Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 4 · Verse 10
Verse 10. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
OUr Apostle yet proceedeth in the argument of love, and because it were too long to exhort particularly to every duty of love, he puts here all together in one, requiring that every one do communicate what gifts soever he hath, and in what kinde or measure soever; He must not keep it to himself, but distribute it to the good of his brethren, the Church and Commonwealth; and seeing God hath given us those gifts for this end, and made us not owners, but stewards and dispensers of them, and such as must give account of the same, which well followeth upon the former Exhortation, That nothing be done with grudging, we have no cause to grudge at what we do.
This Exhortation is general to all sorts of men whatsoever; though in the next place he instanceth in some particular duties of Church-Officers, as Ministers and Overseers of the Poor.
Here we have, 1. An Exhortation, to minister, to be doing service. 2. The maner, according to our gift whatsoever it be, which is described by the author of it, or means how we have it, we have received it. 3. The generallity of persons which are thus to minister, every man. 4. A Reason, because we are but Stewards.
As every man hath received the gift,] Here note,
1. That every one hath some gift or other to do good with,Every man hath some gift or other wherewith to do good. and whereby he may be profitable, as authority, wisdom, wealth, knowledge, and the like; as there is no member in the body, but hath his gift fit to do good in the body,Simile. not a finger, or toe, nay, the least joynt of the least toe serves for the more steady walking, without which the body were lame,Simile. we could not go so firmly. As every one of the Servants had some of the talents, and he that had least had one; So, though one may have a more excellent gift, or greater measure thereof then another, yet every man hath some or other.
Let none then be discouraged as some be:Use. O I do no good, there is no use of my being in the world, I am a poor man or woman, have neither Wealth, Wisdom, Knowledge, nor Authority, and so live like an unprofitable burthen: Deceive not thy self, if thou wert even a carnal person, yet there were use of thee; but of every one that feareth God, there is special use, and thou doest and mayst do good many ways; Thou doest good in following thy Calling whatsoever it is: Also thou hast some Children, or a little family, if thou bring them up in the fear of God, that they may prove profitable instruments in the Church or Commonwealth, herein thou art of good use. Besides, a poor man may give as good a lift at Prayer, as the rich▪ Thou mayest also do much good by thy good example, patience i… adversity, diligence in thy calling, contentedness in thine Estate, and the like; so by counselling, admonishing, exhorting, comforting, and visiting thy poor and sick Neighbors: Be not discouraged then, but lay out the gift thou hast, and thou shalt please God as highly as they that have more. There are, indeed, some prophane minded men, that say, For these poor folks, what use are they of? they do no good; if there were a thousand of them out of the way, it were a good turn; they do nothing but spend that other folks get: Thus will some miserable minded men say. But if they were carnal, yet are they of use, have skill one way or other; neither shouldst thou grudge at their life, but rather wish that they may live and mend: If they be godly, they do more good then thou dost, notwithstanding of all thy riches; therefore let none despise any, as the eye despiseth not the hand or foot.
2. That every one hath a several and diverse gift,Every one hath (as it were) a several or diverse gift. as it were; some for Magistracy, as Courage, Wisdom, Policy; some for the Ministery, as Knowledge, Interpretation of Scripture, the gift of utterance, Exhortation, Love, Zeal, &c. Some to be housholders, some skill in Physick, Husbandry, Law, Merchandizing, &c. Every one hath not the same,Simile. neither hath one man all: As a General of a Field disposeth of his men, all be Soldiers, but not all of one kinde; some be Horsemen, some be Footmen, and of these some Pikemen, some Musketiers; so hath God disposed of men severally: And this God hath done, for the knitting us together in love, that none might be lifted up above all others, nor despise any, each being of use in his place: None can live of himself, none without the help of others; The Prince not without the Subject, nor the Subject without the Prince; Ministers have their maintenance from the people, people through their preaching attain Faith to the salvation of their souls; The rich wants skill, neither are able to do their own work, therefore employ the poor about it, and relieve them; The Lawyer cannot be without the Clyent, nor the Physician live without Patients; The Merchant cannot be without the Clothier, nor the Husbandman without the Tradesman, each must partake of the others gift.
As therefore we should praise God for such variety of his gifts,Use. and for his wisdom in distributing the same; so we should not be lifted up, or wax insolent, to the despising one of another: If thou hast some gift that others have not, they have also some that thou hast not; If they need thee, thou also standest in need of them; say not of thy Minister, He liveth of us; if thou beest as thou oughtest, thou livest by him: so, as the poor cannot be without thee, thou canst not well be without them.
