Gifts

I was observing some friends recently.  What I noticed were their gifts, not the wrapped kind, but the God-given kind.  The ones I noticed were organization, hospitality, ability to relate to people, relating the truths of God’s Word.  I know that I have looked at others who so easily do the thing I wish I could do and gotten jealous.  The first thing we need to learn about God-given gifts is to not compare ourselves with others.

For we dare not make ourselves of the number,
or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves:
but they measuring themselves by themselves,
and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
But we will not boast of things without our measure,
but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed
to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
2 Corinthians 10:12-13 (KJV)

These verses are telling us that we are not wise to compare ourselves with others.  We should, instead, recognize that God has given us the gifts we need to accomplish His purpose.

One problem might be not knowing what the gift is.  Sometimes we don’t see our own gifts because we are spending too much time looking at other people.   Another problem is that we don’t see that we are gifted in any way.  Ask God to show you the gifts that He gave you.  Remember that not all gifts are showy ones.  Many times the most important gifts are those that people consider ordinary or mundane.  God does not see what He gives as ordinary.  He gives each of us what is best for each of us.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10

The word workmanship means a work of art.  Each of us is a work of art.  The ability that He gave each of us is part of what makes us beautiful, a work of art.  No matter what ability we have or don’t have that is all part of what makes us each uniquely beautiful.  To be as beautiful a work of art as God’s intends for us to be, we need to use to the best of our abilities the gifts He gave us .

Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us,
each of us is to exercise them accordingly
Romans 12:6a

Ask the Lord to help you to see and to use the abilities that He gave you.  He wants to help us; we just need to ask.  As you use your gift, you will do it with more ease and grace.  You may also notice that the Lord will put you in situations that you need to use a gift that you don’t think you have.  This can be frustrating when you know God wants you to do a certain thing, but you don’t seem to be the right one for the job.  He is probably wanting to help you develop another gift.  Depend on Him to help you.  It is all part of God’s making you more like Himself and His using you more completely for His glory.

 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another
as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Whoever speaks, is to do so
as one who is speaking the utterances of God;
whoever serves is to do so
as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies;
so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ,
to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10-11

It is a wonderful thing to serve the Lord.  Rejoice that you can be used by Him with the gifts that He gave and the new ones that He is teaching you to use.