We recently attended the IF:Gathering from here in sunny Santa Monica. Gathered in our sanctuary, we worshipped, prayed, laughed, learned and more as we watched the broadcast from Austin along with thousands of other women worldwide. The experience was rich; the speakers were great.
However.
Sometimes when emotions are high, or speakers are rushed, the whole story never gets stated or the truth doesn't get fully fleshed out. So, I want to clarify something.
At IF:Gathering there was much talk of gifts and talents: How does God want to use your gifts and talents to do something amazing for Him? What are your talents and passions because those are the muscles you need to flex - that's how God will use you in a mighty way. If you spend years not using your talents and gifts you're turning your back on the who God made you to be.
Hmm...
Plenty of speakers spoke to the real heart of the matter. Jo Saxton said we can't be consumed with our "thing," with finding a platform, with being "someone," instead we need to SERVE.
I think God has gifted us in lots of ways. He gives us all passions that He's delighted to see us pursue, just like a father rejoices in his children discovering their loves, their talents. However, and it's a big however, God places far more value on His gifts than ours. Let me write that again:
God places far more value on His gifts than ours.
The Bible teaches about spiritual gifts - have you heard of them?
1 Corinthians 12:1 "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware."
Let's stop for a moment at the phrase "spiritual gifts". What does it mean? Well - break it down: it's a gift - undeserved, unearned, freely bestowed. And it's spiritual - it's of the Spirit, meaning of God's spirit.
Ephesians 4:11-13a says "And he (God) gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God."
So - to put it in a nutshell. When we believe and Christ and submit to him as Lord of our life, God puts his Holy Spirit in us and takes up residence in our hearts in order that we'd now have the power to live the Christian life (defeat sin, keep believing, be transformed into the likeness of Jesus, and all that good stuff). HOWEVER - and this is such a cool however - God's end game is that we are completely made like himself and completely united with one another. Recognizing that we're all different, but that he wants us to work together as pieces of one large body, the way his Spirit manifests himself in each of us is different.
I don't know how the gifts are chosen, but I'm guessing our passions, histories, talents and the like all play a part. But they aren't THE THING. God in us is THE THING.
Have you read through the spiritual gifts lately? (from Romans 12 and 1 Cor. 12)
Exhortation
Giving
Leadership
Mercy
Prophecy Service
Teaching
Administration
Apostle
Discernment of Spirits
Faith
Healing
Helps
Knowledge
Miracles
Tongues/Interpretation
Wisdom
Apostleship
Evangelism
Pastoring
Is this what you have in mind when you talk about your gifts? Singing, hospitality, people connecting, blogging, cooking, business acumen, crafting, writing, deal making - none of these are listed. God might give you talents like that, but he's actually given you a trump responsibility - to allow the way his spirit resides in you to encourage and edify the body.
1 Peter 4:10 "Each one of you should use whatever gifts he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."
I admit I cringed a bit through the interview with Lynne Hybels. I'm glad she's serving God and the church at large with things she's passionate about, and VERY grateful she spoke out about depression, encouraging women to get help. Her main point seemed to be that serving when she thought she HAD to in order for God to love her, it was a burden; but serving when she knew God loved her unconditionally was a joy.
I cringed, however, when it sounded as if we should only serve in the ways we're passionate about. It sounded as if serving her family wasn't her passion, therefore it wasn't enough (she's still married, by the way, for all you who wondered about the lack of a ring with the topic at hand).
Many times we are called - COMMANDED - by God to serve in ways we don't feel passionate about because GOD is passionate about them.
There's a guy named Enon at our church who stays after everything is over. After the last person leaves our inspiring Sunday service, Enon is still there: bagging trash, taking it to the dumpster, picking up the programs and communion cups we've left scattered in the sanctuary, tidying the bathrooms, turning off the heaters and more. Is his passion picking up trash? I doubt it. Is he gifted in dumpster runs? Doubt it. Is it his natural inclination to be at church way past lunchtime? Nope.
To be honest, I don't know what Enon's passions and talents are, but I know God's. And I know that God is passionate about serving His people. I know God is passionately for a welcoming environment in his house. I know God is passionate about his body resting on the Sabbath. Enon's service may or may not be his passion. But I know that it is God's and it serves the body - allowing us rest and preparing us to worship again the next Sunday.
If you'd like to know more about spiritual gifts and learn how to use yours to encourage the body, I recommend these resources.
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