Do you ever wish that you had other people's gifts? Not just the ultra cool Nintendo 64 that you friend got for his 10th birthday, but other people's spiritual gifts? I have to be honest, I do.
I have struggled with gift envy off and on over the years that I have been serving the body. Ever since I got into college and started exploring what ways God had gifted me to serve, I have always wanted more than just those gifts. My spiritual gift is most definitely the gift of service. I am the guy who does all of the things that need to get done, but don't require a special or innate ability to understand scripture or teach. I'm the guy who shows up two hours early to set up the speakers for church, or who makes sure that the PowerPoint presentation has all the correct words. And I'm the guy who makes sure it all gets put away. I guess you could say that I'm a behind the scenes guy. You may not see me, but I'm there, helping out.
Now I know what you guys are saying, "what’s wrong with the gift of service?' Absolutely nothing is wrong with it. It's a good gift to have; I really enjoy doing what I do. My problem is I often feel that I have been shorted, or have a second class gift. Since I began serving the body, I have always wanted more ministry. My prayer has always been to have more ministry. I want to be serving God in all of the ways that I possibly can. God has continually been giving me more ministry. I've moved from being an attendee of church, to someone who is there, making sure everything gets done. I've been given a small group of Jr. High students to Shepard and a chance to lead them closer to Christ. I've been given so much ministry that I can't always find the time to make sure it all happens. Why am I not satisfied with this? Because I have gift envy.
Even though God has given me lots of ministry to be working in, I want more, or something different. I want to teach or be knowledgeable. I want to the one that people look to with questions about the faith. I want these things, seemingly to serve, but there is some selfishness down there too. My envy is compounded by the fact that I am very close to others who have spiritual gifts that I want. I have a couple friends who have the gift of teaching, or of knowledge, or of preaching, or of evangelism. Gifts that seem like they mean something or are important. Gifts that matter to people’s lives, gifts that make a difference.
The reality is that it isn't God's problem that I don't have certain spiritual gifts, it’s my problem for not being continually content with what I have been given as far as giftedness. God has gifted each individual according to his calling and ability. If I am forever called to be the guy who makes the coffee, or setup the speakers, and check the PowerPoint, I'm ok with that. I know that I have been uniquely gifted by God to perform the work of the ministry. And as I am faithful, God will be faithful to complete the work in me. It's not my job to question why God wouldn't give me the chance to do certain ministry, it's my job to do the ministry that I have and God will provide more when I am ready.
- The Breadstick Guy
No lives were lost, so I'll have to call this a victory
3 comments:
Jayj,
Thanks for your thoughts on this bro. I am humbled by your humility and struggle with accepting your spiritual gifts. I have felt the same way over the years. "If only I did this or that..." I thought to myself. You are not alone in feeling this way. I believe many Christians deal with this from time to time, some more frequently than others.
But I wanted to say that you are a great man of God who serves the Church with everything you have. You teach younger Christians the truths of the gospel, you witness to unbelievers, all the while you let your light shine brightly!
Anywho, just a few thoughts.
Oh, and:
1 Cor 12:4-22, "4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.
6There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
7But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
8For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
9to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
12For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14For the body is not one member, but many.
15If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
16And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
18But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.
19If they were all one member, where would the body be?
20But now there are many members, but one body.
21And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
22On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;
23and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable,
24whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked,
25so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
26And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it."
Hey JJ,
I have to echo Casey in just thanking you so much for the ways you serve the body of Christ. I am continually encouraged by your faithfulness and service and they mean more than you realize. Keep doing them in the strength God provides so that in all things God might get the glory.
I Peter 4:7-11
7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001. 1 Pe 4:7-11.
Was it one or two years ago that you wrote an entry where you charged your blog audience with the following: "If I ever don't update at least once a week, get on my case..."
So here I am, getting on your case *evil grin*
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