We All Have Our Gifts

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Years ago I went fishing often, and I am a pretty good fisherman. Most of the time whatever I catch I throw back into the water. I am no chef and I prefer catching to cooking. We have a local pond that is stocked every year with trout. They want the trout caught and kept by the fishermen as it is a temporary stocking and they do not want the fish to stay in the pond.

After a trout stocking event I went fishing and there were lots of people fishing side by side. I found myself fishing beside a fellow who was a chef at a restaurant. He had no luck with the trout, but soon I found myself with four nice trout in my bucket. He had been telling me all the ways and details of preparing trout and he had my mouth watering as he clearly had skills as a chef. But sadly, he was no fisherman. In the end I gave him my fish as he had none, for clearly he knew how to do them justice by cooking them nicely.

We should each learn to know our gifts and admit the areas where we are lacking. Sometimes we can improve ourselves in areas where we are weak, but one who has a gift cannot be denied. We should recognize our gifts and use them, and make way for others in areas we are not gifted in.

Jesus intends for the church, the body of Christ, to function according to each member's gifts and abilities. If a preacher is doing daycare work, and the daycare worker is preaching, things are not running efficiently. If a deacon is teaching and a teacher is doing the work of a deacon, again, this is not optimal. Some have money to give, and some are in need. Some are good at comforting others, and some need to be silent. Know your gifts, for when the church has everyone operating in their best place and purpose, it is a beautiful thing to behold and advances the work of Christ.

No gift is unimportant. If the person who directs traffic at a megachurch is not doing his or her job, you have a traffic jam and the preacher has no one to preach to.

No member of a church is to be looked down upon and no gift belittled. God has given each of us talents and we need to use them to help His body grow and function. The stay at home mom or dad may be raising the next Billy Graham. The struggling single parent is teaching their children the importance of hard work and fortitude in a difficult situation. Too often we dismiss our abilities as small and unnecessary. We must never do that. God can and does use His children in various ways for His own purposes.

When you are tempted to believe you have nothing to offer God or anyone else, why not instead ask God to show you ways to help others and to bring out your gifts for ministering to those in need?

Even those of us who have illnesses and disabilities have something to offer. Be open to ways of helping those around you, even small acts of kindness can go far in making the difference in someone’s day.

    

Prayer: Dear Lord, show us how You want us to minister to others and give us the strength and courage to do so. Amen.

Karlton Douglas

Copyright 2017