Stewarding Our Spiritual Gifts

Can we be agents of radical and redemptive love?

BY HELENA BERGEN

I CAME ACROSS A STORY many years ago that I have returned to numerous times since. I first read it in Philip Yancey’s book, Rumours of Another World, but it is also told in the book To End All Wars by written by Ernest Gordon.

The story that Yancey describes is of a radical transformation that swept over a prisoner of war camp in Japan during the Second World War.

In this camp, death and disease were rampant, and the survival code was every man for himself. That is, until an incident in which one prisoner stepped forward to take the blame for a tool believed to be missing. In doing so, he saved the lives of all the other prisoners whom the guards were threatening to kill, but he himself was beaten to death. Later, the mistake was realized, and all the tools were accounted for. All the prisoners were deeply shaken, and one man recalled the words of Jesus, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Attitudes began to shift, and men began to give proper burials and respect for the dead. They also began to care for the sick and dying among them and rather than stealing from each other, they began to share the things they had access to. They offered any expertise they possessed and they put it to use for the wellbeing of their fellow prisoners. A tiny church was built where men gathered for prayers each evening.

The difference was unmistakable. Mr. Gordon says that, “Death was still with us – no doubt about that. But we were slowly freed from its destructive grip…True, there was hatred. But there was also love. There was death. But there was also life. God had not left us. He was with us, calling us to live the divine life in fellowship.”

Another story of transformation

A few years ago, I attended a twoday workshop that had an equally profound impact on me. In that workshop, I heard a second story of another community that experienced transformation – this time from Preston Pouteaux who was one of the presenters. Preston talked about the long, slow work he and his wife did, of learning to truly love the neighbours in the new suburb they moved into, and the beautiful community that developed there as they invested themselves in it. It hit me then: What God had done in the POW camp and what he had done in Preston’s neighbourhood, He could do in mine.

Stewards of God’s grace

The radical transformation that took place in the camp, and that Preston and his family ushered into their new neighbourhood, can take place in our churches, neighbourhoods and communities, too, when we steward, in love for God and those around us, the “manifestation of the Spirit” that God has placed in us (1 Corinthians 12:7).

Our biblical mandate comes from Peter: “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” (1 Peter 4:10 NRSV)

So, what exactly is a steward? Here is a dictionary definition that I find helpful: a steward is “a person who manages another’s property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others.”

Truly the Church, made up of Jesus’ followers, is the agent through which God ministers His presence in this world. Those who make up the Church are given gifts that are “derived solely from the Spirit – they are gratuitous, the effects of God’s grace.” Spiritual gifts are given to us to “administer” God’s goodness – his love, mercy, compassion, truth, healing, acceptance, life, light and hope –to others. Gifts come in many forms, but ultimately, their purpose is that the Church is equipped to carry out the ministry of reconciliation until Christ returns (1 Corinthians 5:19).

We all have something to bring to the table, and it is significant for the flourishing of life around us that we do, in fact, bring it and offer it.