Digging Deeper – For God
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 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 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV)
FOR GOD
Peter concludes this section of his letter by urging believers to serve one another. The problem we all battle is that we are all fundamentally bent toward seeking our glory. Notice how Peter says the focus should be on God and not ourselves. He reminds us that God is the gift giver, and we are the stewards of those gifts. When we speak and teach, we are not giving our ideas and opinions but rather the word of God. When we serve, we don’t do it in the flesh but with the strength that God supplies. We do these things “in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” The point is clear. There is no room in the body of Christ for selfish servants who seek their own glory. Paul wrote in Colossians 1:16 that we were created “for Him.” We are made for God. God designed us for His purposes. Why were all things created for Jesus? As one theologian explained, “Did he need another waterfall, an extra million stars, or a thundering herd of buffalo storming across an empty continent? No, the purpose of Creation is to point to Jesus. All of it, in its created glory, is a testimony to the power, the wonder, and the incredible beauty of our Savior.” Pastor and Theologian John Piper said, “Our salvation is for God’s sake. He created us to display his glory.” First Corinthians 10:31 (NLT) says: “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
During the 1920s, a running back for Notre Dame kept a scrapbook of newspaper clippings of his highlights and achievements on the football field. He was particularly obnoxious about how great a football player he was and his ability to get free and score. One Monday morning, after a particularly good game, he bragged about how great he was. During the first play of practice, the team lined up to run a play. When the ball was snapped, the offensive line, which typically blocked for him, stood aside and let the defense in. The defense buried him for a loss. His blockers on the offensive line shouted, “They can’t do that! Show them your newspaper clippings!” That self-centered player may be why Notre Dame football players don’t have names on the back of their jerseys to this day. The idea is that no player plays for himself but rather for the good and success of the team. It’s not about the player’s name on the back of the jersey but the team’s name on the front.
In the same way, God did not create us to lead self-centered lives that are all about us. That is not why He created us. He created us to make much of His name and to fulfill His purposes. Ask God to help you make your life more about Him and others than yourself.
Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Maturity at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton. He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.
