PURSUE THE CALL TO SERVICE
SCRIPTURE: I PETER 4: 10 (AMPL)
”As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
In God’s own wisdom, He has given every one of his children spiritual gifts with which to serve Him, and to be a blessing to others, especially in the church. Why did He do this? There are several reasons for this. Two reasons are that, first, He wants every believer to be an active and productive part of the church’s life and ministry. Secondly, it’s because He wants the church to grow and be able to change and impact our world.
If you just attend church services and do not go on further to contribute with your time, talent, financial resources, then you are surely not doing enough. A spiritual gift is a supernatural ability given by God to believers for service or ministry. A talent is natural. Every human being has one talent or another. A spiritual gift, however, is for believers. Remember also that not knowing your gift is not an excuse. That’s why you must submit to church leaders and be taught. You must have a genuine desire to study and to know about it so that you can make a difference in the church and the world for God.
Remember this: The presence of a spiritual gift means that you and I have a responsibility to play our role in ministry under the leadership of our Pastor. The presence of a gift also means there is a divine potential you must develop so that God can use you for ministry.
Did you notice that the scripture requires you to be a good steward or manager? What does this mean? God’s expectation is that you use your gifts to serve His people especially. If you do so, you would then have fulfilled the tag, “good steward.” The question, however is, is every believer serving under their pastor, in their local church as expected? Unfortunately, the answer is No. Sometimes, laziness, ignorance of one’s gift, lack of submission to one’s local church leader and selfishness are some of the reasons for this.
However, excuses of some do not change God’s standard and expectation ie. you must be serving God’s people with your spiritual gifts as good managers of His diverse grace.
Ask yourself now, “are you serving your local church at all? Do you know what your gifts are? Are you serving with your gift? Or you are full of excuses when you are needed to serve with your gifts? Do you go to church just to socialise or to serve? Do you know that it is also expected of managers to be faithful and accountable? Do well to get busy for God.
PRAYER
I thank you, Father, for bringing me this awareness of stewardship as I serve your church with the gifts you have given me. Help me to submit to my local church pastors, as they teach me to discover my gifts, and train me to use them. May I be a faithful and wise manager of your grace and ability in me in Jesus’s name, Amen.
FURTHER READING (NKJV)
MATTHEW 21:28-31
[28]“But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’
[29]He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went.
[30]Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go.
[31]Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.