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Aug 20, 2024 06:00am

Using Your Gifts for God’s Mission

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When I was a kid, I thought Swiss Army knives were the coolest things. It had so many tools and could be used for lots of different things. Need a screwdriver? Got it! Need a pair of scissors? It has that, too! Need a bottle opener? Here it is! Need a nail file? Got it right here!

But while it had the ability to do many things, truly it could only do one thing at once.

Acts 6:1-7
“And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

Many were coming to the faith and gathering in one location. This would include people from various places and languages. Perhaps because of a language barrier or oversight, during food service, the Greek-speaking Christians felt their widows were not getting enough. Complaints reached the leadership and they knew something needed to be done.

The 12 disciples, now called apostles, went to these people and told them they couldn’t step away from preaching to work out the food distribution.

These 12 men could do a lot of things, and yes, food distribution would be one of them. However, Jesus had instructed them to go and make disciples. They were to preach. They were to teach the truth about who Jesus was and show others how to follow Him. It’s not that the other parts of the church weren’t important, because they were, but these disciples needed to be focused on the main thing they needed to do.

They encouraged the church to find 7 men that would head up the food service. Not just any men though. Look at the qualifications: honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom. These men were to have good leadership qualities that allowed them to make good, Christ-honoring decisions. But one of the requirements was also that they should be saved (full of the Holy Spirit). Doesn’t that just seem to make sense that they should have leaders within the church that are saved, honest and wise?

With theses 7 men fulfilling this need, the 12 could go back to what they were called to do – “feed my sheep” as Jesus had said to Peter.

Even today, we have these same struggles. There may be several that attend church, but truthfully, there is a small percentage of the members who do it all.

I’m certain that you are great at many things. But you don’t have to do it all. In fact, if you try, there will probably be areas that suffer because let’s face it, you can only do so much.

How can we remedy this issue? Let’s follow the early church’s example.

1. Use your gifts. When you are saved, the Holy Spirit dwells within you. And think of it like this – He brought with Him housewarming gifts. He equips you in certain areas that allow you to serve within the body of Christ. Take an assessment to see what your gifts might be. Use those gifts to serve, teach, raise funds, sing, organize outreach events, etc. Maybe one of them is to be a leader.

2. If you are a leader, do it and do it well. Lead with enthusiasm and wisdom. You are serving the Lord, not just people. Bring glory and honor to His name in all you do. If He isn’t at the center of a ministry- reality-check: it’s not a ministry. Make that change. Make Jesus the focus. Take an assessment of the members within your church and learn what their gifts are and encourage, and train them if needed, to do what needs to be done.

3. Pastors – do what the Lord has called you to do. You are gifted at many things, no doubt. But you can’t do it all at once. Appoint wise, honest and saved people to leadership positions. And trust the Lord to work through your members to do the work He has called them to do too. Make your mission the mission of Christ.

We all know, there is no perfect church. Even the early church had its issues. But they worked together to accomplish the will of God. When we are focused on the mission of Christ we will see eternal blessings. “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied.”

If you want to know more about what it means to be a follower of Christ and to be a part of a local body of believers, go to follow.lifeword.org.