1 Peter 4:10

1 Peter 4:10 ‘As each one has received. special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.'

‘As each one has received. special gift' -‘Special'-‘originally something freely given:. gift of grace' (Vincent p. 662). The word rendered “special gift” is used other places to apply to spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4; 1 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 12:30). But it is also used for natural abilities and talents (Romans 12:6). Points to Note: 1. Every Christian has at least one talent! 2. Even our natural abilities are manifestations of God's grace. Concerning the phrase “special gift”, Thayer notes, ‘gift of grace,. favor which one receives without any merit of his own' (p. 667). 3. We are responsible for the talents which God has given us (Matthew 25:14). What are you doing or not doing with your talents?

‘employ it in serving one another' -‘present active' (Robertson p. 125). God expects Christians to use their natural abilities to help their brethren and spread the gospel. It is not enough to use such abilities to make. living. They must also be used for others. The same rule applies to spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:5 ‘….so that the church may receive edifying'; 12 ‘seek to abound for the edification of the church.').

‘as good stewards of the manifold grace of God' -‘good administrators of God's varied grace' (Arndt p. 560); ‘good trustees of God's many-sided favour' (Wms); ‘efficient stewards of God's varied grace' (Mof). (Matthew 25:23; 1 Corinthians 4:2; 1 Timothy 4:6). Points to Note: 1. Good stewards will use their talents efficiently and regularly. 2. Each spiritual gift and even each natural ability are manifestations of God's grace. ‘the grace of God that manifests itself in various ways' (Arndt p. 683) 2. ‘The Christian must always be under the conviction that nothing he possesses of material goods or personal qualities is his own; that everything he possesses belongs to God; that he must ever use what he has in the interests of God, as God would use it.' (Barclay p. 303)

An Example Of Using Our Talents: