Use the gifts God gave you

A Bible teacher says: 'Because my family's so large, we draw names to see who we'll buy presents for. One Christmas when I opened my present, I was disappointed...then I looked at my twin brother who got two nice gifts. Sensing my disappointment, my wife...said, "Don't worry. When we get home, we'll exchange it for something you like better." The same thing happens in the Body of Christ. We open the gifts God has given us and immediately run to someone else to see what he or she received...We look at our gift...and immediately think..."I know...I'll swap it for something I like better." That's why there are so many people running around claiming to be an apostle or a prophet or a teacher...They're gift-swapping.'

We don't get to decide what gifts God gives us. God 'put all the parts...in the body as he wanted them' (1 Corinthians 12:18 NCV). Instead of envying another person's gift, let's be thankful for our own.

Here's more about our gifts, found in the Bible: 'God doesn't take back the gifts he has given' (Romans 11:29 CEV); 'Each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that' (1 Corinthians 7:7 NIV); 'The Spirit decides what to give each person' (1 Corinthians 12:11 NCV).



So what now? Discover, be thankful for and then use the gifts God gave you. And don't compare yourself to anyone else. God knows best, so you will flourish in what you're called to do.





— SCRIPTURE —

'God put all the parts...in the body as he wanted them.' 1 Corinthians 12:18 NCV
— SOULFOOD —

Lev 5-7, Luke 20:27-33, Ps 72:1-11, Pro 9:1-6