A lot of people, Christians or not have this feeling that others are more important in this life than them. How many of us keep scrolling on social media watching others living and enjoying life and making significant impact and progress in life?. It is not uncommon to think that God has made some people more important to the World and in life than others. In truth, some people are more productive and valuable than others in life but that is absolutely not God’s intention and design.
The time that we spend being busy watching other people live is the time that we are not being who God has called us to be and not doing what He has purposed us to do in this life.
It is amazing how each one of us was created unique. We have distinctive facial features, voices, talents, gifts, abilities, emotional intelligence and so on and on. Even identical twins have unique prints. If you think you are ordinary and not special, trust me you are special, you just can’t see it yet. You are a wonderful masterpiece made by God.
Psalm 139:14 (NIV) – “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Just recently, I was thinking about how my siblings and I grew up and how we had to go about our chores and I thought it was a good reflection of service in the Kingdom of God. I grew up with my 3 sisters and our brother. We had a planning which enabled each one of us to know what had to be done and to be honest, we generally did what we were naturally able and good at doing. So, for instance, I personally always had a passion and an ability to cook so I would take care of the meal and I enjoyed that. My eldest sister didn’t like anything cooking at all so she would keep the house clean and she was really good at doing that. My brother on the other hand had the responsibility to keep the entire garden clean. We had a few trees and a dog but he always loved nature and animals so he was fit for the job. My sister, the last born could navigate different chores because she could adapt to various things, so at times she would assist one of us or just have a mission on her own.
Thinking about it, I thought it was interesting to see how we were all born different, with different abilities and interests. Not that one cannot do the other’s chores but our natural inclinations towards certain tasks just made the organization obvious and natural. Just as if when God was thinking about our family he sent each one of us on earth with specific tools. One with a pan and spatula while the other with a broom (just kidding 😂).
Ephesians 2:10 (KJV) – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Consider your body, it is the exact same thing. Each organ was created to perform a specific function and the entire body can only be considered healthy when each organ performs his work and function. The healthiest heart will never be as effective as a kidney and that it because it wasn’t created to perform the kidney’s function.
The healthiest heart will never be as effective as a kidney and that is because it wasn’t created to perform the kidney’s function.
The strength and health of a human body depends on how harmoniously each part works one with another. So the heart pumps out blood, arteries transport it to organs and tissues, while the liver filters it from the digestive system etc.
Romans 12:4-8 (KJV) – “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”
The tragedy of a dysfunctional body
Now let us still consider your body. Imagine that one day you wake up and your lungs decide that they are too tired to work or just refuse to keep working, you know how tragic that would be for your entire body. That is exactly how some of us are to the body of Christ or just in life in general.
When you refuse to deploy your gifts, strengths, abilities and talent in life you create a dysfunctionality in the body of Christ and in the society. There is a uniqueness that only you can bring to our society and the reward that you will get from serving others will be fulfillment. Don’t create a vacant seat at the table of destiny.
The Danger of Disobedience
For a body to function optimally, every part has to perform its function. God counts on you too to performs your own function. There are things that only you can do and people that only you can reach. It doesn’t have to look like what others do but it has to be what only you can do. If it is raising your child, then do it with all your might; if it is singing at your choir, then do it at the top of your lungs. Disobedience is dangerous because we all need each other and our reluctance to do what we ought to do could be prejudicial to others.
One of the ways God answers our prayers is by sending other people to us and so we must also be obedient in order to be someone’s answered prayer.
The Destructiveness of Jealousy and Envy
Imagine a society where the nurse gets jealous of the teacher while the teacher is jealous of the lawyer, that would be crazy right?. All these professionals are needed in the society and we wouldn’t want to live without any of them.
That is the exact same case with all of us. We need not to be jealous of one another because we were all created to be useful, unique, complementary and valuable. Whether it is by natural gifting or by training, we all have something to offer and others have something we equally need.
Parable of the talents
Matthew 25:14-20 (ESV) – “14 For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Just like in the parable of talents above, God sent each and everyone of us on this earth with precious gifts to offer. The only difference lies in our ability to acknowledge our potential and refine it (by training, mentorship, practice etc).
We are often envious and jealous of others when we don’t know our value and haven’t discovered our potential yet. So, a cure to envy and jealousy would be self-discovery and start valuing yourself. Discover how much God loves and values you from day-to-day, take it as a mission and be aware of His love, He never condemns you.
Spurious Humility
{spurious /ˈspjʊəriəs/
adjective
1.not being what it purports to be; false or fake. }
Refusing to acknowledge what you have is not being humble, in fact it could even be considered as pride.
Humility is saying what God says about you; not exalting yourself higher nor placing yourself below.
ANDREW WOMMACK
Imagine having a mother who you know to be a very good cook by the delicious dishes she prepares for your family very often. Your father, other siblings and you decide to recommend her as a cook for a garden party with the other neighbors on your block just because you want others to enjoy her delicious meals, have a good quality time while your mother also enjoys doing what she is really good at. All of a sudden, your mother says “who am I that all the neighbors would eat what I cook?, no exaggeration I am not so good , I can’t do it, everybody will be disappointed”. I bet you would feel sad, right? Why can’t your mother see herself as gifted and talented as everybody sees her?.
This is the exact attitude that many adopt in a bid to sound humble, we shy away from opportunities that we consider too big and out of our comfort zones. By adopting a posture of fake humility, we deprive ourselves from evolving by serving others with our gifts and we deprive others from enjoying what God has graced us with.
Acknowledging what we have or can do doesn’t make us proud while relying solely on our abilities and considering ourselves better and above others does make us proud.
The balance that we should have as Christians is acknowledging that we have the gifts and abilities we have because of God, and we can do what we can do still by His grace; this doesn’t make us better that others because we will always need each other. You can’t be good at everything and God made it intentionally that way so that nobody can be self-sufficient. Your responsibility is to serve others excellently and lovingly with the abilities that God has given you. Always acknowledge God as the source of every good thing in you.
1 Corinthians 15:10 (AMP) – “But by the [remarkable] grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not without effect. In fact, I worked harder than all of the apostles, though it was not I, but the grace of God [His unmerited favor and blessing which was] with me.”
Today, I encourage you to start acknowledging how valuable and important you are to God, His plans, to People and the World. Even if you don’t see it yet, go to the Word of God and read what God says about you and what He has given you through His Son Jesus-Christ.
Salvation Prayer (Please say it out loud wherever you are): - Romans 10:9,10
Lord Jesus, I recognize that you are the Son of God, that you came on earth, died for my sins on the cross, resurrected on the third day and You are now seated at the right hand of God the Father. I acknowledge that I cannot be righteous by my self and accept the righteousness purchased by your precious blood on the cross for me. I proclaim that by this I have now defeated Satan, hell and the grave. I ask you Lord Jesus to fill me with your Holy Spirit now.
Congratulations brethren and welcome to God’s family!
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