Using our gifts
by Charles Bertelsmeier
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Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms (1 Peter 4:10).
Read 1 Peter 4:7–19
Many of us would be familiar with the situation in any organisation or group where a gifted person leaves. We wonder how we will continue to operate with the same effectiveness or enjoyment after they have gone.
If we believe God is working personally in the lives of every person on Earth, then God must also have an intimate concern for each group of people. However, it is not about the perpetuation or operation of the group but about the growth and development of the people in the group.
Let’s take an example. Consider the conductor of a community choir. They could have a number of goals in leading the choir. One conductor I knew collected a group of people who liked to sing, and they met regularly to have a fun night of fellowship and singing. People wanted to join this choir. They regularly sang at events and occasionally put on concerts. People enjoyed going along to hear them because of their infectious joy. But nobody raved over how good they were. Then the conductor got sick and died and was replaced by a competent musician who just happened to come along at the right time. Their goal was to lead a very capable choir that people would want to listen to because of the high-quality singing. The choir members found it was less fun and more hard work, and began to drop out. Soon, the choir folded.
One difference between the conductors (obviously, there were many) was that one served the choir to build up the members; the other tried to use the choir to build up their own prestige.
Jesus, while here on Earth, demonstrated over and over again the importance of serving others, even to the point of giving his life so that we could live eternally with him and have the Holy Spirit live with us now.
In the same way, God wants us to use the gifts he has given us to be servants to one another, not to use his gifts to big-note ourselves or to fill some need we have.
When that capable person leaves the group, it is amazing how skills and capabilities are discovered dormant in the group and then released to serve the group. There will be some mistakes and learning, and the group may even change its character and focus; however, if the members are committed to loving each other with that same sacrificial love of Jesus, the group will continue to function and grow.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the abilities you have given us. Please help us use these gifts with the same servant heart as your Son. Amen.
Charles is a retired engineer who has worked on communications projects for the air force, army and navy. He lives in retirement in the outer north-western suburbs of Sydney with his wife, Diane. They have four children and eight grandchildren, all of whom they love spending time with. He keeps himself busy looking after their pot plants and the community vegetable garden, researching his family history and volunteering in the community and at LifeWay Lutheran Church.
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