The difference between ability and availability

1 Corinthians 4:1–2 “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

Last week, we looked at what a steward is:

Definition of Steward - the responsible management and care of everything entrusted to individuals by God, including their time, talents, resources, and creation itself. It's about recognizing that God is the ultimate owner and that humans are entrusted with the responsibility of managing these things on His behalf. 

We discovered through various scriptures that the servant doesn’t own anything but their master is the one who owns it. We went onto discover that the master is God. We are his stewards. We don’t own anything but God owns it all.

Luke 19 talks about the nobleman and his 10 servants and everyone knows what happened. He gave them all a pound each. He expected them to use what he had given them to make gain that they may present it to him when he returned. If you will have it, they all had the same ability: They were all given the same thing. However, what did they do with what they had been given.

Ability means that someone has the talent, skill, or resources to complete a task successfully. A carpenter has the necessary skills to be either great or terrible at his/her job. It is how they use they ability they have that will make all the difference.

So back to Luke 19. these 10 servants were all given the same thing, told the same instructions but what they done with that ability made the difference.

Availability means to be at someone’s disposal. Availability may or may not mean that you have the same ability as someone else, but the difference is that you are ready to be used by God on his terms and not yours.

Ability is no good unless availability is there.

10 Servants - given the same amount - had the same amount of time to complete the task.

As a steward of God, how is my availability to be used? I can have all the ability and zero availability to use my abilities and i will gain nothing but loose everything.

God does not sit us down and say okay what would you like to do and so on. God will give us the ability to do his bidding but it is up to us if we do it or not.

We need not to forget what we learned at the beginning of the study. My ability, availability, and eagerness to be used all belongs to God. He has entrusted me with these things and expects me to use them for his honor and glory.

The greatest surgeon in the world is of no benefit to anyone unless if he is available to be used.

The greatest preacher is the world is of no benefit to anyone, unless he is available to be used.

You may not feel like your good at anything. I feel like that many times. However, why not take what you have and make it available to be used by God.