Tools

"The LORD said to Moses,

'Accept these from them,

that they may be used in the work at the tent of meeting.

Give them to the Levites as each man's work requires.'

So Moses took the carts and oxen to the Gershonites,

as their work required,

and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites,

as their work required.

They were all under the direction of Ithamar 

son of Aaron, the priest.

But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites,

because they were to carry on their shoulders

the holy things, for which they were responsible."

Numbers 7:4-9

My husband and I struggled to remove the spark plug from our large SUV.  It was difficult to access the plugs and we reached the point of frustration where we wanted to give up.  What good is it to do something ourselves if we're going to waste so much time? I thought.  Out of desperation, my husband went to the auto parts store and soon came back with a new tool.  Soon, he had the job done.  A job goes well when one has the proper tools.

When it comes to my faith, God provides the tools necessary for what He has called me to accomplish.  I may not always believe it, but I can step forward in faith with the grace God has given me.  The rub comes when I realize that the gifts I've been given differ from what those believers around me have.  As Paul teaches in Romans 12:6 that, "We have different gifts according the grace given to each of us."

Therefore, it is important that I respond appropriately. 

Avoid Comparison

From a young age, my sister possessed a gift for accompanying choirs and musical groups on the piano.  She used this skill through college, working with various ensembles and forming lasting bonds as she traveled to perform in different locations.  After she married, she was able to use this gift to minister to the congregation in which her husband served as youth pastor and sometimes accompanied him as he used his beautiful voice to sing God's praises.

By comparison, I felt like a useless lump of clay.  I never could play the piano well enough to do what my sister did; what purpose did I serve?  I often felt inadequate when measuring my worth against my sister's purpose.  Falling into the trap of comparing myself to others always leads to despair and a feeling of failure.

The Apostle Paul addressed this problem when he taught, ". . . our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.  How strange a body would be if it had only one part!  Yes, there are many parts, but only one body." (1 Corinthians 12:18-20 NLT)

As absurd as it would be if my own body was only made up of an eye, or a hand, this is a good picture of what I do when I expect to be able to serve the body of Christ in the same way my sister does.  Even though we come from the same family, we have not been given the same talents and gifts.  Therefore, I would be wise to joyfully support her, as well as my other brothers and sisters in Christ in the use of their gifts, and stop comparing my own place to theirs.

When I focus too much on what others are doing, not only does it put me at risk for feeling inadequate but it works to minimize my own ministry, distracting me from the task at hand.  (Galatians 6:4-5)  I must instead keep focused on what I'm called to do.

It reminds me of mezzo-soprano Susan Graham when she was an up and coming opera star.  Writer Jamie Schilling Fields attempted to compare her to a legend in opera circles by asking her if she was the next Cecilia Bartoli.  Graham responded by saying, "I'm not sure I want to be the next anyone.  I'd rather be the first Susan Graham."

I, too, should only attempt to be the best me God intended and stop comparing myself to others.

God has provided me with all the tools necessary to accomplish the mission He has designed for me so I would be wise to avoid comparison to others.

Accept Place

No matter what I planted around the maple tree in our front yard, it would soon die.  I tried cheerful Marigolds, colorful Impatiens and even bright Begonias, but nothing survived.  Finally I planted Liriope, a grass-like evergreen plant that sports purple spikes of flowers in the summertime, and it thrived in the conditions found at the base of our tree.

In the same way that the Liriope flourished in the environment where nothing else survived, so I am called to bloom where God has planted me.  When God saved me by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ from the eternal punishment my sins deserve, He made a new place for me in His kingdom.  Part of the purpose, then, that comes out of God's plan for my life is a path that He has designed for me to walk. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

This path is specially prepared for me.  Many times, however, it may not be the way I dreamed of traveling, or the direction I imagined my life going, or it may seem steeper than what I'd rather climb.  Since God is the one with the blueprint for my life, however, I would be wise to accept the place where God has placed me.

When I accept the difficult ministry to which God has called me, I will find the grace I need to move forward.  If I try to do something else that seems more comfortable, not only will I be butting in on someone else's job, but I'll be neglecting the duty to which I've been assigned.

It reminds me of an embarrassing situation from my youth.  I was a newly minted lifeguard and had been hired on at a local water park.  My job was to stand guard at the activity pool where kids could swing on ropes and play in the water.  I needed to take a bathroom break but couldn't get the attention of any of the other guards so they could cover my area.  Out of desperation, I simply walked away from my post, leaving this part of the pool unguarded.  My actions did not please my supervisor, to say the least.

Just as I jeopardized the lives of the children under my watch when I left my post, so I could cause others to suffer if I don't do my part in the body of Christ.  No one else has been assigned the role I'm expected to play.  Therefore, if I don't do it, no one else will.

There might be an elderly person in the local nursing home who desperately needs the encouragement I'm expected to give, or a hungry child who needs the hug that comes with the food I've been destined to deliver, or a despondent woman who will only be touched by the music that comes from my fingers as I play a favorite hymn.  If I am unwilling to serve as I've been called to serve, who will take my place?

God has provided for me all the tools necessary to accomplish the mission He has designed for me so I would be wise to accept the role He has assigned for me to play.

Embrace Gifts

She did what she was asked to do, but not willingly.  My daughter grumbled the entire time she cleaned the bathroom.  Since she was assigned this least-favorite job, she knew it was up to her to do it, but she wasn't happy about it.  And she let everyone know just how miserable she was in her attitude and demeanor.

While it would be easy for me to chastise my daughter for her poor attitude, I can't be too hard on her since I am often guilty of doing the same thing.  There is a difference between doing just enough to check a task off the list, and completing it to the best of my ability.  One is only concerned with finishing it, while the other desires to do the best job possible.

As a follower of Christ, I am called to do my best, doing even the most menial of tasks as if I were laying it like an offering at His feet.  (Colossians 3:23)  In this way, my willing spirit brings glory to God.

If God has given me the gift of service or helping others, then, I am to throw myself into the task wholeheartedly, doing it as if my life depended upon it.  If He has equipped me to teach, I must prepare fully, making sure I glean every tidbit of wisdom God intended from a passage in order to benefit all who listen.  If He has bestowed upon me the ability to lead, I am to guide with confidence and assurance, thus bringing honor to God's name. (Romans 12:6-8)

God has provided me with all the tools necessary to accomplish the mission He has designed for me so I would be wise to embrace my gifts and use them wholeheartedly.

In the same way that God provided the amount and type of tools necessary for the Levites to carry out their jobs, I have been given the amount of grace needed to use the gifts I've been given.  Therefore, it is important that I avoid comparing myself to others, accept the place where God has placed me, and sincerely embrace the gifts He's given me.  In these ways I'll use my tools wisely for the glory of God.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can accept the calling God has placed on my life.

When do my eyes wander, desiring another gift instead of what I've been given?

How am I rejecting my gifts in my poor attitude?

Own Responsibility

"Then the LORD said to Moses,

'Call forward the tribe of Levi,

and present them to Aaron 

the priest to serve as his assistants.

They will serve Aaron and the whole community,

performing their sacred duties in

and around the Tabernacle.

They will also maintain all the furnishings of the sacred tent,

serving in the Tabernacle on behalf of all the Israelites.

Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons.

They have been given from among all the people

of Israel to serve as their assistants.'"

Numbers 3:5-9

Everyone had a designated spot to pitch their tent.  Each tribe was assigned a specific area around the Tabernacle to establish camp.  Whenever the Israelites moved to a new location, the Tabernacle would form the frame of reference for their set-up.  The Levites were a bit different, however.  Instead of being assigned a spot some distance from the Tent of Meeting, each son of Aaron and their families were given an area directly surround the Tabernacle as their own, and Moses and the priests lived on the east side. (Numbers 2-3)  

Not only did the Levites live in close proximity to the Tabernacle, but they also were given specific jobs to do in service to the Tent of Meeting based on which family into which they were born.  It makes me think of the way God has given each of His children specific gifts and then called us to use them to edify the body of Christ.  In the same way that members of the tribe of Levi were assigned certain areas of responsibility, I've been given a specific job to do.

Duty

It is like a well-oiled machine.  Soldiers scurry around, each doing their particular job, accomplishing the mission in no time.  When an Army unit is deployed to carry out a certain job, like firing artillery, each member of the unit knows exactly what to do.  Every soldier has been trained in overall conduct, but also in their specific area of expertise.  Each carries a level of responsibility to do what they are trained to do as part of the greater mission. If one soldier fails, the whole unit is at risk of failing.

In a similar way, I am a part of a greater body.  It is not only to myself and my family to whom I am accountable.  Once I pledge to follow Christ, I become part of a greater purpose carried out by the family of God.  With the gift of the Holy Spirit given to each believer (Acts 2:38) comes a specific area of expertise, so to speak.  One may be equipped to serve, while another to teach.  Some are given the ability to discern between that which is from God and that which is not, while others know just when to give an encouraging word and what will best bolster another's faith.  

