Give Pt. 2
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
1 Peter 4:7-10
On Tuesday we saw the first key to being able to lovingly and joyfully give from what God has given. That is, because everything we have is from God’s hand. But here is the second key.
Peter encourages God’s people to use whatever gift you have received to serve others. This is faithful stewardship of God’s grace in its various forms. So, let’s just ponder that for a moment. What gifts have you been given by God?
If you read on in 1 Peter, we are given some examples. Some have the gift of speech and others of serving. But this is no exhaustive list (remember, he said various forms and two hardly constitutes that). Maybe you have the gift of hospitality, or wisdom, or faith, or prayerfulness, or parenting, or cooking, or financial generosity.
Again, what gifts has God given you? How are you stewarding those gifts for God’s purposes? But hang on, what’s the second key?
It’s there in verse 7. The end of all things is near. Why is stewardship & generosity so important? Because perhaps 2024 will be the year when Christ returns.
The ramifications of this are two-fold. What if your generosity might lead to someone avoiding ultimate judgement or someone standing firm to the end? Your giving could have the most significant impact imaginable. And, compared to what we have waiting for us in eternity - what is the sacrifice of some comforts now?
Ok, so you might not have as nice a holiday. Or maybe you will have to suck up home-made coffee. These sacrifices aren’t nothing. But compared to what we have waiting for us… they really are.
For Today:
Pray:
1 Peter 4:7-10
On Tuesday we saw the first key to being able to lovingly and joyfully give from what God has given. That is, because everything we have is from God’s hand. But here is the second key.
Peter encourages God’s people to use whatever gift you have received to serve others. This is faithful stewardship of God’s grace in its various forms. So, let’s just ponder that for a moment. What gifts have you been given by God?
If you read on in 1 Peter, we are given some examples. Some have the gift of speech and others of serving. But this is no exhaustive list (remember, he said various forms and two hardly constitutes that). Maybe you have the gift of hospitality, or wisdom, or faith, or prayerfulness, or parenting, or cooking, or financial generosity.
Again, what gifts has God given you? How are you stewarding those gifts for God’s purposes? But hang on, what’s the second key?
It’s there in verse 7. The end of all things is near. Why is stewardship & generosity so important? Because perhaps 2024 will be the year when Christ returns.
The ramifications of this are two-fold. What if your generosity might lead to someone avoiding ultimate judgement or someone standing firm to the end? Your giving could have the most significant impact imaginable. And, compared to what we have waiting for us in eternity - what is the sacrifice of some comforts now?
Ok, so you might not have as nice a holiday. Or maybe you will have to suck up home-made coffee. These sacrifices aren’t nothing. But compared to what we have waiting for us… they really are.
For Today:
- Do you believe as if the end of all things could be near?
- What is one thing you would change if Jesus was returning in 2024? How does that influence your giving of time/money/energy?
- Reflect on what you have waiting for you in eternity.
Pray:
- Praise the Father that He shares with us His eternal life.
- Give thanks for Jesus Christ who will return to make all things new.
- Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others be good stewards of the gifts He has given.
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