As I was going about my day this morning, I was thinking about people who have gifts or talents but do not really value them. I began to think we are to honor the gifts the Lord has given as well as honoring him as the giver of those gifts…. not for our glory, but for his glory and the good of others. I believe God has placed within people a unique one-of-a kind ability that should impact our society for his purposes. I like a quote by Dr. Myles Munroe.
No one came to earth empty; everybody came with a contribution to make to their generation. Most of them never find that gift and even more die never releasing it.
When I speak of the word honor, I am not saying to go around glorifying what you have been given by the Lord; but having a sense of regarding it as something valuable to be given away for his good and glory. I thought also about Esau who did not value his birthright and sold it for a bowl of rice and beans. He placed little value on what was rightfully his until he realized what he had lost. (see Gen. 25:29-35) I want to admonish those who are reading this post, to take an inventory of what gift the Lord has placed within you and begin to hone it, develop it, make full effective use of it.
Honor is defined as: to regard with respect, to fulfill (an obligation) or keep (an agreement). I like the synonyms that are associated with the word honor; keep, observe, be true to, implement, execute. So, if we are to honor the gift or gifts, we have been given we are to execute, be true to it and fulfill our responsibility to the Lord and to the good of others. I believe there are people waiting to be blessed by what we carry within us on a day to day basis.
I began to think about how Timothy was encouraged by his mentor Apostle Paul to not neglect his spiritual gift, and to stir it up (make full use) of his gift. 1Tim.4:14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through the prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. (NASB) see also 2Tim.1:6 so I ask you to make full use of the gift God gave you when I placed my hands on you. Use it (CEV)
I like what this author said; “It is not enough to simply identify our spiritual gifts. Through the improvement and development of spiritual gifts, we increase our effectiveness and efficiency. Until we discover and develop our gifts, we may waste valuable resources attempting to do things for which we are not equipped. Our world is filled with incredible need. God gives us both the opportunity and the gifts necessary to meet every need. God waits anxiously to see what we will do with these gifts.” Dan R. Dick https://nccumc.org/treasurer/files/Gifts-Ministry-Resources.pdf
Can I encourage you today to release the gift you have been given; you have been empowered to fulfill your purpose and destiny with your gift. Don’t hold back any longer! Use your gift!
Blessings to all,
GotWord
GotWord 