Gifts

Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message 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. (I Timothy 4:14-15) 

          When I was in seventh grade, I took a test and was placed in the in-the-process-of-being-developed Gifted Program. As one teacher later put it, I was placed in special ed. Don’t be impressed. It means that I learned how to program computers to do math in BASIC. Whoop-dee-do!
          In the “Who Am I?” phase of my life (still continuing, I think) I read lots of books in hopes of getting a definitive answer. One day on the way home from work, I was given an epiphany. I had been patting myself on the back about solving a problem at work, and God asked me “Why are you so surprised that you solved that problem? You’re a problem solver. That’s what you do. That’s what you are.” In those words, I discovered the solution to another problem: knowing God’s will for my life, or my calling. No, it wasn’t to solve problems. It was to be who and what God designed me to be. Problem solving is just one piece of the puzzle that is me.
          My search continues. I’ve taken some tests through my church that are designed to identify a person’s gifts. Usually, the answers come back along the lines of administration, exhortation, prophesy, but you know what? The church hasn’t elevated me to any leadership role. In fact, when I’ve tried to administer, exhort or prophesy, I have generally ended up pulled aside and politely asked to back off or walk away. It hurts when it happens, but I’m convinced that it’s ultimately done me good.
          I remain convinced that one’s gift isn’t necessarily something that you couldn’t do before someone prayed for you, but now you do like a master. Sometimes it’s that. Other times, I think it is something God designed or “installed” into you, something you do so naturally that you really can’t not do it. Asking me not to analyze or to “just believe” is asking the impossible. I wish I could say that my thoughts are valued by everyone around me but I am not responsible for how the gift is received. I am only responsible for how it is given. 
          Paul told Timothy to not neglect his gift. This brings me to my last gift to you with regard to gifts. Since the gifts aren’t really for you, they are for you to give to others, another key to discovering your gift is to look around, find a need and fill it. Too often, I head “I can’t do anything” or “I don’t have a gift,” from someone who goes on to complain about a situation or circumstance. Too often I hear questions about why the elders, or why the government isn’t doing something to solve a problem. When I ask what the person is doing about the problem, I am told that it’s too big a problem for any person to solve. That’s not a good excuse.
          Just because you can’t make heaven on earth doesn’t mean you shouldn’t help banish hell, even just a little bit. 

          Lord, cause us to see with your eyes. Teach us to be what You created us to be. Cause us to see what You see, and teach us to love one another by reaching out and giving into the emptiness of the one before us.