Dunsin Oyekan’s song Absolutely Nothing has these lyrics—All I have is what You gave me, Who I am is what You made me; I am absolutely nothing without You, absolutely nothing without You. No better way to explain the introductory phrase of our text—1 Peter 4:10 (AMPC)—As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God’s many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor].

James 1:16-18 (MSG) explains further—So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.

The description of the gifts also speaks to the nature of their use. Rivers of light cascading from heaven are of no man’s making, hence must not be polluted by the recipient’s inadequacies or emotional reactions! Food for thought indeed! What’s your response to the repeated and unceasing demands upon the gifts you have been entrusted with? Demands upon your resources for financial help or upon your limited time for those needing an ear to listen to their pains, what do they trigger in you? May the Lord help each of us to avoid the error of Moses, whose anger in the face of pressure and provocation by the incessant yet real and legitimate demand (for water) of the people under his charge disobeyed the instruction of his employer (God). He was fired!

The grace gifts or gracious endowments are intended to serve one another as faithful stewards or good trustees and may the Lord help each of us reflect the love of God, giving Him pleasure. His pleasure must be our passion. Shalom.

Pastor Afolabi Oladele