By Abel Ukachi Amadi

Text: 2 Corinthians 6:1-2
Key verse: 2 Corinthians 6:1: “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain,” (KJV).

In 2 Corinthians 6:1, Apostle Paul drops an urgent heart-to-heart appeal to the church. The very first thing Apostle Paul established is the identity of the people he was addressing in this verse. He said: “As workers together with him…” He was talking to believers, his co-labourers in Christ who are called for the advancement of the kingdom. As co-laborers with Christ, we have received a measure of grace for the advancement of the work of God and Apostle Paul is calling on us to maximise that grace we have received. Grace is a divine empowerment to live for God and do the work of God. Grace is given for service rather than passive consumption. “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me,” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

In 2 Corinthians 6:1, Apostle Paul issues a staggering warning: it is entirely possible to receive the grace of God in vain. The word “vain” means empty, fruitless or without effect. To receive grace in vain is to be handed the greatest investment in the history of the universe and do absolutely nothing with it. God does not want us to just tolerate or accumulate His grace; He wants us to maximise it. The Parable of the Talents (in Matthew 25:14-30) provides profound insights into stewardship, responsibility and personal growth.

Every servant received something; one servant received five talents, another servant received two talents and the other servant received one talent. It was like a measure of grace given to each of them according to their capacity. No one is left empty-handed. Each of us possess unique gifts, timeand resources meant to be utilised. The first two servants maximised the grace given to them by putting the talents into use and they produced more talents. The servant that had five talents got more five and the servant that had two talents got more two. As we maximise the grace of God bestowed on us, it multiplies for greater impact. The servant that had one went and hid it. He did not maximise it, but wasted it.

Maximising the grace of God leads to divine elevation and not maximising it leads to demotion. In Matthew 25, we saw that the servant that had five talents and got more five was made ruler over many things by the Master (Matthew 25:21).

Then the servant that had one talent and did not invest it was cast into outer darkness and the master collected the one talent from him and gave it to the servant that have 10 talents.

Grace can be lost when we do not use it. A gift or talent not developed will not become useful. You grow in skill and

competence when you put into use the one you acquired. The grace does not make us lazy rather it fuels our labour. It increases and expands as we deploy it for the work of God and kingdom purposes. Whatever gift or talent God Has given to you is for you to use it for the benefit of humanity and kingdom of God. We waste it if we do not activate it and it becomes dormant. It becomes active when we use it to be a blessing to others.

• Today’s nugget: Grace multiplies as we maximise it. Prayer: Lord help me not to waste grace bestowed upon me. Prayer lines: 08033299824. E-mail: [email protected], Rev. Abel UkachiAmadi, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God Nigeria.