Loving Others with Our Spiritual Gifts

“Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others]. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor]. Whoever speaks [to the congregation], is to do so as one who speaks the oracles (utterances, the very words) of God. Whoever serves [the congregation] is to do so as one who serves by the strength which God [abundantly] supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified [honored and magnified] through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4: 8-11, AMP)

Love covers a multitude of sins. We love to quote that verse, but do we really live it? Do we really walk out the meaning of that in all we do, especially when we serve each other in the Church? 

The fact of the matter is, churches can be toxic. It’s something most churches love to ignore because they don’t want to own up or take responsibility for the fact that there are people out there walking around with some real emotional wounds inflicted by church people. It’s because as Christians, sometimes we forget that we’re supposed to be good stewards of God’s grace to us. We forget that we are supposed to be the example that God uses to draw others unto Him.

We can be mean. We can get frustrated and lash out. There are other people in our community that have a great way of getting under our skin. Trust me, no one is immune to this. We all know at least one person that comes walking into the room and we plan our escape route to get away from them.

That’s just reality. But the challenge God gives us is to fervently and unfailingly love one another– even them– because we have been fervently and unfailingly loved by God. And that love covered every single one of our sins. It is powerful enough to save us from the certain death we were headed towards. It was good enough to reach us in the graves we dug for ourselves in our sin and make us righteous and holy before God. 

So why do we think that the same love that covered the very worst of our sins isn’t enough to cover our offenses with other people? Why do we honestly believe that that same love can’t heal the frustration for other people we feel in our hearts so that we can forgive and serve them to glorify God?

The truth is, He can. It’s us that put Him in a box. It’s us that can’t let go of our indignation. Because God’s love, if we really encounter it, know it, and let it overtake us, can help us see beyond those things that we think we can’t forgive. It overlooks unkindness and personal offense. It changes us, through and through.

And not only that, but once we let that love break through in us, we can function within God’s kingdom the way He intends for us to. The grace and love we receive from Him has to be shared. It cannot sit still within us. It has to flow through. People that go to church and are content with sitting in a pew their whole lives– never serving or lending their talents to the Body of Christ– show that they have yet to experience the depths of Christ Himself. Why? Because serving is what we are commanded to do. 

We are commanded to love and through that love, to serve. We are told to be hospitable and welcoming to each other, and to use the God-given talents He has given us so that we can serve one another in love to the glory of the Lord.

We all know that passage in Galatians where it talks about the Church being the Body of Christ, and how all of us work together as the parts of that body. We all have a place and a function and God works it all together to drive forward His will and purpose. But have we ever considered that God gave us those gifts not just for His glory, but so that we can better love those around us? 

If God has given someone the gift to preach, the simple act of them operating in that gift– explaining and communicating the word of God so others can understand it and know Him better– is a form of them loving others by edifying them with that gift. I am a worshiper. When I operate in that gift and share it with the church, leading them into God-honoring worship, I am loving others. How? Because I am filling a need that maybe countless others struggle with. I am being used as the vessel for the Holy Spirit to minister and draw others to Him. I am being used as the instrument to remind others to place their focus, attention, and devotion on Him even if it’s just for a moment.

And yes, when operating in your gift, you have to be ever-vigilant against pride and self. God didn’t give you a gift for you to feel important or superior to others. He gave it to you for His glory and to serve others. It is your responsibility to protect that gift and keep it pure, holy, and pleasing to the Lord. It is your job to stay faithful to the calling God has given you.

So if you have the gift of hospitality, use it to honor God and welcome others to the family of God in love. If you have a gift for pastoring, then diligently care for His people so He can minister to them in a safe environment where they can worship without fear of heartache. If you have a talent for prayer, pray for others in love, not to puff yourself up with eloquent prayer to be seen or heard by others.

No matter what your talent for the Lord is, operate in love as you do it. And make sure you are not stingy with those who you don’t think deserve it. Don’t withhold your gift from God by deeming only a select group of people worthy of serving. Utilize that gift in love, remembering that God’s love found you when you were the least deserving of it, and that love has the power to change. It has the power to change even your deeply rooted frustrations with the most “annoying” of God’s people.

Love covers a multitude of sins. Even those sins you find it hard to overlook, so let God cover them for you so you can help people heal and draw near to Christ.