‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭9-10 ‭NIV‬‬ — Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

We don’t have much content on Martha and Mary. I would like to think that serving was a spiritual gift of Martha’s. I am sure through her busyness, she felt as though she was stewarding well. ‭‭Are you stewarding your gifts for God’s glory? Or are you grumbling through, maybe even neglecting your gifts? Looking closer at the story, Martha was grumbling. Peter instructs us that we should not only faithfully steward our gifts, but also offer hospitality without grumbling. 

I want us to take a look at some key words in 1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

In order to steward our gifts well, we must first gain strength from God. How do we gain strength from God? By sitting with God and listening as Mary did. My pastor recently quoted Mr. Fred Rogers when he said, “listening is where love begins.” He also said, we serve others because we love Christ. Next time we neglect a gift or grumble through our service, let’s think about who we are serving. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for the spiritual gifts You have given me. Help me to listen with love and serve through Your love. When I start to grumble, remind me who I am serving. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.