Faithful Stewards

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

Do you ever feel like you are running out of gas? Or maybe like your battery is at 3% and you are operating in low-power mode, just hanging on for dear life until you can recharge? There are things that we can do as believers to recharge our batteries and refuel our tanks. Reading God’s Word, spending time alone talking and listening to God, corporate worship with other believers, and living in community with a small group of other Christians are all ways that we can recharge. There is one other way we can refuel that is often overlooked, and that is to serve others.

This is one of the great paradoxes of the Christian life: in order to become great, humble yourself and serve others. It is important to recognize that the way we might measure greatness in this world is quite different from the way that God measures greatness in His Kingdom. Our culture defines greatness by accumulation and accomplishments. If people have a lot or have done a lot, we call them “great.” But there is a distinct and important difference between having great things, doing great things, and being a great person.

Those who are great in God’s eyes are not the ones who have achieved a high position or accumulated great possessions. Instead, they are the ones who serve the most people in His name. As 1 Peter 4:10 states, when we serve others, we are being faithful stewards of God’s grace. Think about that term, “faithful stewards.” Have you ever considered that you are a steward of grace? The word “steward” here means, “The manager, to whom the head of the household has entrusted his affairs, including the duty of dealing out the proper portion to every servant and children not yet of age.”

God has entrusted His people with the duty of managing His grace…portioning it out through our service to others. This goes way beyond just doing random acts of kindness or the occasional mission project or trip. This is a calling to lay down our lives for others through humble service every single day. It should become a way of life, not a special event or project.

Are you being a faithful steward of God’s grace by using your unique gifts and talents to serve others? This is how to become great in God’s eyes.

Dear God, thank You for entrusting me as a steward of Your grace. Please continually change my heart to make me more humble and servant-minded. Open my eyes to the opportunities You have prepared for me today to portion out Your grace to others. In Jesus’ name, amen.