Be stewards of your skills
We often hear that we are to be stewards of the environment. That is green and green is good! Our world is a marvelous place filled with things that fit together, but sometimes the choices and even advances of mankind have put some scars on our God made world. It can be difficult to know how to help with the scars and how to prevent new ones. The steps taken do not have to be as big as the world. The steps can be as easy as picking up trash around your neighborhood or by a local school or playground. Those are things we have done when we find ourselves with an hour or two on a holiday. There is something, though, that is closer to home than the playground or sidewalk, the street or the shoulder by the road. That closer something is us. We have things that we can do, that we are skilled at, that we are comfortable with. These good things are given by a good God. These two verses show how we can have a green soul, a green life, and that green glorifies God.
“10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 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. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10-11) (ESV)
Verse 10: Lessons in possessions
- This verse starts with two letters: “a” and “s” which when combined into the word “as” can make a statement. It is a statement that is better understood from the word since which can be phrased:
- Considering…
- In view of…
- Seeing that…
- This way of phrasing the word “as” provides the meaning for the rest of that first phrase.
- Considering…that each has received a gift
- In view of the fact…that each has received a gift
- Seeing…that each has received a gift
- Every believer has received from God good things, things of service, tools, skills, etc.
- They are from God
- They are brought by the Holy Spirit
- They are inbuilt into personality and God-crafted in experience
- What are tools for? To be used.
- They can be used for self-advancement, but should be used for others-advancement.
- They should be used to serve
- Why?
- As stewards
- Stewards are people who have been given a thing, a trust, a responsibility but it is on loan.
- The things a steward has they hold in trust for another.
- God has given us things that are to be used for other people.
- So: be a good steward.
- As stewards
- Then there is another great statement: “God’s varied grace.”
- Different gifts are given to different people
- Some are teachers
- Some have the gift of mercy
- Some are generous
- Some are kind, loving and hospital
- Some have great depth of insight
- Some can fathom mysteries
- Some can invent
- The list is not short
- Good things are from above coming down from the one who made the stars. 1
- Different gifts are given to different people
- So there is a wide variety of things that people are good at.
- That is God’s doing.
- We are not merely random organisms on the earth here because of some parent’s choice or other accident
- God is engaged to all of humanity doing what he wills
- You and are are part of that
- Spiritual health, happiness really, comes from viewing one’s skills and abilities as God given and something we should manage well in the service of others.
Verse 11: Examples with possessions
- Can you speak? Do it carefully sharing in a manner God would be pleased with.
- Do not expose sin
- It is shameful to mention what the wicked do in secret. 2
- Can you serve? Do it with God’s strength
- God provides that strength when it is needed.
- When your attitude is running on empty, you are hungry and you have an annoying client, customer, patient, co-worker, whatever, call upon the Lord. He will hear and he will answer.
- Life lived this way results in praise of God.
- Be a steward and God will be praised
- Of course our motive must be the praise and honor of God, but we must realize that honor accrues by our acting out the skills God has assigned.
- Remember that some will speak maliciously of you but end up ashamed. 3
Some key concepts:
- Since one has ability(ies) use them
- Parable of the talents
- Since one has ability(ies) be a steward of them
- By doing this God is praised
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