Even If i Walk Alone

Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus

gifts

Why We Don’t Utilize God’s Gifts

by

In the last blog post (see “Gifts from God”), we discussed the gifts that God has given to each one of us. A reader asked why I thought people did not use the gifts they have been given, and I felt this was worthy of a follow up post. I’d be very interested to hear some of your thoughts as well, so please leave a comment with some of the reasons you believe people do not use their gifts, or perhaps even reasons you have refrained from using your own gifts. I’m certain your comments will be useful, inspiring and thought provoking to the rest of the audience.

So what are some of the reasons people do not exercise the gifts God has given them? If we take a step back and analyze the question, it is somewhat unbelievable to conceive of the premise; we have been given gifts, talents, and abilities from the Creator of the Universe and the only thing we see fit to do with them is hide them away so no one knows! This surely is not our finest moment. When I was growing up, I remember people (mostly women) who would get a towel from Elvis Presley at his concert; they showed everyone their gift (if a sweat covered rag indeed qualifies as a gift)! They couldn’t wait to tell everyone they’d meet about this amazing item. It was displayed with honor in their homes, there for all to see. My example is somewhat frivolous I realize, but the truth remains. When someone we admire gives us a gift, we can’t shut up about it. We are compelled to use it and tell the story behind it to everyone we encounter. Yet when the King of the Universe, the one we proclaim is our Lord, gives us a gift, we hide it away to make certain no one knows about it. Why?

Fear – We are afraid people will make fun of us; we’re afraid to be labeled a Jesus freak or a fanatic. We’re afraid we’ll be cast out of our circle of friends. We’re afraid people will look down on us. There is no fear in love and God is, above all else, love. If we are fearful then we are not trusting in Him. Would you follow someone you don’t trust? Of course you wouldn’t. If you are fearful, then you are not trusting God, and so it would seem logical to conclude you are not following Him. We follow those we trust. If you would be a true follower of Christ, there can be no fear in doing so.

Time – We claim we don’t have time to use our gifts. Our society and lives have become so busy that there simply isn’t space in our life to make use of what God entrusted to us. If this is you, may I humbly suggest that your priorities are not in order? If you have time for other things, but not for God and the works He gave you to accomplish, then He is not Lord of your life. Stop kidding yourself; you are not following Jesus if you are too busy following other pursuits in life. This is dangerous and you need to surrender yourself to Him anew.

Money – Our gifts require us to spend some money, and we simply don’t have it. God equips you to do the works He designed for you. If He calls you to feed the hungry and you can barely afford food for your own family, you need to simply trust Him to provide. Use whatever you have to do what He created you to do. He’ll take care of the rest. Following Jesus means walking a path that won’t always make sense to us. We aren’t called to understand everything He commands us to do; we are called to simply do. If He is truly your Lord, you will trust Him. If you do not have the faith in Jesus to provide for your needs, then you are not truly following Christ; you are merely a spectator in the crowd.

Laziness – Following Jesus is a hard road; it requires hard work. Many times we simply don’t feel like putting forth the effort. We’d rather catch an extra hour of sleep or watch something on television. In the Western culture, it is easy to forget that there is a spiritual war being waged all around us. If you believe in Christ and in His word, you know this to be true. If we are lazy in war, we will be defeated. If we are defeated, we cannot be following Christ, because Christ is never defeated. We can get knocked down, but as long as we are following Christ, we can never be beaten. There are no timeouts in war. There is no possible way to follow Jesus in a lackadaisical manner.

Selfishness – If we were to use our gifts, we would never have time to do the things we want to do. If this is where you find yourself, you need to take a hard look at what you want to do with the life God has given you. Either Jesus is the Lord of your life or you are. Whom will you choose? Following Jesus is an all or nothing proposition; you can’t serve two masters. If you are to be a true follower of Jesus, you must give up your life as you know it. Jesus died for you; we must do the same for Him. If you would proclaim Jesus as Lord, your every aim and desire must be to do the works He created you to do.

Are you utilizing the gifts God has given to you? If not, did you find yourself in any of the excuses above? If you haven’t been using what God has entrusted to you, it’s not too late. As long as you have breath you can begin to use what God has given you to accomplish the tasks He created you to do. Not sure where to start? Drop me a line ([email protected]); I’ll help you figure it out. Not sure what to do? Start with the basics: feed the hungry; shelter the homeless; take care of the sick, the orphans, the widows and those in poverty. Be the hands and feet of Jesus. Do the work He created you to do. Utilize the gifts God has given you.

Gifts from God

by

What are you holding back from the Kingdom? I’m not speaking of something you do or have that you don’t want to give up (although those areas are certainly worth a separate discussion!). I’m talking about the things you aren’t doing, the things you could be doing but don’t. What gifts have you been given that you are keeping locked inside of yourself? What part of the body is not functioning as it should because you are choosing to not do your part?

