Do you ever wish you were somebody else? Have you ever wished to handle a ball like a Protea or a Springbok, or make a speech in the way a professional does, or play the organ and piano as well as René (our organist / pianist) does? (I know I would love to be able to play that well!) Do you feel as if you received the short end of the stick when it comes to gifts and talents? If so, take heart - God has good news for you.
The Corinthian church was made up of various peoples. In addition to that, God gave each of the Christians in this church a variety of special gifts – Spiritual gifts. The purpose of the gifts was to help others in the church develop to full maturity in Christ and to grow the congregation to its full potential. But instead of using the various gifts as God intended them to be used, the Corinthians argued about who’s Spiritual gift was the most important or gave the person who received the gift, the highest status in the congregation. This is why Paul wrote to them in 1 Corinthians 12:18: But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be.
God gave each church member in Corinth exactly what he wanted them to have, but some failed to use the gift given to them, while they were envious of the role someone else had in God's work.
It still happens in the church today. We seem to forget that if God called and equipped us to serve him in a certain way or capacity, that task is the most important that we can ever do. If we try to fulfil someone else’s role in the church and neglect our own, we are bound to fail twice – firstly in our own calling and secondly in the calling we are not called to do and therefore cannot expect the Lord’s blessing on that work or the gifts of the Spirit to do it.
Has God gifted you in a certain manner? The only way that you can have true joy in the Lord’s work, is to allow God to get from you, what he had placed in you. The Lord has tailor made a gift and role for you in his work. It is his choice for you, and God's choices are always the right choices. Do not fail twice by desiring someone else's gifts and role; take pleasure in your own, fulfil your commission and serve the Master in the way and for the purpose he called you. Your work for the Lord will be blessed and you will be fulfilled as you live and work according to his divine will.
Prayer: Help me, Father, to recognize the gifts and calling you gave me in order to serve other Christians and your church well. Do not allow me to desire what others are called to do for you, but instead make me diligent in serving your Kingdom faithfully according to your will for my life.
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