Oct 29 2008
play to your strengths
Here is a link to today’s reading:
God has given you skills that are designed to be used for the good of all God’s people. When you withhold your gifts from the church everyone suffers. But when you contribute what you have to offer you help build a legacy of a strong healthy church. Don’t worry that you can’t do everything. No one can. However, you are gifted to serve and the only obstacle is your willingness to offer what you have.
Today’s Challenge:
You can trust that God has gifted you for service to the church. Make a commitment to find out how you have been gifted to serve and then offer those gifts to God. Write down how you will offer your gifts to God’s church.
Textual Reflections:
This the beginning of a long section from Paul on the use(and misuse) of spiritual gifts. Those who are very interested may want to read on to the end of chapter 14. But even in this short introduction is found the most fundamental truth about spiritual gifts: Spiritual gifts are given to each of us for the good of others. The spiritual gift that is given to me is not for me, it is for others even though it was to me.
Consider this illustration. My four year old is about to go to a birthday party for a friend. Before he goes, I will (with his ‘help’) purchase a gift, wrap it, label it, and keep track off it until minutes before the party. As he walks to the door of the party I will hand him his gift. And I will tell him, “Remember this gift is for your friend. I know you like it, but it isn’t for you it is for him.”
That is the way spiritual gifts work. If we don’t get that right w have missed everything. They come from God, to us for others. If you are using your God given abilities for your own glory (even at church) then don’t call it a gift. That is just stuff that you have.
on the walk
-Ethan