3. That whatsoever we have fit to do good with,God bestoweth gifts on us freely. its a free gift of God; we came naked into the world, without any goodness, even the least good is of God, any thing that may be called good: They were all freely given Adam, See Iam. 1. 17.much more now, since our rebellion and sin;Dan. 5. 18. if it be honor and authority,Psal. 65. 6. its God that gives it; if gifts to rule and govern, thats also of God; if of the Ministery, Christ ascended,See Eph. 4. 8: and gave gifts to men; Is it wealth? Job tells you That he had his from God;Iob 1. 21. yea, to have a heart to distribute it well, is Gods gift:1 Chron. 29. 13, 14. So to be skilful in any Trade, as about gold, silver, brass, wood, stone (as were Bazaleel and Aholiab) is the gift of God.
Let us not then stand in Gods light,Use. by arrogating any thing to our selves; as if the poor man should say, or any other, I have nothing, but what I have got with my fingers end, never any friend I had gave me a peny, &c. what thou hast is Gods gift, many a one hath taken as much care and pains as thou hast, who yet have mist of that thou hast got. So if any Gentleman shall say, My Lands have been in one stock since the Conquest, I am beholding to no Prince for it, therefore none ought to require of me to give out of it, but as I list my self: Alas, what if it be so as thou sayest, yet its Gods free gift; for thou hast made many forfeitures, whereby thou hast deserved to have it taken away: for any thing thou hast, any Land, Living, Place, Skill, give glory to God for it; thou hast no cause to be proud, what hast thou which thou ha… not received? were it not absurd for one to brag of a borrowed suit of apparel, as if it were his own, and he were able to maintain the like: He that gave it thee, found thee without it, unworthy of it, and could have given it to any other, and can yet take it from thee, and give it another; nay, rather be humble, because of of the account: As the Master of the Talents called his Servants to an account, so will the Lord call thee; To whom much is given, of him is much required: The more gifts and the greater, the more is thine account; thou art the farther in debt, and therefore should be the less proud.
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same &c.] Here's the main duty required; every man must be faithful in communicating the gift which he hath received, and after that measure that he hath received it.
For the kinde;Christians must communicate their gifts for the good of others Though a Christian be the freest man in the world (as being freed from Satan, Sin, Hell, the Law, &c.) yet is he to be of all others the most serviceable; He must employ his gifts as a member of the body for the good of the whole; He must not put his light under a bushel, nor hide his Talent in a Napkin: The Magistrate must administer justice duly and truly, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, defend the widow, break the jaws of the wicked, &c. as he who beareth not the sword in vain: The Minister must do service with his gift, Preaching in season, out of season, &c. The Housholder must instruct and train up his Family, employing all the wit and knowledge he hath to this end,See Deut. 6. 6. as Abraham, he must pray with them, and go before them in an holy example: The Husband must minister his gift, by living with his wife as a man of knowledge, &c. The wife must live in subjection and build up her house, and as a mother lay out her breasts for her yong ones, if God hath given her milk and strength: The Servant must put out his gift in his business, and not be idle, untrusty, an eye-servant, &c. He that hath knowledge must teach the ignorant, admonish the disordered, exhort them that begin to slack, comfort the heavy, &c. If any hath wealth, he must distribute thereof as need requires; If any have skill in Physick, or in any thing that is useful to man, yea, or to beast, they must minister it; nay, there's not the meanest work done in faith and for conscience, which pleaseth not God, as a Preacher in the Pulpit, or Magistrate on the Bench.
Reasons. 1. As the Sun shines not for it self, nor the Earth bear for it self; so have not we our a gift for our selves, but for the common good. 2. The perfection of gifts consists not onelyonly in the having of it, but in the use thereof. 3. The Communion of Saints, which we believe, requires it, and this makes a man likest to God. 4. This brings most peace to our consciences both in life and death. 5. This procures credit while we live, as a good name and memory when we dye. 6. We are divers ways partakers of the gifts of others, and so must make them partakers of ours. 7. Our gifts encrease by using, the more we bestow them, the more we have them; nay, even for outward things, he that soweth liberally,2 Cor. 9. 6. shall reap liberally. …
1. This rebuketh those that employ not their gift at all,Use 1. and that either through discontentedness, because its not so great as they would, or others have (but he is unworthy of more that will not make use of one talent, one well used would encrease) or through envy, as desiring to be singular; or through laziness, both Magistrates, Ministers, Hous-holders, &c. failing this way; these are warts and scabs, no true members of the body, droans; and not true laboring Bees.