In the same way each soldier is expected to carry out their duty in the way they've been trained, I'm expected to do what God's Spirit has specifically enabled me to do. (1 Corinthians 12:27)  If I don't do my part, the body of Christ as a whole will suffer.

It is easy to feel inadequate to carry out the function that has been assigned to me.  Like Moses, I can easily cite all kinds of reasons why I can't do my part. (Exodus 4:10-12) Other times, I would rather do what I see others doing.  Then there are times when I simply don't want to bother.  Whatever the excuse, it is my responsibility to play the role I've been appointed to fulfill.

I have been given a duty to use the gift given through God's indwelling Spirit to profit the body of Christ.

Poach

My friend's husband was inventorying stock as part of his job.  The company he works for is hired to count and accurately record current supply levels of other retail businesses.  When the employees at a certain establishment observed his knowledge of the unique parts found in their auto supply store, the manager approached him and asked him to apply to his company.  

While I'm not here to debate whether poaching is or is not an ethical business practice, it does remind me of something discouraging that takes place in the body of Christ.  God is clear that He has given each of us certain positions to fill in the body of Christ.  When I attempt to take over another's position, I am stealing their job.

As a mother, I am used to doing what needs to be done.  If I see an area that is lacking, then, I tend to jump in and complete the job.  When I take this same approach and apply it to the body of Christ, however, in my zeal to help, I could be doing a job that someone else is called to do.  While we can all pitch in and help to accomplish specific missions, each of us is assigned a certain spot.  It is important that I don't unknowingly discourage someone else from stepping out in faith by filling their position.

When I drive in heavy traffic, I often think about how much I trust the drivers around me to stay in their own lanes.  When someone recklessly veers across the freeway, ignoring the specific lanes, it endangers us all.  In the same way, I must be careful to stay in my lane, doing only what I am called to do.  If I keep my attention on the job at hand, I will stay plenty busy.  If my eye wanders to what I'd rather do or to something I think needs to be done, I'm getting out of my area of responsibility and into someone else's.

It is important that I use my own specific gift given through God's indwelling Spirit to profit the body of Christ.

Faith

She labored through four years of college to earn her undergraduate degree.  After taking the grueling admissions test, she applied to medical school.  Now, my friend's training really begins as she learns all basics of medicine during medical school.  Her preparation will not be finished once she graduates, however, because she will still need to complete at least 3 years of a residency where she will work in a hospital setting under senior residents and attending physicians.  It takes years of training to become a medical doctor.

In contrast, I need no training to utilize my gifts.  Instead, the Holy Spirit supernaturally equips me to carry out the function He designed for me to fulfill.  It is not based on my naturally abilities or learned techniques to do what I am purposed to do to build up the body of Christ.  Rather, my state of readiness is found in the way God has empowered me to function.

This is not to say I won't need to prepare to teach a class if my gift is teaching, or that I won't need to work hard when serving others if I've been blessed with the gift of service.  Instead, it means I am uniquely equipped to do what God has called me to do.  There is no special training I must go through before I can step into the role God has prepared for me.

Consequently, I really have no excuse to not do my part.  The only thing keeping me from moving forward is faith.  There is no way that I can please God without it, and I can't look beyond myself if I don't have it.  Faith is what drives me forward into the darkness of the unknown where Jesus dwells.  

If I am waiting to believe in myself before I go forward, I'll be delayed a long time.  Instead, I must blindly walk toward what God is calling me to do, trusting that He has already given me what I need to accomplish the mission at hand.  Out on the end of a limb is a scary place to be, but it is the only place where I can find Christ!  He doesn't dwell in the safe, comfortable places, but in the deep waters where I can't touch the bottom.  Then, as I'm floundering around, I'll find that His grace is enough to get me through.  (2 Corinthians 12:9)

In order to use the gifts given to me through God's indwelling Spirit, I will need to step forward in faith.  

The Lord is a God of order.  Not surprisingly, then, He has created a place for each of His children to serve in His family.  In order for the body of Christ to function as He intended, however, I will need to do my part, stay in my lane, and step out in faith.  When I purposefully strive to follow these guidelines, I will find I am fulfilling my own responsibility.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my focus on what God has called me to do.

When am I afraid to step forward in faith because I can't picture myself doing what God has already equipped me to do?

How do I sometimes try to do what needs to be done instead of asking myself if this is truly my own responsibility?

