Serving for God's Glory

1 Peter 4:7-11

V. 7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
I think that Peter is keeping the thought of the flood before him as he continues in his letter to the church, as he parallels Gen. 6:13, where God says to Noah: “The end of all flesh has come before me,” The church saw that because of their believe they were suffering at the hands of former friends, also that they saw that the wicked still flourished. What Peter is alluding to is that the wicked will not also enjoy the lifestyle that they have chosen. Granted sin does bring its temporary pleasures, but they are just that, temporal. The things of the Kingdom of God are everlasting, and it is these things that we should endeavor to pursue.
In a few years after Peter wrote this letter, Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans. Literally the end was at hand, the end of the Levitical priesthood, the end of the temple, and the whole Jewish economy. In relationship to our day, we look for the second coming of Christ, when the church as we know it will be taken from this earth. Granted the buildings and books will remain, which will lead those left behind to God though Christ, but the true church of Christ will be gone. With all the different churches out there how are we to know which is the true church of Christ? The true church of Christ is a body of believers, who have admitted that they are sinners and have accepted the gift of salvation in the person of Jesus Christ.
So knowing that the end is at hand, we are to be watchful. In another thought we must realize that we may still suffer the fate of the unrighteous while still here in this life. Therefore Peter is telling his readers that they are to watch against all occasion to sin, do all they can to further the Kingdom of God, and pray for the supporting hand of God to be upon them that they may be saved from the wrath of God upon the unrighteous and be watchful for an opportunity to witness of the saving grace of God.
V. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
A loving spirit leads us to look past the faults of others, to forgive offences against us, and to understand that the greater goal is not our suffering but the salvation of the sinner. By prayer, and love for them we may become instrumental in leading them to Christ and away from sin.
Proverbs 10:12 says; Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sin. We have a choice to expose the sins of others and further the conflict between them and God, or love them and look past their sin and do right. Compare the conduct of Shem and Japheth to Noah in Gen. 9:23, in contrast to Ham’s exposure of his father’s shame. We ought to cover other’s sins only where love itself does not require the contrary. They could have joined in with Ham judgment of their father, our do what they did not looking upon their father’s sin, but covering Him as he slept.
So while others continue in their sin we are to pray for them, not expose their sins to others, and look for an opportunity to lead them out of their sin and to the cross of Jesus where they can lay their sin down and seek forgiveness.
V. 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
Always be ready to divide what you have been blessed with, with those in need. Be open to the urging of the Holy Spirit to give to others, not only material needs but love and understanding as well.
Do not give just because it is a command, but do it from your love for God and man, in this way we give without grumbling. I always notice those who grumble about being asked to do certain things but do it anyhow, and those who do not grumble but they also not do the task either. Which would you have rather have around? God wants those who do not need to be asked but see the need and do what is right.
Giving to others also means not holding it over their heads, and reminding them over and over what you did for them. Also not reminding God what you did for another, for God knows full well what you did and not only that, but knowing your heart, knows the motive behind your actions. For it is not enough to do good but to do good for the right reason.
V. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
The gift that Peter talks of is any blessing of grace, from God. Rather it is in the means of gifts for the work of the church, or any bounty from the mercy of God. These gifts are given to us not that we may use them for our own blessing alone, but to be a blessing to others as well. By ministering to one another we are simply taking what is given to us and using it to bless others, or applying the gifts that God has given to us in a way that He intends for them to be used. This means that we are to pray about what it is that God wants us to do with what we have been given. This not only applies to wealth, but gifts of the Spirit. A singer does not receive a gift of voice to hear their own vocies in the shower, nor does a preacher receive the gift to preach just to preach to himself. Abundances are not received in order that they can be merely saved but shared with others as God directs, for we are simply stewards of the gifts of God, to be used in His work, and to promote His glory.
V. 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.
As we see in Romans 12:6 and here, we are to speak, speak with the spiritual maturity that God has granted to us, and not out of fear or lack of knowledge. Wisdom is not only knowing when to speak but when not to.
It is also to mean that we are to speak and minister according to the Word of God, and not any other doctrine. The “oracles of God” that Peter refers to are what we refer to as Old Testament writings. What He is saying is that if you are not speaking as the Lord God inspires you to speak, than speak form the written word of God. Jesus being our ultimate example of how to minister to others did this in His ministry here on earth.
When Jesus said; “but I say to you,” you knew you were about to hear a bit of wisdom inspired from the Holy Spirit, complimenting from the writings that the people themselves knew. By doing the will of God in ministering the gifts that are given to us we bring glory to God, and further the Kingdom of God, but when we give out of our own needs, and glory we rob God of the Glory and ourselves of the blessings that God has for us. Also we risk being of further use to God, for we are stewards of God’s gifts and as wise stewards we are to administer God’s blessings for the glory of God.