Grace is arguably the most beautiful gift we have received from God, after His love. His grace brought us salvation and everything we enjoy in the kingdom. However, it shouldn’t surprise you that many people –believers included –take this grace for granted. Some even abuse it. 

One common area of our lives where we abuse God’s grace is our health. The grace of God brought us divine health. It allows us to covet the healing power in Jesus’s blood to receive healing. Taking your health for granted and ignoring preventive measures is taking God’s grace of good health for granted. Many believers intentionally do what is harmful to their health with the hope that they would just pray their way out of sickness. We cannot keep being negligent about the things God has given us wisdom for and then think we can rely on God’s grace. It is an abuse of it and we ought to do better. Moreover, our bodies are the temple of God. We are obligated to take good care of it.  

“Do you know not know that you are God’s temple and God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”

1 Cor. 3: 16-17

Another way we abuse the grace of God is when we knowingly sin. The fact that a person knows what they’re about to do is wrong but still does it anyway because of the hope that they can always ask for forgiveness is an abuse of God’s grace. The scripture says “shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid” (Rom. 6:1-2). It is abominable to be aware of God’s gracious forgiveness and take it for granted. The proper use of grace will teach us to live godly lives, lives that please God, and show gratitude for His kindness. (Tit. 2:11-12)

Furthermore, the concept of minimalism in our Christian walk is both a misuse and an abuse of God’s grace. The grace of God that we have received empowers us to do more. Many of us are mediocre in our walk with God. The opportunity that we have to call God “Father”, and to have a personal, unrestricted relationship with God is exactly what the older generation of Christians desired. They longed for it. For us to then have this free gift and neglect it or under-explore it is also abuse. (1 Pet. 1:10-12; Matt. 13:17; Lk. 10:24)

God’s grace was given to us without any price for us to pay. Even when we were in enmity with God, He graciously forgave us. To have experienced this grace and still refuse to extend it to others is an abuse of grace. There is nothing anyone may have done to offend us that is as bad as what we have done to God. Yet, He forgave -and still forgives -us. Someone may say “I’m not God, that’s God, He can forgive such things but not me.” But, did you know that that is misinformation? God has given us the grace to do what He has done and even more –through the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells us that those who believe in Him will do what He did and even greater works. Forgiveness is part of that.

It doesn’t matter how unforgivable the offense may have been, the grace of God is there to help. You received God’s forgiveness freely, do not try to make someone else pay to receive your forgiveness. (Matt. 10:8b; Matt. 5:48; Jhn. 14:12)

It’s easy to point out the problems but the real work is fixing it. Nevertheless, there is always help available to those who are ready to receive it. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of grace. When we listen to Him and follow as He guides, we can never abuse grace. (Isa.11:2; Gal. 5:16)

Again, we must be intentional Christians. Many of our abuse of God’s grace can be stopped by our intentionality. We must be intentional about avoiding sin, about not abusing God’s grace. God has given us the wisdom to apply in areas of our life such as our health, interpersonal relationships, finances, careers, and academics. It would be an abuse of His grace to do the barest minimum and then pray for His blessings.