Serving to glorify God

What would I do if I knew this was my last day on earth? Peter’s message to Christians scattered around the world was designed to drive them to recognize the end was coming. Peter may well have been specifically thinking about the end of the Jewish system and destruction of Jerusalem which was just a few years away from the time of his writing. To this writer, it also seems likely that he took the Lord’s words to heart (Matthew 24:36-44) and constantly thought of the Lord’s return as imminent so that he would be prepared (Matthew 25:13). Stable thinking and self-control coupled with a regular diet of prayer would help keep one prepared (1 Peter 4:7).

Deep love for the brethren is another means of being sustained. This would be important to Christians during the approach of a disaster, such as the destruction of Jerusalem. Men who thought or think only in terms of the physical could be shaken by such a powerful and destructive event. They would need encouragement to remain faithful as they watch for the Lord’s return.

Encouragement is especially found in the ready forgiveness of sins and the way others refuse to bring them up again. That love would also cause one to participate in hospitality, or being friendly to strangers. In a day when so much wickedness was found in public inns, it was very important for Christians who were traveling to find lodging in a place where they would not be exposed to so much evil. Thus, hospitality is frequently enjoined upon Christians (Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy 3:7; 5:10; Titus 1:8; Hebrews 13:2; 3 John 5-8). As with anything done in the Lord’s service, there would be no true value in entertaining strangers if one did it with a complaining spirit (1 Peter 4:8-9).

The word for "gift," in 4:10, is the Greek word charisma and indicates it is something given by the grace of God. It can stand for miraculous gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4), but does not have to (Romans 6:23). Either use of the word would be true to Biblical thinking. Whatever God has given the Christian has been entrusted to him and should be used wisely (1 Corinthians 4:2; Matthew 25:14-30). Christians should especially want to use what they had to help fellow Christians.

“Oracles,” as found in 1 Peter 4:11, is defined by Thayer: "In the New Testament spoken of the words or utterances of God." It is used in Acts 7:38; Romans 3:2; Hebrews 5:12; and here. Peter seems to be continuing the thought of verse 10 by saying those who used the ability to speak, which God gave them, should speak only those words that God revealed. Those who do by helping others need to realize that their ability to serve and the means with which they serve are from God. Thus, God provides the words of the speaker and the means of the doer and all should be used to glorify him (1 Corinthians 10:31; Matthew 5:16; John 15:8). God has planned for man to glorify him in Christ, or his body, the church (Ephesians 3:21). Praise belongs to God now and throughout all eternity.

Facing troubled times is made easier by the loving encouragement of the brethren. It is sustained by God’s gracious gifts to us in more ways than we could easily list.