Neglected Gifts

"Do not neglect your gift, 

which was given you through prophecy 

when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Be diligent in these matters;

give yourself wholly to them,

so that everyone may see your progress.

Watch your life and doctrine closely.

Persevere in them,

because if you do,

you will save both yourself and your hearers."

1 Timothy 4:14-16

Warm spring temperatures generated an explosion of growth.  The blueberry bushes and fruit trees were filled with blossoms, bees busily humming from bloom to bloom.  New leaves were bursting forth all around, making our yard suddenly green with new life.  The neglect of the winter, however, showed in the weeds that overpowered the garden; so much so that I could barely make out the tiny sprigs of leaf lettuce struggling to reach the sunlight.

Even a week of unhampered growth can render a garden out of control.  In order to stay on top of the influx of invaders, I must be vigilant in my work.  It is the same with my life of faith.  There are gifts that God has given to me that are meant to be used to edify the Body of Christ.  If I neglect them, however, and don't use them as they were meant to be used, they grow flaccid and are then wasted.

Diligence

Female bees are hard workers.  They never stop toiling, but are constantly busy either producing wax to make their combs, laying eggs and caring for the young inside the cells of these structures, guarding the entrance to the hive, using their wings to cool their home, or collecting nectar to make honey.  These insects work carefully and persistently to fulfill their purpose.

I can learn a lesson from the honeybee!  Instead of drifting through life, letting circumstances and situations guide my direction, I can take the initiative to purposefully work toward living out my purpose.  When I give myself wholeheartedly to what God has called me to do, whether it be to encourage, to serve, to teach, or to act in faith, people will see the hand of God and praise Him for all He is doing.

My diligence in using my gifts brings glory to God.

Watch

"God doesn't give me more than I can handle."

"God helps those who help themselves."

"Cleanliness is next to godliness."

"I'm too blessed to be stressed."

These are some common sayings that have crept into our belief system but are not based on biblical truth.  It is easy to adopt a principle that sounds good and seems right, but the danger is a slow slide away from the solid ground of the Word of God.

If I am to guard myself from buying into false teachings that come in the form of folklore, traditions and pop psychology, I must carefully pay attention to the truth as God teaches in His Word, testing every new belief against the scriptures.  When I do this, I find that God won't tempt me beyond what I can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13) but He regularly tests me with situations that are more than I can handle so I must rely on Him.  (2 Corinthians 12:9, Matthew 11:28-30)

As I keep His Word always on my mind I find that He doesn't help those who rely on their own abilities and resources but instead gives strength to those who wait on Him (Isaiah 40:31).  Another truth I remember is that instead of placing the pursuit of cleanliness upon such a high pedestal, God places contentment there, saying it in itself is 'great wealth.' (1 Timothy 6:6-11)

Finally, stress is the pressure I feel that is a common part of living in a fallen world.  To claim I'm too blessed to feel the effects of this anxiety or tension seems to come from pride that says I will rise above it.  Instead, Jesus reminds me that I will have trouble in this world but that I can take heart from the fact that He has overcome it all. (John 16:33)  I am more than a conqueror because of what Jesus has done, not because I have a strong will.

Carefully guarding against wrong beliefs so my gifts are used wisely brings glory to God.

Persevere

One of my favorite summer pastimes during my teen years was to take an inner tube and float down a nearby river.  The water felt cool on my sun-kissed skin, the trees provided shade from the scorching sun and the birds serenaded me as I traveled without any effort on my part.  Drifting on a lazy river is relaxing.

Drifting in my walk with the Lord, however, leads me further and further away from Him.  It's easy to start slacking off, holding the attitude that I've checked off all "my duties" for the day so now I can let my mind wander to fleshly pleasures, or give myself a break from seeking holiness, or take a vacation from holding my tongue.

The moment I let up moving toward Christ, I begin moving away from Him and let my spiritual gifts atrophy.  It's important that I persevere in doing what God is calling me to do so that my heart won't begin to look like my garden that was quickly overcome with weeds.  

Perseverance in using my gifts drives me closer to God and brings glory to Him.

A moment of waywardness can lead to a lifetime of grief.  Instead of trying to do damage control, a little prevention is just what's needed.  To preserve the gifts God has given me, I must use them with all diligence, guard them against being tainted by false teachings, and persevere in using them regularly.  In this way, I won't neglect these gifts of the Spirit.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can pay attention to what I'm placing in my memory stores.

How do I easily believe the things that others say without checking it against the Truth of scripture?

When do I fail to use my gifts?