When singer Whitney Houston died of an overdose, a number of people said, “What a waste.” She had an incredible voice, rare opportunities with such talent, great riches, and a full life. Yet, tragically, she ended her life far to soon. It was such a waste.

Believers sometimes waste the riches of God’s grace after receiving the gift of salvation. How? By not rejoicing in the great riches we have in Christ, not using the opportunities we have to serve the Lord and by choosing selfish pursuits, or a sinful lifestyle, rather than living for the Savior who died for us. Many effectively suppress their spiritual life by a tragically wayward walk far from the will of God. Because this was happening within the church at Corinth, the Apostle Paul writes them saying, “We, then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain” (II Corinthians 6:1). There was a way for these believers to not waste the grace of God extended to them. Paul urged the Corinthians to be careful to live in a way they were “giving no offence [to the lost] in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed” (vs. 3). He did not want their testimony to bring reproach on the name of Christ and enable lost souls to use them as an excuse to remain unsaved. Instead, they were to live so purely that “…in all things [we are] approving ourselves as the ministers of God…” (vs. 4a). Just as an ambassador for the United States must represent our country well through good conduct, we who know Christ must do the same. This must be so no matter what our circumstances: “…in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes [meaning beatings during persecution], in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, [or] in fastings” (vss. 4b-5). Paul was urging them to draw upon the strength of God’s daily grace and represent God’s grace well. This would mean demonstrating “patience,” “pureness,” “longsuffering,” “kindness,” “love,” “rejoicing,” and service to the Lord (vss. 4-10). If these believers would proclaim “the Word of truth, by the power of God” (vs. 7), the grace of God would be a divine investment that was not wasted, or received “in vain” (vs. 1b).

Don’t let God’s grace be wasted on you by not allowing it to produce the kind of dedicated life to Christ that He desires. Represent your Savior well today by demonstrating the godly qualities listed above.