How many people are gifted by God and either don’t know what that means or don’t realize how they can use their gift(s)? Others may know their gifting, but for some reason choose to leave the gift unopened or unused. Tragic. Do you know what your gift is? Paul cautions us not to think we are better than the next, but be humble.
God has given us each something, a gift, to use in strengthening his body. Just as our own bodies have many parts, the ear, the eye, the arm, the foot, and so forth, each part has a job to do. They are all related in some way, and when our parts work together we are able to walk, talk, play music, kick a ball, lift, carry, smile, and the list goes on and on.
It’s like that in the body of Christ, too. We each have a job to do, and when we work together there is beautiful synergy in the church. Ministry happens. People’s lives are changed. Jesus is alive in each of us to support one another. Paul is telling the people to use their gifts. The church will be stronger when we all use the gifts God has given us.
For me, I am using my gift of music as I lead worship for our church fellowship every Sunday. It’s a blessing to me to share and know that I am using my gifts for others. I heard recently that St. Augustine is known to have said that “those who sing pray twice.” That really resonated with me because so often the lyrics of the songs we sing make a perfect prayer to God. And despite singing to lead the people, I am really only singing to an audience of one.
Take some time to recall the different spiritual gifts. If you haven’t taken a spiritual gifts survey before or in a while, there are several you can do online. I’d be curious if you’d like to share in the comments what God has gifted you to do to strengthen his body.
When it comes to practice in real life, churches are often missing the point. Here’s an example from my own experience. It’s time for Sunday School to kick off again, and I don’t have enough teachers signed up to teach. What do I do? Do I wrestle with anyone that has a pulse just so I have enough teachers? Or, do I cancel Sunday School all together because that’s a better option than having teachers who don’t want to teach or who aren’t gifted to teach.
Comments? I have to say that prayer is usually what got me through. God would always provide just enough of what I needed each year. I don’t know why I would get so worried. But we do that.
The idea of using our gifts to strengthen the body is beautiful. It creates unity. It creates peace. It creates an environment where relationships can be built stronger both with each other and with God. God certainly knew what he was doing when he gifted each of us. Now we need to accept that gift, open it, and use it!
Let’s pray. Lord, thank you for how you have gifted me. I love being able to serve you by using the gifts you have given me. Continue to nurture those gifts and make me better at sharing. Watch over the situations I am part of to make sure we are always glorifying you and not ourselves. If I have gifts I am not aware of, please reveal those to me as well. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
