Text: 1 Peter 4:7-11
Core Idea: Everything we have is a gift from God – entrusted to us for this brief life. So, until our King returns, let’s serve one another with what He has given, in the strength He provides, and for the glory He alone deserves.
INTRODUCTION
We are continuing our sermon series on building a “one another” community. Two weeks ago, we considered what it means to accept one another despite our differences. And last week, we studied what it means to love one another. We saw that Christian love begins with the love we receive from Jesus – the One who knows us completely and loves us to the end. But His love doesn’t end with us – it moves through us to others. Today, we come to another “one another” command: Serve one another. In many ways, this is where love becomes practical, because serving puts love into action as we use our time, energy, and abilities for the good of others. Now, when we hear the word “serve,” we may immediately think about volunteer positions or ministry programs. And even though those are important expressions of service, biblical service is much more than that. It’s actually recognizing that whatever God has placed in our hands has been entrusted to us to bless His people. Well, what does that mean? We’re going to find out today. So, with that in mind, please turn to 1 Peter 4:7-11. And I will read this for us.
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Amen. This is the Word of God for you today.
Let me share three things from this passage:
· SERVE WITH THE END IN VIEW
· SERVE AS A STEWARD OF GRACE
· SERVE IN GOD’S STRENGTH FOR GOD’S GLORY
1) SERVE WITH THE END IN VIEW
Verse 7: “The end of all things is near.” Before Peter tells them what to do, he reminds them of what is coming. And to understand why, here’s what you need to know about the people he was writing to. In 1 Peter 1:1, Peter describes them as “God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces [of Asia Minor].” Because they lived among people who didn’t share their faith and values, they were misunderstood, insulted, and pressured to return to their former way of life. And as the pressure increased, they wondered, “How long can we continue like this? Is remaining faithful really worth the cost?” And to these suffering believers, Peter says, “The end of all things is near.” Now, Peter wasn’t predicting the date of Christ’s return. Instead, he meant that because Jesus had already died, risen, and ascended, God’s plan of redemption had entered its final stage. History was now moving toward Christ’s return. He was telling them, “Jesus will come again. Evil will be judged, every wrong will be made right, and this world – broken by sin – will not continue forever. Your suffering won’t have the final word, and your faithfulness will never be wasted or forgotten. The King is coming, and He will make all things new.” Now, we live in a world where saying, “The end is near,” makes people uncomfortable. We’ve probably seen someone standing on a street corner holding a sign that says the end is coming. And many often think, “That person is crazy. Life will continue as it always has. Tomorrow will come. Nothing is going to change.” But notice what Peter says: “Therefore be alert and of sober mind.” The expression translated as “sober mind” carries the idea of thinking clearly and seeing life as it truly is. Isn’t that interesting? The world says that believing the end is near is irrational. But Peter says that living as though this world will continue forever is what places us out of touch with reality. The clear-minded person remembers that life is brief, this world is passing away, and Christ will return. And if we forget this, we’ll live as though this life is all there is. We’ll accumulate things we cannot keep, protect comforts that we’ll eventually lose, and build our lives around ourselves. We’ll assume that there will always be more time – more time to obey, reconcile, serve, and take God seriously. But none of us has been promised tomorrow.
Then, how should we live in light of this reality? Verse 7: “Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.” His first response to the coming end is not panic or speculation. He doesn’t tell Christians to study timelines or identify the Antichrist. No, he tells them to pray. Knowing that Christ is coming should steady our minds and drive us toward God. This would’ve been especially important for Peter’s audience because suffering can often cloud our judgment. Fear can consume our thoughts, and weariness can cause us to drift. No wonder Peter tells them to see reality clearly and pray. Then, verse 8: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” Because the end is near, pray. And because the end is near, love one another deeply. That’s the logic. The word “deeply” carries the idea of being stretched or extended – meaning Peter is describing a love that continues even when it’s tested. And they would’ve definitely needed that kind of love because we all know that doing life together is difficult, especially in suffering. Pressure can make us impatient, sensitive, and self-protective. When we’re already carrying our own burdens, the weaknesses of others can feel even more frustrating. But that’s exactly why Peter says, “Love covers over a multitude of sins.” Now, he’s not telling them to hide each other’s sins and pretend nothing happened. No, he’s describing a love that doesn’t expose every failure or keep a record of every offence. There are sins and weaknesses we can choose to forgive rather than advertise. There are offences we can absorb without demanding repayment. And if we’re going to serve one another, we’ll need this kind of love because the people we serve will sometimes disappoint us. They may not notice our sacrifice or thank us. And they may even misunderstand our intentions. But if we serve only those who appreciate us, we won’t serve for very long. Now, Peter gives one more response we should have in verse 9: “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” Hospitality means opening our lives and making room for others. In Peter’s day, this may have meant welcoming traveling believers or Christians in need – and this could’ve been costly and even risky. But Peter adds two important words, “without grumbling,” because he knew that we could open our homes while keeping our hearts closed. If we don’t guard our hearts, we can easily begin to see people as interruptions to our comfort rather than opportunities to love. But remembering that the end is near changes our perspective. We understand that the home we protect won’t last forever. The money we preserve will eventually belong to someone else. The time we guard is already passing away. But the people before us will live forever – which means what feels like an interruption may actually be an eternal opportunity placed before us by God. Then, this is where service begins: with a clear view of reality. Christ is coming. Our time is short. The things of this world are passing away. Therefore, we should invest ourselves in what will last. So, let me ask you: Are you using your time, energy, and resources to serve others? Or are you postponing obedience because you assume there will always be more time? Has your desire for comfort caused you to see people as inconveniences rather than opportunities to love? Brothers and sisters, Peter’s words aren’t meant to make us anxious about the future – they’re meant to make us faithful in the present. Because Christ is coming, the sacrifices we make for His people are never wasted. The meal prepared, the home opened, the prayer offered, and the hour given may seem small now – but Christ sees it all. So, let’s serve with the end in view. Let’s invest our lives in what will last – knowing that our King is coming and faithfulness to Him will always be worth the cost.
