Romans 12:4-8 from the Living Bible says:
“Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So we belong to each other, and each needs all the others. God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, then prophesy whenever you can—as often as your faith is strong enough to receive a message from God. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If you are a preacher, see to it that your sermons are strong and helpful. If God has given you money, be generous in helping others with it. If God has given you administrative ability and put you in charge of the work of others, take the responsibility seriously. Those who offer comfort to the sorrowing should do so with Christian cheer.”
Practically there are some implications of these truths.
- If you have a gift that puts you in the public spotlight you should realize that God wants you to use that gift to enrich others rather than yourself. We should serve humbly.
- If your gifts and abilities don’t seem to be significant remember that we are not called to rank the gifts, we are called to exercise the gifts. The tear duct in your eye seems of little importance unless it isn’t working and your eyes have no moisture. There are no insignificant gifts!
- In whatever area of giftedness God has placed you, we are to remember that we are serving the Lord and each other
This is the way we should approach the body of Christ. Out of love and gratitude we should be willing to do whatever God has given us to do. We do everything to the honor and glory of God. Every job is a privilege whether it is singing in worship or cleaning up after an event. It is a privilege to participate in the advancing of the Kingdom. There is no pursuit more satisfying, energizing and fulfilling than to joyfully do what we can to serve the Lord.
Paul’s counsel is pretty simple, “If you are able to teach, teach; if you can serve, serve; if you are a preacher, preach. If you are an encourager, encourage.” In other words, our job is to do what we can do.
You might be thinking: “I don’t know what I can do.” I suspect many of you do know what you can do . . . you just don’t realize that it is a ministry given by God.
Here are some ideas on how to find out what God wants you to do.
First, ask yourself, “What am I good at?” Much of the time we take for granted what we are good at and assume that everyone can do what comes easy to us. That’s not true. If you aren’t sure what you are good at doing, talk to your friends. Sometimes our friends see our gifts more clearly than we do.
Perhaps you have an ability to relate to teenagers. They like to be around you, they open up to you, and seem to not be embarrassed when you are around. You have been given a gift.
Maybe you love to cook for others, maybe you like to clean, perhaps you enjoy organizing events, maybe you have a real heart of compassion for the elderly or the hurting. You may like building things or love to talk on the phone. Maybe you enjoy spending time in prayer or perhaps you have the resources to give generously. These things may very well be gifts from God.
Second, prayerfully ask, “How could I use my abilities for the Kingdom of God?” Let’s take some of the things I’ve mentioned and show how they can be used in the ministry of the body.
- The person who relates well to youth could fill a gap as a youth sponsor or Sunday School teacher. They could offer to transport kids to special events or volunteer to lead a youth Bible study. Maybe they could serve as a mentor.
- The person who likes to clean might donate time to helping keep the church clean or might volunteer to go into the homes of people who are sick, homebound, or those who have just had a death in the family and minister by cleaning that person’s home. It may seem like a little thing to you . . . it’s a big thing to the person who is being helped.
- The cook could volunteer to help with funeral dinners and dinners for new mothers. Perhaps they might bring a meal to a new family in the church as a way of welcoming them to our church. These people might want to organize a church meal to encourage fellowship.
- The person who enjoys working with their hands can help out with the many projects in and around the church. They could donate their labor to help an older person who can no longer care for their home as they’d like. Maybe they could donate their services to a single parent or someone with health problems.
- The person who talks on the phone might work to get the phone numbers of new people in the area and extend an invitation to worship. Perhaps they organize a phone-calling tree to keep people informed of ministry needs.
- The person who has a heart of compassion can visit people in hospitals, visit in the Nursing home, stop by to encourage shut-ins, and even help as a Hospice volunteer.
- A person who loves kids could volunteer to help babysit special events and be available to help families in crisis situations.
Third, take a step of faith. Dare to use what you have been given. Dare to try something new. Exercise your faith muscle. Stop being embarrassed about saying, “Hey, I think I can do this!” It’s not bragging, it is being willing to do what God has equipped you to do. Paul’s counsel is simple, “Whatever it is that God has equipped you to do . . . do it!” Dare to step out of your comfort zone.
CONCLUSIONS
Every one of us is busy. We all have dozens of things that clamor for our time and attention. It is up to us to choose how we will spend our time and our resources. It is my hope that you consider that God has given you gifts and abilities so that you can make an eternal difference.
Please consider how you can support the ministry of the body of Christ. There may be hundreds of years before Jesus Christ returns . . .or it could be very soon. Even if the Lord delayed, people we care for are lost and in need of a Savior.
It is only in doing what God has called us to do that we will find the satisfaction, fulfillment, and joy we seek. There is something energizing about the work of the Lord. As we serve Him He gives us strength and we find that we are able to do so much more than ever imagined.
It’s important to remember that God is not asking us to do this by ourselves. He promises to give us the tools, the resources, and the guidance we need. He is not asking us to do it all. He is simply asking us to do what we can do.
