1 Peter 4:10-11 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1) What we have – the equipment each one has received a special gift
The “each” here emphasizes that we do each, individually, have at least one spiritual gift. Each believer has a spiritual gift.
No one in the church can say “I am good for nothing. There is nothing I can do to help in the church.”
If you say that about yourself or another person in the church you are calling God’s Word untrue.
Every believer has a gift and every believer ought to find a way to use that gift.
So if we each have one – what do we do with them?
2) What we do – the job employ it in serving one another
This is their immediate purpose, what they are to be used for, the job they are to do. God gave you the equipment for the task of serving others in the church.
1 Corinthians 12:7 says they are to be used for the common good.
A good definition of spiritual gift — A personal ability for a corporate purpose.
That spiritual gift that you have is not really about you – it is to be used in serving others.
They are for the common good of the body of Christ as an expression of love and never for personal gain or selfish agendas.
Your gift is all about God loving others through you. This is a great way to look at spiritual gifts and ministry:
God, how can you love others through me best?
Another good definition of spiritual gift – How God meets the needs of other believers through you.