Are You Giving Back?

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another,... (1 Peter 4:10)

​Many Christians struggle with knowing what their spiritual gift is or even if they have a gift.  There are all sorts of books out there and tests designed to help you discover your gift.  The problem this creates, however, is that many Christians do not bother trying to serve within the church because they believe they do not have any kind of gifting to be able to do so.  Thus, only those who have a gift to contribute or one they can use should be serving within the church.  However, Peter writes in 1 Peter 4:10-11, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever 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.”  Notice, however, that Peter assumes that every believer has received a spiritual gift of some kind: “As each has received a gift…”  Every believer has received a gift from God.  It may not be a miraculous or supernatural gift.  It may not even be one of the spiritual gifts listed in scripture, but we have all been given some spiritual gift or talent or ability from God that we can and should use to serve the body of Christ.  Again, notice Peter says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another…”  Christians are commanded to use their gifts to serve one another.  It is simply not biblical for believers to attend church simply to absorb the worship and the fellowship, to be blessed by the ministry of the church, and then not serve or bless the church in return.  Jesus could not have been clearer when he said, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.  For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (Jn. 13:14-15).  Christians are commanded to serve the Church.