We all have gifts, gifts that God has given to each one of us (Ephesians 4:8, 11-12). These gifts are meant to build up the body of Christ. When we aren’t using our gifts, the body cannot be fully built up. Each gift is necessary and essential (Ephesians 4:16). Some of us have talents that are meant to reach out to the lost, gifts of evangelism. This doesn’t mean you have to be a travelling preacher, it could simply mean you have been gifted to talk to your next door neighbor about Christ. Some have been gifted as prophets, people who God reveals truth to, and you are to declare that truth to a particular audience. That audience may be of one or it may be one million, the size of the audience doesn’t matter; you are simply to deliver the message. Some are called to be pastors or shepherds, people who look after and lead other believers. Still others are called to be teachers, instructing others about the good news of Jesus Christ and how to live as a kingdom believer. Finally there are those who are called to be apostles, or missionaries; these are the ones who go throughout their neighborhood, their city, their state, their country or other nations bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to any who will listen.

Each one of us can find a place within these gifts. We often make the mistake of thinking we can’t be a shepherd because we don’t have a church or we can’t be a missionary because we wear normal clothes and live in a traditional house. We need to look past the stereotypical definitions of what these words have come to mean in the Western culture. Find yourself in one of these gifts. What can you do today to use that gift? Sadly, many of us are aware of how we are gifted but we choose not to exercise the gift out of fear of ridicule, fear of criticism, or fear of giving up something we treasure. Read again the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. I am horrified by the prospect of identifying with the one who hid his talent. I shudder at the thought of being sent away from God’s presence because I chose to not use the gift He entrusted to me.

We have a choice to make. Will we play our part in His kingdom? Will we use what He placed inside of us to do something special for God? Or will we continue to live life on cruise, surviving the day only to begin again the next day? I want to live for Jesus in every way I can. I want to die knowing I have used up everything He gave me; I want to leave nothing behind. We need each part to be working toward the common goal of bringing the kingdom of God to everyone. Don’t hold anything back, but rather give everything that is within you. Don’t die with God’s gifts buried inside you. Live your calling; be the person He created you to be.

Humility, Truthfulness and Peace

by

Be humble, truthful and work for peace. This is the kind of life we are called to live. We talk much about the things we should do, but not often enough about the type of person we should be. So as we strive to live a life that looks like Jesus, as we show love to everyone and as we care for the orphans and the widows, let’s make certain we are becoming the person Christ called us to be.

From my perspective, humility is one of the most attractive traits someone can possess. I love being around humble people. They make me feel better about myself, more comfortable in my own skin. Brash arrogance, on the other hand, sickens me and has me looking for a quick exit. Humble people are gracious and gentle. They don’t spend much (if any) time talking about themselves. They are much more interested in you and others. A life marked by humility is a life that is not self-seeking and rather is always looking for ways to deflect praise and credit. They know that all they have is a gift. As Christians, we know the source of those gifts, and we must never boast in our talents, as they are simply on loan.

Truthfulness is another welcoming attribute. I can’t imagine anyone really likes to hang out with folks who are habitual or even occasional liars. Jesus said that what we say should be what we mean; there’s no wiggle room there. I do not find any Biblical allowance for man made ideas such as the ‘white lie’. Tell the truth at all times. Others are drawn to those whom they can trust to tell the truth. Simply being truthful can add years to a friendship, while a single lie can end that same friendship in a heartbeat.

To live in peace can be very controversial. There are moral dilemmas and social baggage that accompany thoughts of living in peace. Is war acceptable if your side is “right” (Note that neither side ever actually believes they are on the “wrong” side)? Is it okay to use violence if need to protect your own family? What if I’m coming to the aid of an innocent victim? These are deep questions, deserving of their own post. For today’s discussion, suffice it to say that I’d rather live next door to a peaceful person than one prone to rage or revenge. Peaceful people are calming, and that is exactly the effect we as Christians should have on others around us. They should feel a sense of calm which will allow them to be more open to hearing about the love of Jesus.
As for me, whatever it is I might offer to this world is simply a result of the gifts that God has graciously given to me. How could I possibly take credit? I want to be a person known for straight talk, someone without a hidden agenda, and a person who will tell you the truth no matter what. Oh that my steps might be marked with peace and my hands open to help; I long for the mercy of God.

Guard your tongue; let truth be the only thing you allow to pass through your lips. When you agree to something, do it. When you are asked a question, tell the truth. Think more of others than yourself and constantly be on the lookout for ways you might help them. Remember all that you are is simply on loan from God; be humble. Wherever and whenever possible, live in peace with your family, your neighbors, and all those with whom you come into contact. Live a life modeled after Jesus, the life He intended for you to live; be humble and truthful always, living peacefully with everyone.

