Growing Closer to God Pt 28
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Gift Evaluation
Gift Evaluation
I wonder how many of us are gift shakers. You know the type: they sit by the tree and shake all the gifts trying to figure out what they are. They go over it’s shape, it’s size, they measure it up against their wish list. All in an attempt to determine what’s in the box wrapped so neat and tidy.
The bible tells us that if Earthly father’s know how to give good gifts, how much more does our father desire to give good gifts?
God has given us all the abilities we need to fulfill the call on our lives.
Romans
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,
so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,
so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
The only way to appreciate the gifts God gives us to have an honest evaluation of those gifts. Nothing is more disappointing than expecting a Ferarri for Christmas just to get a ferari T-shirt. On the opposite end we must have not under use the gifts we are given. The best way to destroy a deseil engine is to use it like a any other engine. A diesel must be exercised. People have bought these trucks because they like the size and sound of a diesel on for the engine to continually get sledged up and die.
It’s traumatic to see someone waste the gifts they were given because they either doubt God’s ability or they just don’t desire to used in that way.
So what does scripture tell us about the use of our gifts?
Understand your gift
Understand your gift
The bible tells us to use sober judgement when evaluating our gifts.
Over Estimation
Over Estimation
To think to highly of yourself is to fail.
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
That was the fall of Adam and Eve. When Satan came he made them question God’s goodness and make their expectations of themselves higher than they should be.
For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
One of the greatest ways to undermine your call is to over estimate your own abilities and under estimate God’s ability. By over estimating yourself you under estimate God. We see this When David went to go beat Goliath.
Saul tried to outfit Samuel in armour that was to big and a sword that would have been too heavy. He could have put the suit on trying to capture his calling too early. He could have looked in the mirror and stated that he was tired of being a shephard and wants his rightful place of the throne. This is part of the problem with out society. People believe they deserve something they never worked for. The desire for free stuff enslaves people everyday. We use credit cards before we earn the money. We fall for get rich quick schemes because we want a quicker route. We spent countless money on lottery tickets because we want easy money instead of hard earned money. We try to short changed God’s growing process because to be disciplined over a long period of time is difficult.
Under Estimation
Under Estimation
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?
Notice according to the measure of the faith God has given you.
If we think to little of God’s ability to use us than we won’t grow in faith. God’s gift always requires faith because if there wasn’t faith involved than we wouldn’t need God. If the task was doable in our own ability we would write God out of the story. Walking God’s plan for your life requires faith.
With faith you can move mountains. The impossible can become possible. The very thing you struggle with could become the very thing that places you in the position to become who God wants you to be.
The bible tells us faith is unseen. Which means the only thing visible is that which requires faith—the problem. But if we focus only on the problem we will never find the solution God laid out.
We are given the gift of talents because when we combine our talents with God’s power we can as Paul states do all things. If either incrediant is left out than the full plate we are to surve will lack.
Have you ever been given food where the chef had forgotten to add salt or pepper. Something so small can change the taste of the entire plate. A life without talent and God are dishes served bland and powerless.
This Chrsitmas will you give your family, friends, and those around you the full gift of your self