A few days ago I returned from North Carolina where I got a firsthand look at some of the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Rapids destroyed concrete bridges, caused mudslides and rerouted rivers. Cavernous sinkholes were left behind, water towers dropped and roadways wiped off the map. The most impactful part of my time there were the stories of the survivors. There were horror stories to be sure—one man told me his place was unharmed, but a neighbor’s house and its occupants were swept away. Overwhelmingly, however, were the accounts of neighbors and churches that leapt into action. Churches were sharing facilities to ensure that hot meals were available to anyone that needed them, all day long. Their parking lots became points of distribution for water, clothes, diapers, toiletries and hundreds of other items.
One of the stories was particularly powerful. I made friends with a Christian that served in a local volunteer fire department. He told me that all sources of power and internet had gone down, making it impossible to identify who was missing or to coordinate rescue and recovery efforts. He was scrambling unsuccessfully to find generators or portable internet devices when he was given a phone number to call. The man that answered was a pilot that personally owned multiple aircraft in another state. The man explained that he grew up as a staunch atheist, but later in life God saved him from his obstinate unbelief. From that moment he committed himself to serving God. His next question to my new friend was, “What do you need?” After being told about the situation the man said, “It’s taken care of.”
Within a few hours a helicopter was landing with a portion of the supplies. A few hours later another one set down with more of them. The pilot called back and asked what else was needed. Every time something was requested it was delivered the same day. On every delivery was a note with a list of the items being gifted along with a scriptural reference, 1 Peter 4:10.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. (1 Pet. 4:10)
My friend’s eyes welled up and I was speechless. We stared at each other for a moment, then he nodded knowingly and whispered, “Yeah” and repeated, “1 Peter 4:10.”
Without saying it explicitly, we both realized, not the greatness of the generosity of a stranger, but the immensity of love shown by the God those strangers shared. One of His children was in tremendous need and another was able to meet it. One was humbled by the circumstances God gave him and the other was humbled to serve the God that saved him.
How is someone able to give so freely things with such a significant cost? The answer is in the beginning of the verse. “As each has received a gift” means you must recognize that what you have was first given to you. That is how you can carry out the middle of the verse “to serve one another.” You are merely a “steward” of God’s varied grace, not an earner of it.
What is your attitude about your abilities and your assets? Do you credit yourself for the success you have enjoyed or the possessions you’ve gained? How willing are you to share your time and your property with Christians that clearly have a need? Are you comfortable praying that God would use everything that He has given you to serve others and that you might, in every way, be a good steward of His varied grace?
Be honest with yourself and with God. Repent of selfish attitudes and ask Him to help you to view yourself as His steward. Ask God to develop in you a generous disposition that freely brings blessing to other believers.
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. (Prov. 11:24–25)