Who Will You Become?

by

The last three blog entries dealt with setting goals for the New Year (see “Goals for the New Year”, part 1, part 2, and part 3). The New Year has now arrived and I hope you have taken the time to think about the upcoming year and set some goals for yourself. Ultimately, the goal setting exercise can be effectively boiled down to a single question, which is what I wish to discuss today. That question is, “Who will you become this year?”

When 2010 is over, what kind of person will you be? If you do not strive to know Jesus better every day of this year, it is unlikely you will have your best year ever. Nothing creates satisfaction more than knowing you are walking in the way Jesus walked, living as He did and acting as He did. As we do these things we begin to see and live the life He intended for us. We can never be truly fulfilled and happy when we are living any other way. God instilled in each of us a passion to seek Him and to follow Him. Not doing so breeds frustration, anger and despair. When we aren’t living the life He designed for us, we will not find satisfaction, though we may try, in our work, our leisure or our relationships. So when 2010 draws to a close, will you be living – or at least attempting to live – the life you were created to live?

When 2010 is over, how will other people describe you? As we aspire to live out our passions, we can become consumed by learning what that life looks like. It generally involves countless hours of study and reflection. The danger here is the risk of becoming self-absorbed. We can be so engulfed in seeking the “how” to live that we lose sight of the “why” we should do so. Regardless of anything else, regardless of your passions and gifts, they are to be used to further the Kingdom of God and to love and help others along the way. We cannot do this in isolation, huddled behind our books and sheltered from the distraction of the world outside. Without putting action behind our mission, we will never achieve the life God intends for us. So when 2010 draws to a close, will others see you as loving, humble, compassionate, generous and full of wisdom? Or will they see a selfish, self-absorbed, studious but ultimately worthless person? Who will you become, and will it be obvious to others?

When 2010 is over, will you be closer to Christ, or further from Him, than you were at the close of 2009? This is really the core of the question. Will you know Christ more deeply when this year is done than you did at the close of the last one? Do you truly desire to know Him, love Him, reflect Him and take His message to a world of hurting people? This is all there is. Nothing else matters in this life. Regardless of our success or achievements, nothing will mean a thing if we do not have the love of Christ overflowing from within us. There is no satisfaction apart from living the life He intended for you to live. There is no way to live that life without knowing Him fully and deeply. As we embark on the journey of a new year together, let’s learn to know and love Him more. Let’s serve Him with fantastic passion and excellence. In this way, 2010 will be the best year of our lives. So it’s gut check time; when 2010 is over, who will you have become?

The Little Drummer Boy

by

My wife’s favorite Christmas song is “The Little Drummer Boy” (she’s partial to the Bob Seger version). Growing up I, being a drummer, favored this song as well. However, as I grew older I think I began to look at the song as shallow and as my taste evolved to an appreciation of much more lavish productions from the likes of the Trans Siberian Orchestra, “The Little Drummer Boy” pretty much landed on my dispensable list of things to listen to. Recently I picked up a new Christmas release from the worship band at my church, and the first track on it was, of course, “The Little Drummer Boy”.

As I listened to a fresh rendition of this old classic, I came to realize a great truth in the song. While realizing the lyrics are fictional, let’s examine the message within the words of the song. Here was a poor little boy who had the opportunity to see the Savior when He was just a baby. He knew that this was a magnificent event, one he did not dare miss. Yet as he travelled with those possessing extravagant gifts, he took inventory of what he had and found very little. However, he journeyed on, anxious to see Jesus. When he saw Him, the little boy knew that he would need to give something to this One who was his creator. So he did what came naturally; he played his drum. He used his gift to glorify the Lord. Surely this playing of an instrument (and a loud one at that!) would mean little next to the rare and expensive gifts that others had brought. I love the last line of the song. Jesus looked at the boy and smiled. He was pleased with the boy for simply doing what he had been gifted to do. Just a boy and his drum yielded a life-changing smile from Jesus.

Are you like the little drummer boy? Do you see your gifts as small and insignificant when compared to the much more visible and note-worthy gifts of others? Do you long for the approval of Jesus but wonder what you have that would warrant such approval? Learn the truth of the story of the little drummer boy. It’s not about what you bring to the Lord. It’s about you simply showing up; it’s about you coming to see Him simply for the privilege of being able to do so. It’s also about using that with which God has blessed you. Who are we to tell God that our gift is too small to be of any use to Him? How dare we presume that our gift could not possibly glorify the One who gave us the gift!

God has gifted you with abilities and talents that He intends you to use to glorify Him. He has not given gifts that are too small or too insignificant. He has given gifts of all shapes that they may work together to magnify and reflect His love and power to everyone on the earth. In God’s eyes there are no lesser or greater gifts, there are simply gifts. All that matters is that we use what He has given us. We must never feel small or insignificant for our gift was created and given by God Himself. Use your gifts; passionately play your drum for Him. Take joy in what He has put inside of you to share with the world. As you exercise your talents, look on the face of Jesus and see Him smile at you… just you and your drum.