance of trust and faithfulness. ‘Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him a ruler over all that he hath.’ (Luke 12:42-44) That’s the reward of a faithful steward my people; elevation to a more important position. And so shall Christ reward us if we persevere ‘as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.’ Yes, if we look after the gifts of God, freely given to us through His abounding grace, we too shall be rewarded. For as Bruh Paul explained to the Corinthians: ‘Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.’ (1 Cor.12:4-6) The long and short of the story my Friends, is that as believers we’ve been endowed with different gifts to help in promoting the gospel of Christ, but to achieve success, we must all take care of those generous endowments and join them together as one, that they fit like a cog in a wheel, and operate like a finely tuned engine, all to the greater glory of God. Let’s therefore come together and work as we ought; ‘Let LOVE be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.’ (Rom.12:9) And in so doing, we’ll successfully promote God’s kingdom here on earth. Much LOVE!…a chain is only as strong as its weakest link…
SCRIP-BITS 