Is your living in vain? Do you glorify God with your gifts?
According to Paul in 1 Corinthians 4-9:
4" I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
I confess that sometimes I look around and just smh (text acronym for shake my head). Oh yes, sometimes I look in the mirror and smhv (shake my head vigorously) and then I go into prayer and into the Book for Godly counsel.
Paul admonishes us that God has enriched us great gifts. Nevertheless, we often walk around and just like the rich woman dismayed at the thought of going to another banquet and searching through a closest full of clothes – we complain that we have nothing. I am very afraid for those of us who look at others with a covetous eye and complain that they do not have what others have. Meanwhile, they have ignored, stifled, downgraded and failed to sharpen the awesome gifts that God has given them.
I recall a time in my youth when I was full of anger toward my mother because she did not allow me to pursue violin lessons. One day I was watching the violinist in a symphony orchestra and began to cry, thinking: “That could have been me…if only…” I don’t remember the exact day, time or incident but I remember the words: “A sign of maturity is when you acknowledge what you have and use it to the best of your ability.” What I have is a rich appreciation for music. I play the part of a member of the audience who cheers and applause to encourage. My true gifts are analyzing, writing, educating and encouraging others in faith. I do not have gifts of motion or coordination so I will not attempt to belong to the dance ministry and I do not have the gifts of fine artistry so I will leave painting, drawing, sewing, needlework and other forms of crafting beauty to others.
There are several problems with failing to acknowledge, sharpen and use the awesome gifts that God has given us:
1. We are insulting God by implying that what He has given us is not good enough.
2. We are being disobedient to God’s plans for us and we are blocking our own joy.
3. We are sinning if we look at gifts used by others and become jealous or resentful.
4. We could stumble or cause others to stumble if we attempt to claim gifts that are not God-given.
5. We could interfere with our own progress and the progress of others. [In other words, we are wasting valuable time.]
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. [Proverbs 19:21]