2) SERVE AS A STEWARD OF GRACE
After calling believers to live with the end in view, Peter turns to the command at the heart of our passage. Verse 10: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” Notice how Peter begins: “Each of you.” He doesn’t say, “Some of you,” or “Those of you who are especially talented.” He doesn’t reserve service for pastors, ministry leaders, or mature Christians. No, he addresses every believer. If you belong to Christ, God has given you something that can be used to serve others. Now, some of you may hear that and think, “I’m not sure that applies to me. I don’t know what my gift is. Other people seem far more capable than I am. I don’t think I have much to offer.” But listen again to what Peter says: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received.” You may not yet know exactly what your gift is. It may not be public or immediately noticeable. You may not be able to preach, lead worship, or teach a class. But that doesn’t mean you have nothing to offer. God has entrusted something to every believer that can be used to strengthen His church. The word “gift” matters because it reminds us that whatever we possess has been received. Our abilities, experiences, opportunities, and resources have been given to us by God. This is important to note because it protects us from two opposite dangers: pride and insecurity. Pride says, “Look at what I can do. Look at how much the church needs me.” But if it’s a gift, there’s no room for boasting – knowing we didn’t earn it. God gave it to us. On the other hand, insecurity says, “What I have doesn’t matter. My contribution is too small to make a difference.” But if God gave it, we have no right to call it worthless. We may wish we had someone else’s ability, personality, or opportunity, but God didn’t make a mistake when He distributed His gifts. Friends, this is why comparison is so destructive. It makes us proud because we think our gifts are more important – or discouraged because we think they’re less important. Either way, our eyes remain fixed on ourselves. But grace keeps our eyes on the Lord – it says, “Everything I have is a gift from God.”
Now, Peter continues: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others.” God’s gifts aren’t given just for our fulfillment, recognition, or advancement. They’re given to strengthen the people around us. Our culture constantly teaches us to center life around ourselves: “What do I want? What will make me happy? How can I build the life I desire?” And if we’re not careful, that same mindset can follow us into the church, where our gifts can become a way to seek recognition and appreciation. But Peter reorients us – which is why the question isn’t just, “What am I gifted to do?” The more important question is, “How can what God has given me strengthen others?” Our gifts are not spotlights meant to draw attention to us – they’re tools placed into our hands for the good of the body. Peter describes us as “faithful stewards of God’s grace.” A steward was someone trusted to manage what belonged to another. The resources were placed into his hands, but they weren’t his to use however he pleased – he was responsible for using them according to the owner’s purposes. In the same way, your gifts, time, experiences, and opportunities belong to God. He has placed them into your hands for this brief life. But one day, the Owner will return – verse 7: “The end of all things is near.” On that day, the question won’t be whether our gifts were impressive or whether we were recognized. The question will be whether we were faithful with what God entrusted to us. Now, some gifts are easily noticed. Some people preach, sing, lead, or stand before others. But many expressions of God’s grace are quieter. Think of the person who welcomes someone standing alone, brings a meal to a family in need, remembers a prayer request, works patiently with our children, arrives early to set up, or stays afterward to clean. These things may not appear extraordinary, but Peter calls them expressions of “God’s grace in its various forms.” That is a beautiful phrase because it reminds us that God’s grace is rich and many-sided. No single Christian can display all of it. But God distributes His gifts throughout the church so that different expressions of His grace reach different needs. Sometimes His grace comes through a sermon – and sometimes it comes through a meal, wise counsel, a generous gift, a ride, or a timely email. All that to say, God delights to care for His people through His people.
