“If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
forever and ever
“To” in “to whom” means with a view to eternal values (“forever and ever”). God wants us to orient to the eternal order rather than temporal order.
“Ever and ever” is an expression for eternity. The idea is the unlimited duration of time, with particular focus upon the future – always, forever, eternally. Peter wants Jesus to receive the glory into eternity (Eph 3:21; Lk 1:33; 2 Pe 3:18; Jude 25; He 1:8). More extensive expresses of “forever and ever” are more emphatic and are found especially in doxologies.
Amen
“Amen” is an assertion of fact, not an expression of a wish. “Amen” means “I believe it.” Peter believes that glory and dominion belong to Jesus into eternity. He believes in the sovereignty of Jesus over his life. This orientation will prepare people for any disaster that may come their way.
PRINCIPLE:
We need to put our gifts and use them in the perspective of eternity.
APPLICATION:
Our master motive should revolve around the glory of God (1 Co 10:31). If we live for the glory of God, we will use our gifts for an eternal purpose. What we do in time counts for eternity. The phrase “for ever and ever” puts our ministry and gifts in an eternal perspective. We need to keep eternal values in view. We look at time from the viewpoint of eternity.
None of us walk with aimless feet for every effect has a cause. We have a motive for everything we do. We cannot act without motive, but we can choose which motive we want. It is not the motive that seizes the man, but the man captures the motive. A wrong motive cannot influence a person of integrity, nor can a person of little integrity be affected by a good motive (Lk. 6:45). Our motive is as we are. What we are is decided by our character. God wants our goal and our motive to be one.
Pleasures are passing states. They possess no enduring value. We feel one way at one time and feel another way at another time. So no pleasures, no matter how extensive they may be, can bring us ultimate satisfaction.
Our real source of satisfaction comes from the eternal God. Therefore, our motive is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. Our highest motive is to live for God. We ought to operate on the same rationale that moves God. God is motivated by his nature and glory (2 Co 5:14-15).
