What does 1 Peter 4:11 mean?
This passage is part of Peter's teaching on how Christians should love each other "strenuously" (1 Peter 4:8). He has urged us to offer hospitality without grumbling. Believers are to see all that we have as gifts from God, available to be used for serving each other. In this verse, Peter widens the idea of those gifts beyond merely material things like food, homes, and money to gifts of words and service.Like our material possessions, these abilities to speak and serve are gifts of God's grace. So, they are likewise to be used for serving each other. Peter tells us to use them on God's behalf, with God's strength, and for God's glory. In other words, as people set apart for God's purposes, we are fulfilling His will by serving each other.
So when we speak to each other words of encouragement, we are delivering God's words. When we sacrifice time and energy to meet each other's needs, we are drawing from God's own strength. And whatever glory may come our way for these things then goes right back to God. Our lives—our talents, dollars, homes, and helping—should be spent for His purpose and to bring Him glory.
Peter concludes this section by reminding us that God is the one who deserves glory and dominion (or power) forever and ever. And, He will receive it. The choice to use our lives to bring Him glory allows us to participate in the very purpose for which the universe was created.
1 Peter 4:1–11 urges Christians to take on Jesus’ attitude toward suffering. We should see it as an expected part of fulfilling God’s purpose for us on earth. Those who willingly endure suffering for Christ set the course of their lives away from mind-numbing sins. This is true even when those who still commit those sins bad-mouth them. We must stay alert so that we can pray in these end times. We must keep loving each other, using God’s gifts to serve each other with God’s power in and through us, so all the glory goes to Him.
Peter continues to describe how Christians should respond when faced with persecution: Take on Christ’s attitude, and expect God’s purpose for your life to include suffering. Set the course of your life away from mind-numbing pleasure seeking. Be alert so that you can pray effectively in these end times. In fact, rejoice if you share in Christ’s sufferings. God uses suffering to refine the faith of His people, and our present suffering contributes to future glory. If you suffer, keep doing good while trusting your soul to your Creator.