In fact, this is the very reason why the gift is not the main point – the strengthening of others is. Let me explain. Suppose your gift is singing, but there’s no present need for another person on the worship team. How do you respond? Do you conclude that the church has no place for you? Do you feel unappreciated and withdraw? Do you say, “If I can’t serve in the way I prefer, I won’t serve at all”? I ask this because our response could reveal that we’re more interested in expressing our gift than in serving people. Now, we should most definitely use our gifts where they can benefit the church. But our gifts are not personal platforms that the church must provide for us. A servant doesn’t begin by demanding a particular role – a servant begins by noticing the needs of others. Sometimes the most faithful way to serve will closely match our gifting. But at other times, love may call us to meet a need that feels ordinary or inconvenient. You may be gifted musically, but the immediate need may be for you to serve our children. You may enjoy leading, but the church may need you to move chairs, prepare snacks, or serve quietly under someone else’s direction. I’m not saying we should ignore our gifts – I’m just saying we should surrender our gifts to God. Friends, are we willing to let Him decide how, where, and when to use them? In fact, let’s do a heart-check. When your gift isn’t recognized or needed in the way you hoped, how do you respond? Do you become offended? Do you withdraw or assume you’re not valued? Or do you ask, “Lord, where can I be useful in this season? Whose life can I strengthen?” At Lighthouse, there are many visible and hidden opportunities to serve. We need people who will invest in our children and youth, welcome newcomers, prepare snacks, arrange chairs, and walk with those who are struggling. These things don’t happen by themselves – they happen because someone notices a need and chooses to serve. Last week, we saw Jesus take the place of a servant and wash His disciples’ feet. Even though He possessed all authority, power, and glory, He wasn’t preoccupied with protecting His position. He ultimately gave His life to save us. Then, how can we follow the Servant King while insisting that certain forms of service are beneath us? So, brothers and sisters, don’t exalt your gift, but don’t belittle it either. Receive it gratefully, hold it humbly, and use it faithfully. As each of us offers what we have received, God will display His grace and strengthen His church through us.
3) SERVE IN GOD’S STRENGTH FOR GOD’S GLORY
Verse 11: “If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides.” Peter gives us two broad ways to serve: through our words and through our actions. But whether we serve with our mouths or our hands, Peter reminds us to depend on what God provides. First, he says, “If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.” Now, he’s not saying that whenever Christians speak, our words become inspired or infallible. Our words do not carry the same authority as Scripture. Rather, he’s just reminding us that our words carry weight and must be used carefully for the good of others. This certainly applies to those who preach and teach publicly – like me. Whenever I stand in this pulpit, my responsibility isn’t to entertain you, impress you, or offer my personal opinions. My responsibility is to explain what God has spoken as faithfully as I can so that you’ll be built up. But this command extends beyond public teaching. We serve others through our words whenever we open Scripture in Community Groups, disciple another believer, encourage someone who is discouraged, pray with someone who is in pain, gently correct someone who is wandering, or share the gospel with someone who doesn’t know Christ. In fact, even an ordinary conversation over coffee or a meal can become a means through which God gives grace to someone. All that to say, our words carry more significance than we often realize. Proverbs 18:21: “The tongue has the power of life and death.” Our words can deepen someone’s shame or remind them of grace. They can spread suspicion or cultivate peace. They can make another person’s burden heavier or help them carry it. Then, let me ask you: After people speak with you, are they more burdened by your opinions or strengthened by God’s truth? The truth is that it’s possible to say something true in a way that is harsh or poorly timed. Think about it: telling someone, “God is in control,” at a funeral may be true, but if spoken without sensitivity, it may offer little comfort to a grieving heart. Using God’s Word faithfully involves more than saying something biblically accurate. It means speaking the right truth, with the right spirit, at the right time, for the good of the person listening. Our goal shouldn’t be to win an argument or prove how much we know – it should be to help another person know, trust, and treasure Jesus. So, for example, if someone is discouraged, you can serve them by reminding them that God hasn’t abandoned them. If someone is overwhelmed by guilt, you can share with them the forgiveness found in Christ. If someone is drifting spiritually, you can gently call them back to the truth. But if someone is suffering and you don’t know what to say, you can just listen, remain with them, and pray. Now, remember this: God’s Word must dwell within us before it can flow through us. We cannot expect to speak God’s truth wisely if we don’t regularly listen to it ourselves. So, if you want to serve others with your words, let the Word of God serve and shape you first.
