I Peter 4:10
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As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
every--"even as each man hath received," in whatever degree, and of whatever kind. The Spirit's gifts (literally, "gift of grace," that is, gratuitously bestowed) are the common property of the Christian community, each Christian being but a steward for the edifying of the whole, not receiving the gift merely for his own use. minister the same--not discontentedly envying or disparaging the gift of another. one to another--Greek as in Pe1 4:8, "towards yourselves"; implying that all form but one body, and in seeking the good of other members they are promoting the good of themselves. stewards--referring to Mat 25:15, &c.; Luk 19:13-26.
Open source ↗The work of a Christian is twofold - doing the will of God and suffering his pleasure. This chapter directs us in both. The duties we are here exhorted to employ ourselves in are the mortification of sin, living to God, sobriety, prayer, charity, hospitality, and the best improvement of our talents, which the apostle presses upon Christians from the consideration of the time they have lost in their sins, and the approaching end of all things (Pe1 4:1-11). The directions for sufferings are that we should not be surprised at them, but rejoice in them, only take care not to suffer as evil-doers. He intimates that their trials were near at hand, that their souls were in danger as well as their bodies, and that the best way to preserve their souls is to commit them to God in well-doing.
Open source ↗4:10 his great variety of spiritual gifts: See Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:1-31; Eph 4:7-16. • Use (literally manage) them well: Believers are like managers: They have been entrusted by God, their Master, with gifts to be used to glorify him.
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds.
They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to minister to them with material blessings.
And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-absorbed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money.
Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?