Billy Graham's Life as an Example of Using Gifts for God's Glory
Billy Graham's life exemplified the use of spiritual gifts for God's glory, a concept rooted in biblical teachings about stewardship and divine grace. The New Testament emphasizes that every believer receives "special gifts" to be employed in serving one another, acting as "good stewards of the manifold grace of God" [2, 4]. These gifts are diverse, given "according to the grace given us" [1].
Graham's ministry demonstrated a profound commitment to this principle. His primary gift was evangelism, which he exercised consistently throughout his life. The Apostle Paul, reflecting on his own ministry, stated, "But by the grace of God I am what I am," acknowledging that his calling and abilities were entirely due to divine favor [11]. Similarly, Graham's effectiveness was widely attributed to God's grace working through him.
The concept of glorifying God through one's gifts is central to Christian theology. Psalm 50:23 states, "Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me" [3]. Using one's gifts in service is an act of thanksgiving, recognizing that these abilities are not self-generated but are freely given by God [5]. This perspective counters any notion of earning favor through one's own actions, instead highlighting God's bountiful dealing with His servants [13].
The Bible lists various spiritual gifts, including prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and mercy (Romans 12:6-8) [1]. While Graham was primarily known for his preaching, his ministry also involved significant organizational and leadership skills, which enabled him to conduct large-scale crusades and establish enduring evangelical institutions. The "great variety of spiritual gifts" mentioned in 1 Peter 4:10 is also detailed in other Pauline epistles, such as 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4, underscoring the diverse ways believers can contribute to the body of Christ [14].
The motivation for using these gifts is not personal gain but the glory of God and the service of others. Believers are considered "managers" entrusted by God with gifts to be used for His glory [14]. This stewardship implies accountability and a focus on the giver rather than the recipient of the gift. Christ himself serves as the ultimate model for generous giving, who, though rich, became poor to make others rich with the blessings of salvation [12].
Graham's life also implicitly addressed the universal human condition of sin, which makes divine grace and spiritual gifts necessary. Paul's letter to the Romans emphasizes universal sinfulness, stating that both Gentiles and Jews are "under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own" [9]. All human beings are born sinners, and while the godly fight against their sinful nature, the wicked indulge it [6]. Sin is described as a "love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters" [7]. Deliberate sins are often committed with an insolent or arrogant attitude, representing rebellion against God [8]. Even after conversion, believers still contend with sin [10]. It is against this backdrop of human fallenness that God's grace, manifested through spiritual gifts, becomes so profound.
Sources
- Romans “Romans 12:6 (BSB) — We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith;”
- 1 Peter “1 Peter 4:10 (NASB) — As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
- Psalms “Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me, and prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation to him.” -- Psalms 50:23”
- I Peter “I Peter 4:10 (BSB) — As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.”
- Romans “But the free gift isn’t like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. -- Romans 5:15”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 15:10: But by the grace of God I am what I am,.... As he was what he was by the grace of God in a private capacity, upon a level with other Christians, being a chosen vessel of salvation, not by works, nor on account of faith, or any holiness of his, but by grace; being regenerated, called, sanctified, justified, pardoned, and adopted by it; being a believer in Christ through faith, as a gift of God's grace, and having a good hope of eternal glory the same way; so he was what he was, as a minister of the Gospel, as an apostle, as in that high office purely by the gra”
- 2 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Corinthians 8:9: 8:9 The model for generous giving is the Lord himself, who was rich in the Father’s presence (John 17:5, 24) yet became poor by accepting a human existence and death on the cross (see Phil 2:6-11). By that self-giving sacrifice, he could make people rich with the blessings of salvation.”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:15: GIMEL.--The Third Part. GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant,.... Which character is mentioned, not by way of plea or argument for favour, but as expressive of modesty, sense of duty, and obligation to it. He pleads not his services by way of merit; but prays that God would deal bountifully with him, in a way of grace and mercy: or "render good" unto him, as the Targum; bestow it on him as a free gift. The Lord deals bountifully with men, when he gives himself unto them as their portion and inheritance; his Son, and all things along with him; his Spirit, and t”
- 1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 4:10: 4:10 his great variety of spiritual gifts: See Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:1-31; Eph 4:7-16. • Use (literally manage) them well: Believers are like managers: They have been entrusted by God, their Master, with gifts to be used to glorify him.”