2. It rebuketh those which employ their gifts,Use 2. not for the common good, but meerly for their own private advantage; as most men would not work, or employ themselves in a calling, were't not for their own ends, and to grow rich; thus were it base and mercenary in a Minister to Preach for filthy lucre: thus many do their work, and make their wares so slightly and deceitfully, that others are thereby cousened, though themselves be enriched.
3. It rebuketh such as do hurt with their gifts;Use 3. as if a Magistrate by his authority would pervert judgement,See Mic. 7. 3. oppress the righteous, maintain bad causes or persons,Ezek. 13. 8, 9, &c. &c. If a Minister would by his preaching discourage the godly, and strengthen the hands of the wicked; If a Lawyer would employ his wit and skill to finde quirks and quillers to hinder a good cause, or make good a naughty matter; If a Chyrurgion would keep his Patient long in pain, and keep back his cure, that he might gain the more by him; If a strong man would abuse his strength to pour in strong drink; If a wealthy man would abuse his means to oppress his inferiors, hunt good men out of their places, set up disorder and riot, &c. If such as have wit, would abuse it in devising mischief; If any having knowledge in the Scriptures, would cavil against the truth, defend sin, give ill counsel to others, &c. might they not be taxed for ministring their gifts cursedly? It had been happy not onelyonly for others, but even for themselves (as whose condemnation will be the greater) that they had never had these gifts; If even he that hid his talent, doing no good therewith, was so severely punished, and if even the fig-tree was cursed that did ba…e no fruit, then what shall become of them that bring forth bad fruit, that employ their talents for the hurt of others? Even here judgements do attend them: They shall not be established upon Earth;Psal. 140. 11. they shall hot live out half their days, evil shall hunt them to destruction.
For the measure▪] Every man must minister according to the measure received.Every man must minister according to the measure he hath received; having received much, he must not minister a little; he that had five Talents, was called to an account for five; to whom men commit much, from them they look for the more.
Obj. Obj.The Apostle saith, If there be a willing minde, God accepteth of a man,2 Cor. 8. 12. according to that he hath.
Answ. True,Sol. it is not beyond that he hath, but according to that he hath, he doth and will account with men.
This rebukes those that having received much,Use. yet care not how little they distribute: Many men of great knowledge, yet preach very seldom; many rich men by concealing their Estates, or by friendship, are but a little in taxes and subsidies; so also they can hold some down in rates, though they put up others, and yet think all this clear gains; its clear theft and wrong, will God take an unequal account? will he take account of men without regard of what he put into their hands? He will not:Simile. Most mens accounts will be as if a Steward should receive Five hundred pounds, and bring in his layings out but half that or thereabouts, would it be received? it would not, neither shall theirs.
As good stewards,] We are but stewards of the gifts we have.We are but disposers or stewards of the gifts we have; therefore must not we keep them to our selves, or count them ours,Use. as stewards we must employ them, and that chearfully, why should the steward grudge to lay out that he hath taken in, seeing its his masters appointment, whose the money is? Thou hast wealth, and dost account it thine own, and sayest that thou mayest do with thine own as it pleaseth thee;1 Cor. 4. 7. but thou art deceived, what hast thou which thou hast not received?
Good,] We must be faithful in our places.Men love to be counted true in that they are trusted with, we therefore must so minister, that we may be found faithful stewards, that when the day of account comes, we may hear that sentence, Well done, good and faithful servant: Such as let their gifts rust, or employ them to the hurt of others, are far from being good Stewards, and will indeed be rewarded as evil and unfaithful servants:Use. O look to it, all of us must give an account, Magistrates, Ministers, &c. that it may be to our comfort.
Of the manifold grace of God.] Gods gifts manifold.Though God be one, yet his gifts and graces be manifold; common gifts, as Authority, Wealth, Wit, Knowledge, &c. How many Creatures have we for food, Beasts, Fishes,See Psal. 104. 24. Fowls, Fruits? How many kindes of these? so of Apples, Pears, Herbs, Flowers?
1. Labor to be manifold in duty.Use 1.
2. Praise God for his manifold gifts according to our manifold uses.Use 2.