"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them..." Romans 12:6a.
For a moment, try this exercise. Find a piece of paper and write your name. Okay, you did that? Now, transfer your pen or pencil to the other hand and try the same thing. How'd that go? I bet it wasn't nearly as easy to do, was it? It didn't feel natural, you had to think about how to do it, and it may not even be all that clear what you were just writing (okay, maybe that's only for people with poor handwriting like myself).
When you try to do something in an area at which you are not gifted, talented, or trained, you're going to have a tough time of it. It's not going to be easy or natural. Now, I will grant you, even those areas in which we have gifts, talents, and abilities require some degree of refining along the way, in order to be better at them. But if that's the case, then if it is something that you don't have a gift in, it will be even more challenging to do well at it.
Too often, in our life together as God's people, we end up putting people in seats that just don't fit them. We want to find someone to do the work of ministry, but we don't see if God is providing that person to us. Sure, there may be someone who wants to do it, but may not have the gifts to do it well. We can free them to do it, but if they struggle, we should also point out that God may have gifted them for other areas that may bring even greater joy. Likewise, when we see that someone has an area of giftedness, we should encourage them to minister according to that gift, as they can see the joy of God in that work.
It's not a bad thing to hear that we aren't gifted in a particular area, and it shouldn't be a source of shame to step away when we aren't, either. Granted, too frequently, we can make the mistake of thinking we can't move away, but what if that is God's way of saying that He has a different direction for you, or for the overall body? Our refusal to sit in the right seat, our holding on to the wrong seat, may actually end up working contrary to God's will.
What is the seat for which God intends you to minister in His name? Well, think about the gift areas. Think about your passions and joys. Think about your strengths. Then, see if there are areas that match that are already in existence where you are part of the Body of Christ. And if there aren't those areas, perhaps God is opening a door for you and others to sit in the right seat and minister in His name.
For a moment, try this exercise. Find a piece of paper and write your name. Okay, you did that? Now, transfer your pen or pencil to the other hand and try the same thing. How'd that go? I bet it wasn't nearly as easy to do, was it? It didn't feel natural, you had to think about how to do it, and it may not even be all that clear what you were just writing (okay, maybe that's only for people with poor handwriting like myself).
When you try to do something in an area at which you are not gifted, talented, or trained, you're going to have a tough time of it. It's not going to be easy or natural. Now, I will grant you, even those areas in which we have gifts, talents, and abilities require some degree of refining along the way, in order to be better at them. But if that's the case, then if it is something that you don't have a gift in, it will be even more challenging to do well at it.
Too often, in our life together as God's people, we end up putting people in seats that just don't fit them. We want to find someone to do the work of ministry, but we don't see if God is providing that person to us. Sure, there may be someone who wants to do it, but may not have the gifts to do it well. We can free them to do it, but if they struggle, we should also point out that God may have gifted them for other areas that may bring even greater joy. Likewise, when we see that someone has an area of giftedness, we should encourage them to minister according to that gift, as they can see the joy of God in that work.
It's not a bad thing to hear that we aren't gifted in a particular area, and it shouldn't be a source of shame to step away when we aren't, either. Granted, too frequently, we can make the mistake of thinking we can't move away, but what if that is God's way of saying that He has a different direction for you, or for the overall body? Our refusal to sit in the right seat, our holding on to the wrong seat, may actually end up working contrary to God's will.
What is the seat for which God intends you to minister in His name? Well, think about the gift areas. Think about your passions and joys. Think about your strengths. Then, see if there are areas that match that are already in existence where you are part of the Body of Christ. And if there aren't those areas, perhaps God is opening a door for you and others to sit in the right seat and minister in His name.
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