The gift of each other

The following is an excerpt from By God's Word, a collection of reflections and Bible passages ideal for individual time with God.

God is not stingy; generosity is one of his characteristics. The Bible talks of this generosity as ‘grace’: his graciousness is his generous nature. His generosity is seen in creation and life itself—all the good things he gives to us. But the greatest act of his generosity towards us is the death of his own Son on our behalf.

Closely connected to his generosity are his mercy and forgiveness. To treat people not as they deserve but in mercy—to forgive them—is grace and generosity itself. This is particularly so as our sin is against God and our forgiveness is paid for by him in the atoning work of his Son.

However, God’s generosity is not exhausted with the death of his Son for our forgiveness and pardon. When God raised Christ up to sit at his right hand in all power and authority, he gave his Son the promised Spirit to pour out on all flesh. So, through Christ, God gave his Spirit to regenerate us, bringing us to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus. This rebirth is necessary to enter his kingdom, even though it is beyond us all. But God in his generosity has given us such rebirth through the resurrection of his Son.

Yet even that is not all. God’s amazing generosity goes on and on. Accompanying the arrival of the Spirit of the ascended Christ are God’s gifts for his people. The apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers were given to equip God’s people for the work of building the church, and the church is built by Christ through the gifts he gave to his people. Even today God is generously giving his people the gifts we need to undertake the task of building the church. In your own congregation there are, no doubt, people who are extraordinarily gifted thanks to the generosity of God.

But we should remember our abilities are not self-generated accomplishments. They’re God’s generous gifts. We should give thanks to him for his generosity towards us, and we should thank God for the gift of each other and the gifts he has given to each of us. For each of us has received some gift to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ. We all receive the benefit of each other’s gifts because they are to be used for the common good of building the church. God does not give us gifts for private hoarding or enjoyment, but so that we can use them generously for the benefit of all.

So we must order our common life in order to gain the full benefit of the varied gifts that God has so generously bestowed on our congregation. We must also look for opportunities to use our gifts—not for our own good or for the sake of our reputations, but for the benefit of others. This other-person-centredness is what the Bible means by ‘love’, and it is just another part of God’s amazing grace and generosity.

For reflection

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Pet 4:7-11)