Second, Peter turns to practical service: “If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides.” This is encouraging because God doesn’t just tell us to serve and then leave us to do it alone. The God who gives us the work also provides the strength we need to carry it out. And we need that strength because serving can be quite costly. It takes energy to teach children after a tiring week. It takes patience to walk with someone whose struggles don’t change quickly. It takes humility to complete work no one notices and perseverance to keep showing up when we don’t feel appreciated. Now, the problem is that some of us serve as though the church would collapse if we stopped. We struggle to say no, ask for help, or admit we’re tired because we want to feel needed, or because we fear disappointing people. We may call it faithfulness, but sometimes it’s self-reliance wearing spiritual clothing. Of course, serving in God’s strength doesn’t mean Christians never become tired. It doesn’t mean we should accept every opportunity, ignore our limitations, or live without rest. Jesus Himself withdrew from the crowds to pray. But serving in God’s strength means refusing to act as though everything depends on us. It means we pray before we serve. We remain close to Christ. We receive help from other believers. We rest when rest is needed. And we trust God to continue His work when we cannot do everything. But here’s something we need to be careful of: Our limitations shouldn’t become an excuse for passivity. We can become so concerned about protecting ourselves from exhaustion that we refuse every sacrifice. But there’s a difference between recognizing our limits and making comfort our highest priority. The truth is that Christian service will cost us something. There will be times when we’ll need to serve even when we’re tired, adjust our plans, or take responsibility for a need we didn’t create. Then, the question isn’t whether service will ever stretch us. The question is whose strength we’re going to trust when we’re stretched. Friends, when you feel inadequate, pray, “Lord, I don’t feel capable of this task. But if You’ve called me to serve here, give me what I need for today.” And He will provide what you need to obey Him today.
Now, why does God supply that strength? Peter gives us the ultimate purpose at the end of verse 11: “So that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” This is where all Christian service is meant to lead. We don’t serve so that people will recognize our gifts, admire our sacrifice, or tell us how valuable we are. We serve so that God may be praised. Look at the pattern: God gives the gift. God provides the strength. Other people receive the benefit. And God receives the glory. Then, there should be no room for boasting. If God gave us the ability and supplied the strength, how can we take the credit for what He accomplished through us? This is important to note because it also frees us from needing recognition. Of course, it’s good to thank and encourage those who serve. We should never use “God gets the glory” as an excuse to take people for granted. But our deepest motivation for serving cannot depend upon human appreciation because there will be times when no one notices what we’ve done. The chairs are arranged, but no one knows who came early. A child is taught week after week, but the fruit may not appear for years. Someone is prayed for privately and never learns who was interceding for them. A meal is delivered, a mess is cleaned, a struggling person is quietly supported – and most of the church never hears about it. But God sees. Then, let me ask you: If no one noticed or thanked you, would knowing that God was glorified be enough for you? Our answer to this question will expose why we serve. If we get angry when we’re overlooked, maybe our service has quietly become a way of seeking praise for ourselves. If we stop serving when we’re no longer recognized, maybe God’s glory was never our deepest goal. But when God’s glory becomes our joy, we can serve faithfully even when no one applauds, because the One we serve sees it all. And when others are strengthened, we can quietly rejoice that God used what He gave us to display His grace. Isn’t this what Jesus has done for us? He came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. At the cross, He accomplished what we could never accomplish for ourselves – and through His resurrection and the gift of His Spirit, He now supplies what we need to follow Him. Brothers and sisters, I pray that Lighthouse will be a serving church. I pray that our words will be shaped by God’s Word, our hands strengthened by God’s power, and our hearts directed toward God’s praise. Then, whatever God calls you to do, don’t serve to make your name known – and don’t serve as though everything depends on you. Serve with the strength God provides so that He will receive the glory.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, everything we have is a gift from God – entrusted to us for this brief life. So, until our King returns, let’s serve one another with what He has given, in the strength He provides, and for the glory He alone deserves.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) What does Peter say believers should do because “the end of all things is near”? How does remembering that Christ will return change the way you view your time, possessions, and comfort? How does knowing this reality guard you from seeing people’s needs as interruptions to the life you want?
2) What does it mean to be a “steward” rather than an owner of what God has given us? What abilities, experiences, resources, or opportunities has God placed into your hands? Is there a need before you (at home or church) that God may be calling you to meet even if it doesn’t perfectly match your gifting?
3) What is the ultimate purpose of Christian service according to the end of verse 11? If no one thanked you for your service, would knowing that God was glorified be enough?
4) Questions for Youth: Is there a need at home, school, or church that you’ve noticed but hoped someone else would meet? What is one practical way you can serve this week – knowing the abilities and gifts God has given you?
