GIFTED TO THRIVE


Ephesians 2:1-10
I Corinthians 12:1-11

 There are two parts to thriving.  The first is to deeply root ourselves in our faith in God through Jesus Christ.  The second is reaching out high and wide into the world and producing fruits of witness and mission.  Thriving is having a relationship with God that results in us impacting the lives of others in life-giving and life-changing ways.

 And we who are in the Body of Christ, we have each been uniquely gifted to do that.
"Tinker, Tailor,
Soldier, Sailor,
Rich Man, Poor Man,
Beggar Man, Thief"
Traditional English Nursery and Fortune-telling Rhyme, 15th Century

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?  When I was in third grade, we were given the assignment to write about just one occupation we aspired to.  I couldn't narrow it down to one thing.  I loved to read and write stories and draw.  Becoming a teacher appealed to me, and I even thought being a minister like my grandfather could be something I might like.  As I got older, I changed my mind several times.

God hasn't changed His mind about what He wants us to grow up spiritually to be:   " For we are what he [God] has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life."  Ephesians 2:10

Made for Good Works

 No matter what work we do, we need to have the basic tools to do it with.  My father was a great believer in that.  When I left home to live on my own, Dad gifted me with a box of tools I would need to do simple repairs around my new home.  To do the good works God has prepared for us, we already come with a tool box of gifts we can share in the ministry of the church.  They are:

  • TALENTS -- those natural abilities that come easily to us, that people say we do well and that we really enjoy doing.  Even if you can't sing a note, play an instrument or draw a straight line, you are uniquely talented in your own way.
  • SKILLS -- these are things you've learned to do, like sewing, cooking, installing a toilet or writing computer programs.  One church I know of built an entire ministry around a young man's skill in changing oil in cars.
  • EXPERIENCE -- the wisdom and lessons learned through living, working and volunteering.  These can be shared and used for the common good of others and the church.
  • RESOURCES -- what we have that can be shared for doing good, not just time and money.  Meeting space in our church building can be shared with community groups, like Scouts.  Someone who owns a van may offer to pick up children for an after school program.
What are the basic gifts you have in your tool box?

There are times, I've found, that tasks around the house require a tool or two that I don't have in my tool box, like a power drill or even a chain saw.  I may not need these tools all the time, but for specific projects, they would come in handy.  Without them, those projects don't get done at all.

In the same way, the good works God calls us to do may require abilities, experience, skills or resources that we don't naturally have.  That's when God gives us what we need through spiritual gifts.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good ... All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.   
I Corinthians 12:4-7, 11

Spiritual Gifts FAQs

  • All spiritual gifts are produced by and given to us from GOD.
  • There are various gifts, and every Christian has at least one gift.  Most people don't even realize they have spiritual gifts, although others probably can confirm them. 
  • No one has all the gifts.  It takes every one participating in the ministries of the church to make good things happen.
  • We don't get to choose which spiritual gifts we get.  God decides what gifts are needed.
  • The gifts are given for the common good of all in the Body of Christ.  
  • Each of us is given spiritual gifts to empower us to carry out the ministry given to us by Christ.

Gifted to Thrive

Each one of us is uniquely gifted, both naturally and through the power of the Holy Spirit, for good works.  God has given us this wondrous gift bag, and it's up to us what each of us will do with it.  We can decline the gift; we can accept the gift and not open it; or we can accept it, open it and participate in God's will and grace for our lives.

If we decide to accept it and open it up, we'll find lots and lots of fruit -- good works that make a difference in the lives of people and transform the world.  We'll also receive:

Joy unspeakable,
Faith unsinkable, 
Love unstoppable
Anything is possible*

With God, anything and everything is possible.


* From Thrive; written by John Mark Hall and Mathew West; performed by Casting Crowns.                               


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CHRISTIANS AND COFFEE BEANS

Image
1 Peter 1:17-23 John 17:14-19 Potatoes, eggs or coffee beans? Which are Christians called to be? We're going to find out as we explore what it means to be “in the world but not of the world” in today's message, “Christians and Coffee Beans.” Put three pots of water on to boil. When the water begins to boil, put some potatoes in one, eggs in another pot, and coffee beans in the third point. Boil for 20 minutes The potatoes went into the pot hard. After boiling in the hot water, they are now soft, easily broken up and mashed. The eggs, with their fragile shells and soft centers, are also changed. They are now hard-boiled. The coffee beans are different. While they look the same as they did when they were put into the water, they have transformed the water. The water has taken on the smell, taste and color of the coffee Jesus was not of this world, yet he came into the world to redeem the world by his death and resurrection an
Read more

OATHS -- GONE WITH THE WIND?

Image
Leviticus 19:11-12 Matthew 5:33-37 Even if we've never seen the movie, Gone with the Wind, we're probably familiar with Scarlett O'Hara's oath. Framed by the sunset, Scarlet raises her fist in defiance and says, “As God is my witness, I will never be hungry again!” In today's passage from the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus leads us into a new understanding of oaths and profanity. Did the character, Scarlett O’Hara in the movie, Gone with the Wind , take the Lord’s name in vain when she made her famous oath? “As God is my witness, as God is my witness, they’re not going to lick me. I’m going to live through this and when it’s all over, I’ll never be hungry again. No, nor any of my folk. If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill. As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again. Leviticus 19:11-12 tells us not to take oaths, make promises that profane the Lord’s name, that is take the Lord’s name in vain. Scarlett’s oath is a profane
Read more

JUST BECAUSE I'M A LIBERAL ...

Image
  Brothers and Sisters, may I share something that's been on my mind for quite a while? Just because I'm a liberal doesn't mean I'm not a Christian, because I am.  Born again and spirit-filled, it is my true identity and shapes my life, my decisions and where I fall on the spectrum.  I am unafraid and unashamed to declare, "Jesus is Lord," and I pray my actions affirm my words. Just because I'm a liberal and a Christian, doesn't mean that I don't love and respect those who are different than I am, rather in religion or politics or because of country of origin or native language.  I do, because my faith informs how I see others -- created in the image of God, given divine worth by our Creator.  To judge a person for who and what they are and not accept them is to, in my book, to call God a liar. Just because I'm a Christian who happens to be a liberal, doesn't mean I don't love my country or care about the community where I live.  God
Read more