Continuing our verse-by-verse study of 1 Peter, you will recall from our previous post (1 Peter 4:7-8) Christians glorify God when they endeavor to pray carefully, and continue to love earnestly. In today’s post on verses 9 and following, we discover two more ways Christians may glorify God:
9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
1 Peter 4:9-11
10 As each one has a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Show Hospitality Cheerfully
Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. (verse 9)
Hospitality towards other Christians was especially necessary during a time in the Greco-Roman world when traveler’s inns were not exactly the safest or most desirable places to spend the evening. Providing a safe place to stay and some food to eat was a practical way to show hospitality.
Of course, Christians should show hospitality to all persons, not just to fellow believers, but to non-Christians, too. Remember the words of our Lord Jesus in Matthew 25:35-36:
for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
Peter might argue that if Christians are to show hospitality to all people, then they must especially show hospitality to other Christians, to “one another.” After all, hospitality is an extension of Christian love.
And I like what Peter goes on to say in verse 9: “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.”
That word “grumbling” is the same word used by Paul in Philippians 2:14 where he tells the church to do all things “without murmuring and disputing.” It’s the Greek word “gongysmos.” I don’t usually cite the original Greek, but I think it’s helpful here because it’s one of those onomatopoeic words, a word that sounds like its meaning. I mean gongyzmos just sounds like grumbling, doesn’t it?! Gongyzmos!
Church: be hospitable to one another without “gongyzmosing” about it!
Invite someone to your house for dinner without grumbling.
Give a brother or sister a ride somewhere without grumbling.
Help out someone financially without grumbling.
Share the love of Jesus Christ in practical ways–without gongyzmosing!!
God-glorifying Christians endeavor to pray carefully, continue to love earnestly, show hospitality cheerfully and, number four, God-glorifying Christians:
Bless Each Other Uniquely
Verses 10-11 teach how Christians use their God-given talents and abilities to bless one another:
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (verse 10)
Every Christian has received at least one gift–a spiritual gift–from God. This is a gift that is to be used by the Christian in order to bless fellow believers and bring glory to God.
Incidentally, there are four chapters in the New Testament delineating many of the spiritual gifts God gives to Christians: Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10–and also 1 Corinthians 12:28-30—Ephesians 4:11, and then here in 1 Peter 4:10-11.
Some of the spiritual gifts Christians may have include serving, teaching, preaching, encouraging, showing mercy, having wisdom, and administrating.
None of the lists in the New Testament is intended to be an exhaustive list. Indeed, any talent or ability we have comes from God.
Verse 10 says “each one has received a gift” to be used so we may “minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold (or multi-faceted) grace of God.”
Because each Christian is uniquely shaped by God, there are endless possibilities of ministries that may be offered through the church body.
And if we’re not using our gifts, talents, or abilities to bless fellow believers, then we’re not “being good stewards of the grace of God” (verse 10). We’re neglecting to use the gifts God has given us.
If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom (Jesus) belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (verse 11)
Peter says, “if anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.” Many scholars think Peter has in mind preachers of the Word here when he says “if anyone speaks…”
Certainly those who speak as preachers and teachers should “speak as the oracles of God.” Preachers and teachers–if doing their job rightly–are indeed speaking the very words of God.
This is one reason I am personally committed to biblical exposition; opening up the Bible, reading through and studying through complete books of the Bible–one passage at a time–allowing the Word itself to “speak the very oracles of God.”
This phrase in verse 11: “if anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God” may refer to anyone speaking in the context of using his or her spiritual gift of preaching, teaching, praying, prophesying, evangelizing, or even singing and sharing testimonies.
Persons speaking in any way at all (i.e., not just preachers) in the gathered assembly should take seriously what they do when they open their mouths. They should be as serious about what they say as though they were speaking the very words of God.
Think of it! Do you sing that way? Do you share the gospel that way? Do you give a testimony that way: taking what you are doing as seriously as though you were standing up to speak the very words of God?!
This consideration may change the way many of us will speak this week.
And each person ministers “with the ability God supplies” (verse 11), which is to say, not in our own strength, but in the strength of God.
Do you find serving in the church wearisome? Maybe it’s because you are not doing it “with the ability which God supplies.” You may be doing it in your own ability.
And if serving the church in some way engenders pride, then we must repent. We must use our God-given talents, gifts, and abilities in order that “God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever” (verse 11).
Our ultimate aim in all we do is to see God glorified through Jesus Christ.
In sum, according to 1 Peter 4:7-11, Christians who glorify God do four things. They:
1) Endeavor To Pray Carefully
2) Continue To Love Earnestly
3) Show Hospitality Cheerfully–without “gongyzmosing” about it!
And:
4) Bless Each Other Uniquely
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Todd, good stuff here, I would personally add, Bless Each Other Openly by Listening. I love to hear how God is blessing others. It shows we are concerned about the well being of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
One of the things I do not so much like when asking about what God is doing is this scenario; a cutesy thing “Christians” say when I ask how are things going is “I am Bless” and you? Part of me wants to respond, DUH! (aren’t all believers) Of course I usually just say certainly…this is what God is doing for me/us how about you.
Todd Linn, PhD
Right! And thanks for the additional point about listening to how others are blessed