We all have different talents and abilities. I can do some things that someone else can’t do and some people can do things that I can’t do. One of the problems we face is that of constantly comparing ourselves to one another. I may get prideful when I have the talents that others do not. I may get discouraged when others have abilities that I do not. But we shouldn’t be looking at ourselves that way! It is not a competition. We need to stop comparing ourselves to others. Instead we need to see what talents God has blessed us with and use them, whatever they are, to the glory of God.
This is a big lesson that Paul taught to the church a couple of different times. Look at what Paul wrote to the Roman Christians. In Romans 12:3 he wrote, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” Paul first says that we shouldn’t get prideful when we can do something that others can’t. Don’t look down on them. Don’t think you’re better than them. Instead Paul explains it this way, “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (12:4-5). The church is made up of a lot of different people with a lot of different talents and abilities. But we stand as one. We all live and work for the same purpose. We all want to give glory to God. We are all important to God in our own way.
Paul goes one to say, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness” (12:6-8). We can’t all do the same things. But that’s what make us special in the body of Christ. We have differing talents. When we pull all of our talents together God gets all the glory, not us.
Starting today, find out what your talents are. Then go and use them in your own way to God’s glory. Do not compare yourself pridefully or discouragingly toward others. Do what you can do and be happy in that, knowing that God sees all you are doing for Him. He loves who you are. Do what you with all your heart. Do it to the best of your ability. Enjoy today!
A Cord of Blue 