Good economists of God's grace As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. (1 Peter 4:10) "Good stewards" in the verse above is
Martin Buber tells the story of a famous
literally, in Greek, "good economists". The
Jewish Rabbi who, on his deathbed, is
Bible urges us to be good economists of
concerned about what God might ask
God's grace.
him when he arrives at the gates of heaven. His disciples ask him, "Rabbi
The verse says that each of us has received
Zusya, are you worried that God will ask
a gift or "grace" from God. (The word gift
you why you were not as hospitable as
is related to the Greek word for grace.)
Abraham, or as wise as Moses?"
Since each of us has a "grace" from God, let us be good economists in investing
"No," replied Rabbi Zusya. "If God asks me
that grace "to serve one another".
that question, I know how to answer. I did not match the hospitality of Abraham
A hospitality volunteer greets churchgoers at Faith Methodist Church. Photo: Faith Methodist Church
This issue of Methodist Message
nor the wisdom of Moses because I was
highlights ways in which we might
not given the great measure of grace and
serve God by serving one another in our
wisdom which they received. My concern
churches. There are many varied ways
is not that God will ask me why I was not
of doing this, just as 1 Peter 4:10 says:
Abraham or Moses. My concern is that
"As each has received … God's varied
God will ask me why I was not Zusya."
grace." We can serve in many varied ways because each of us has received varied
Each of us has received a gift—different
gifts or graces.
from each other in measure and kind. Let us be good economists of God's grace given to each of us. Or as Edward Hale said (I paraphrase): No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. The something I can do, I ought to do. And by the grace of God, I will.
Martin Buber, The Way of Man: According to the Teaching of Hasidism (New York: Routledge Classics, 2002), p. 10. 1
March 2023 Methodist Message 1